By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart

SUNY Broome’s campus community got a little extra exercise on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, during the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the new MVP Health Care Fitness Court. Located beside SUNY Broome’s Student Center and Ice Center, students, faculty and staff, alumni, and the community at large, were invited to incorporate an outdoor workout into their personal fitness routines via seven state-of-the-art exercise stations. 

The ribbon cutting ceremony was hosted by Director of Athletics,  Colleen Cashman. Throughout the event, Cashman highlighted the collaborative effort of MVP Health Care, the National Fitness Campaign, and SUNY Broome’s Faculty-Student Association, to create a free, accessible space that encourages physical health and wellness at all fitness levels. 

Director of Athletics, Colleen Cashman, served as the emcee of the event. Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers

“The free Fitness Court App walks you through the workouts in seven minutes. We all have seven minutes,” Cashman explained. “Especially our faculty and staff. You can come up on your lunch hour, get a workout in, and be back to your desk or workstation feeling energized and refreshed.” 

Dozens of community partners traveled to campus to celebrate the opening of the Fitness Court. Special guests included: 

  • Sammy L. Davis, Undersheriff of the Broome County Sheriff’s Office
  • Miles Burnett, Deputy Chief of Staff representing New York State Senator Lea Webb
  • Christopher Whalen, Executive Assistant to Broome County Executive Jason Garnar
  • Margaret Coffey and Jim Testani representing SUNY Broome’s Board of Trustees.

Undersheriff Davis, a proud SUNY Broome alum and former Criminal Justice & Emergency Services faculty member, stressed the importance of physical fitness in law enforcement and shared his genuine appreciation for SUNY Broome’s support in preparing the next generation of law enforcement professionals. 

“When I was the Director of Training of the Academy (Broome County Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Academy), I always appreciated that I could call SUNY Broome and use any of the spaces on campus for training our recruits in preparation for the New York State Physical Agility Test,” Davis said. “I’m excited to continue our strong relationship with SUNY Broome and to encourage everyone to work this wonderful space into their physical training routine.” 

Undersheriff Sammy L. Davis, a proud SUNY Broome alum, thanked SUNY Broome for serving as a key partner in training future generations of law enforcement professionals. Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers

The ribbon cutting ceremony concluded with a fitness demonstration of each station lead by Coach Brendan Doherty and SUNY Broome’s men’s basketball team. SUNY Broome’s President, Dr. Tony D. Hawkins, led the attendees in cheering on the student athletes as they completed each obstacle, showcasing the range of each station’s intensity.

“I applaud Colleen Cashman, Dr. Carol Ross-Scott, Dave Ligeikis, and everyone who played a role in bringing this Fitness Court to fruition,” President Hawkins said. “Thank you for your commitment to developing innovative solutions for helping our students and community members become the best, healthiest versions of themselves.”

Coach Brendan Doherty and the  SUNY Broome’s men’s basketball team provided a comprehensive demo of the Fitness Court. Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers

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