Former Oklahoma City University President Martha Burger has made a substantial gift to benefit the university’s rowing team and the OCU Devon Boathouse.
Burger has contributed $100,000 as part of a broader campaign to support rowing at OCU. The funds will be used for enhancements to the OCU Devon Boathouse’s Olympic Weight Room and High Performance Center.
The improvements will benefit not only OCU athletes, but visiting athletes who train and compete in the city’s Boathouse District.
These types of investments are crucial, said Burger, whose support of the OCU Devon Boathouse and OCU rowing predates her time as president of the university from 2018-21.
Burger added that this is an important time to provide support as OCU rowing aims to grow and as the Boathouse District prepares to host whitewater competition as part of the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
“With the Summer Olympics arriving at the Boathouse District, we have the opportunity to take this world-class venue to another level,” Burger said. “There is more and more potential for Oklahoma City to be recognized on a world stage.”
OCU rowing coach Bryan Volpenhein, a three-time Olympian and 2004 gold medalist, said the gift will have a tremendous impact on OCU athletes and the rowing program.
“We are very fortunate to be able to call one of the world’s top facilities our home,” Volpenhein said. “President Burger’s generosity will allow us to further establish OCU and Oklahoma City as a rowing destination, and also help our athletes reach new levels in training and preparation.”
The 33,000-square-foot OCU Devon Boathouse was opened in 2010 at a cost of $10 million. In addition to serving as the training home for OCU rowers and national-level athletes from around the country, the facility offers space for community activities, meetings and events.
As part of the campaign to support the boathouse and OCU rowing, several key areas of need have been identified, including new racing shells and practice boats, an indoor propulsion training tank, a high-altitude training room and various training equipment.
Those interested in learning more about the boathouse or the campaign to support it can go to www.okcu.edu/give.
