From Carnegie Mellon University Athletics
Two of the top tennis programs in the country will introduce a significant enhancement to their facility this summer, as Carnegie Mellon University will add a state-of-the-art video board to its courts in the middle of campus. The video board was made possible by the generosity of Michael Ference and Noelle Tutunjian, who have been longtime supporters of the university and athletics program.
In addition to its scoreboard functionality, the video board addition will provide the athletics department with a communications display in the central part of campus. The board will be utilized to share highlight videos of the athletics program, promote upcoming events and celebrate student achievement. The ability will also exist to show live video and replays.
“We are grateful to Mike and Noelle for their extraordinary generosity, and their vision for our program. They are true champions for the Tartans,” said Director of Athletics Josh Centor. “The addition of a scoreboard with this functionality will truly enhance our facility and make it one of the best in Division III. It will dramatically improve the match-day experience for our student-athletes, and will provide us with the ability to share their incredible accomplishments with the campus community.”
Ference received his undergraduate degree from Dietrich College in 1991, and remained at Carnegie Mellon to receive his master’s degree in industrial administration from the Tepper School of Business one year later. Carnegie Mellon is a special place for Ference and his family, as his brother and mother received their undergraduate degrees from the university, and his father earned a bachelor’s, master’s and PhD at Carnegie Mellon. His uncle is also a graduate.
“I had a great experience when I was there. It’s something that a while back I started earmarking my support for the tennis program because I thought it was low on the totem pole of things that would get support from alumni,” Ference said. “Over time it evolved and we’re just lucky to be able to do something that I think will be helpful for the program – not only the tennis teams but the athletics department in general.”
A four-year standout for the tennis program, Ference also played two years with the men’s soccer team. He was a three-time tennis captain, and worked as an assistant coach while pursuing his graduate degree. Ference and Tutunjian named two Tartan Awards in support of the tennis programs in 2012.
“I think it’s cool for a smaller DIII school to have something more upscale. It’s not something you see when you go to a lot of universities we compete with,” Ference said. “It’s not changing the world but those little things, particularly at a school like ours where everyone works so hard and there is so much pressure, if the little things put a smile on their face when they walk across campus that day and see a message that says they won the night before, I think it’s great.”
The scoreboard will be installed this summer and will be functional for the fall tennis season. Head coach Andy Girard says the project will make a significant impact on the students and program.
“Carnegie Mellon is one of the best universities in the world, and we are known for our technological and innovative programs. It is fitting that we will now add arguably the most technologically-advanced scoreboard in Division III tennis to our facility,” Girard said. “On behalf of our current and future players, I am so grateful to Mike and Noelle for their leadership. This will make such a wonderful impact.”
The scoreboard will be installed on the south-retaining wall of the tennis courts, on the CFA side of the facility.