MIKE AND SUSAN DEAHR GIVE $10,000 TO THE ATHLETIC COMPLEX
Fourth generation West Liberty graduates are happy to see their grandkids benefit from West Liberty Schools
WEST LIBERTY, IA – Mike and Susan Deahr have given $10,000 to the West Liberty Schools athletic complex project. The Deahrs reside on a farm outside of West Liberty and are part of a long line of West Liberty High School graduates. Susan Deahr is the daughter of Jay Steen, and the Steen family has a long tradition of supporting West Liberty Schools and area projects. The Deahrs say a big motivation behind their gift is helping West Liberty be more competitive with surrounding school districts.
“We are competing with schools much larger than us only 20 minutes away,” said Mike. “Sue and I want to see West Liberty compete on multiple levels – academics, fine arts, sports, etc. – and we know it takes additional investment to make that happen. State and Federal funding isn’t enough if we want to be the best.”
Rough grading on the first phase of the project is expected to start in August. The outdoor fields and facilities are expected to open with a home football game in fall of 2023. Multiple activities will be impacted by phase one including football, soccer, baseball, softball, and track. Phase two, the indoor facility, will impact all sports and fine arts with a weight room, training room, and indoor practice field, and batting cages. The Deahrs say this is another reason they support the project.
“We are happy this project will impact so many kids,” said Sue. “We believe a smaller school has huge benefit because all kids can participate. You do not have to be an elite athlete or musician to contribute. Our kids played sports and it was good for them, but they didn’t have to be stars to make the team. West Liberty has had many athletic achievements with student-athletes of all capabilities. We are proud of that.”
Superintendent, Shaun Kruger, hopes the district will grow and students that graduate from West Liberty will want to come back and raise their own families here.
“I am very happy to be in West Liberty and I hope to stay for a long time,” said Kruger. “I’d love to see students graduate and then return and make a home here after college. The Deahrs are a great example of how the school benefits when generations of families commit to a district. It was great to meet Mike and Sue and hear their perspective. We are very grateful for their gift.”
Mike and Sue have two sons that graduated from West Liberty, and now have five grandchildren in the district. They said they feel blessed that their children have made a home in West Liberty and to have grandchildren in the district.
“We are lucky,” said Sue. “Our sons chose to stay in West Liberty, but they wouldn’t have done that if they didn’t feel that their kids could get a good education. We are grateful to have a good school that attracts families.”
Activities Director, Adam Loria, said the word is out and he is getting a lot of questions and interest from individuals in other communities and school districts.
“I live in Iowa City, and people there are hearing about this project and asking questions,” said Loria. “The amount of donations coming in is definitely getting noticed and people are saying ‘that seems like a good place to be’. Thank you so very much to the Deahr family. This gets us one step closer to our goal and gives us another press release to put out and keep the buzz going.”
Contacts:
Shaun Kruger, West Liberty Superintendent 319-627-2116
Adam Loria, West Liberty Activities Director 319-627-2116