For Immediate Release – September 11, 2020
EIU celebrates enhanced partnership with First Mid
(Charleston, IL) -Eastern Illinois University’s basketball and volleyball court has a new name, thanks to a recent contribution.
In today’s regular September meeting, EIU’s Board of Trustees voted to provide naming recognition of the Lantz Arena basketball and volleyball court to First Mid Bancshares, Inc. The University will officially rename the University’s basketball and volleyball court in Lantz Arena “First Mid Court.”
Through its contributions, First Mid is helping Eastern Illinois University to underwrite the costs for several upgrades to Lantz Arena, which serves as home to the Panthers volleyball and basketball programs, as well as being the host site for Eastern Illinois University’s annual spring and winter commencement ceremonies and other University and community events.
As part of the sponsorship, the “First Mid Court” name will be added to the Lantz Arena floor for the next five years. That and a variety of other upgrades supported by the gift will dramatically improve the aesthetics of Lantz Arena while enhancing patron experiences for games, events, and other activities regularly held in the venue.
“First Mid has been a leader in the Coles County community for many years, and this generous gift once again demonstrates their commitment to investing in the University and the various communities Eastern Illinois University serves,” said EIU President Dr. David Glassman. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to First Mid for its dedication to EIU and its mission, and for the longstanding relationship EIU shares with the entire First Mid organization.”
Joe Dively, a longtime member of EIU’s Board of Trustees, also serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Mid’s parent company, First Mid Bancshares, Inc. For that reason, Dively abstained from the official vote. Following the board meeting, however, he celebrated EIU and First Mid for their newest partnership, which he feels will further support EIU and the East Central Illinois region it serves for several years.
“EIU is a vital part of our community and has been a distinguished academic institution for more than a century,” Dively said after the meeting adjourned. “Many of First Mid’s employees are proud EIU graduates and we’re pleased to contribute to its ongoing success, in the spirit of partnership and investment in the future.”
EIU Athletic Director Tom Michael echoed Dively’s sentiment.
“We are extremely thankful for our long partnership with First Mid,” Michael said. “Their generous capital gift will allow us to enhance several key areas in the Arena that will significantly impact the experience for both our EIU student-athletes and Panther fans.”
Due to the current COVID landscape, fall sports at Eastern Illinois for the 2020 season have been postponed to the spring of 2021. Currently the 2020-21 EIU basketball schedule is slated to begin on Tuesday, Nov. 10 with the Panthers hosting a men’s and women’s doubleheader on the newly named First Mid Court at Lantz Arena.
For more information about EIU, or to explore its growing assortment of programs and services, visit the university’s website at www.eiu.edu, or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.
