The purple and white checkerboard at Nelson Stadium is more than a new design feature on Valley Bank Field. It is becoming a symbol of legacy, pride, and the generations of Fighting Saints who helped build Carroll College Athletics into what it is today.
Now, through the newly launched Carroll College Checkerboard Club, alumni and supporters have the opportunity to become part of that legacy in a visible and lasting way.
Stretching across the stadium's iconic end zone, the checkerboard pattern immediately captures attention on game day. Players sprint across it after touchdowns. Fans gather around it in celebration. Future Saints will one day look toward those same purple and white squares as part of the tradition that defines Carroll football and Carroll athletics as a whole.
But behind every square is something deeper: a story of support.
The Checkerboard Club was created as both a fundraising initiative and a tribute to the people who believe in the future of Carroll College student-athletes. With only 240 available squares in the end zone, supporters who contribute $1,000 or more can become Founding Members of the club, choosing their own purple or white square and securing recognition for the next five years inside Nelson Stadium.
For many alumni, the opportunity represents more than simply placing their name inside a stadium. It is a chance to leave a mark on a program and institution that helped shape their lives.
The initiative is also helping Carroll College complete the final phases of the Nelson Stadium renovation project. Contributions directly support stadium and facility improvements that benefit current and future student-athletes.
"The Checkerboard Club is a great way to support Carroll athletics and the valuable investment in making our stadium a first-class facility," said Tom Downey, Carroll College Board of Trustees member and Co-Chair of the Stadium Project. "We can all be proud of how well it looks and what an improvment the new turf and lights are."
Downey noted that the vision extends well beyond today's improvements.
"We are hopeful that the Checkerboard Club will be a way to fund the new turf when it needs to be replaced in about 10 years," he said. "Contributions now will be used to help complete the funding of the stadium. Please support this valuable project."
The project is already backed by a strong group of Carroll champions. Founding supporters highlighted in the campaign include Tom and Wendy Downey, John and Lori Michelotti, Bill and Donna War, and John and Shelley Girolami. Downey and Dr. John Michelotti, former trustee and fellow Co-Chair of the stadium project, are helping lead the effort to rally the Carroll community behind the vision.
What makes the Checkerboard Club especially meaningful is the way it physically connects donors to the student-athlete experience. Every touchdown celebration, every soccer match, every victory at Nelson Stadium will unfold on a field shaped by the generosity of alumni, families, and friends who chose to invest in Carroll's future.
The checkerboard itself stands as a visual reminder that no athletic tradition is built alone. It is built square by square, supporter by supporter, generation after generation.
As Carroll College continues to strengthen its athletic programs and campus experience, the Checkerboard Club offers supporters a rare opportunity: the chance to claim a visible piece of Carroll history while helping write the next chapter for Fighting Saints athletics.
Ready to leave your mark on Carroll College Athletics?
Claim your purple or white square in the iconic Nelson Stadium checkerboard and become a Founding Member of the Carroll College Checkerboard Club. With only 240 squares available, this is a unique opportunity to celebrate your Fighting Saints pride while directly supporting the future of Carroll student-athletes.
To reserve your square contact John Girolami at jgirolami@carroll.edu or click here.
Go Saints!
