CMU alum donates $25,000 to add “Flying C” to outside of Events Center

A large “Flying C” hung on the north side of the Central Michigan University Events Center facing Broomfield Road came with no price tag for the university.

The “Flying C” cost about $25,000 and was privately donated by Jeffrey Seeley, a 1982 CMU alum and president and CEO of Carew International, a sales training and consulting organization out of Ohio. The “Flying C” is maroon with gold trim lit by orange backlights at night.

“(Seeley’s) commitment to CMU really shows through,” said Stan Shingles, assistant vice president of University Recreation, Events and Conferences.

The “Flying C” was part of the original plan for renovations for the Events Center but was later cut after other projects were given higher priority.

“It wasn’t one of our higher priorities,” Shingles said. “We had a large request for different things and we only had so much money. We had to prioritize things in working with the architect.”

The plan to hang the “Flying C” was added back into the renovation project after being funded by Seeley.

“It’s a neat opportunity to put the university’s mark on a major thoroughfare in our community,” said Dave Heeke, director of athletics.

Other renovations to the Events Center include the addition of the north lobby/atrium, a new entrance and expansion of the south lobby and installation of air conditioning and new plumbing for bathrooms.

Holland sophomore Sabrina Parker supports the addition of the “Flying C” on the building.

“It’s a good way to show school spirit for the MSU game,” she said. “It shows school pride.”

Seeley could not be reached for comment.