A Look Around The SSC: Eckerd College

This month will feature two schools in the series on the schools of the SSC. First it will be Eckerd College. Eckerd is a four year liberal arts school in Saint Petersburg, Fla. in the Tampa metropolitan area (very tip of St.Pete.)
 Eckerd was established in 1958 and has 1800 students.  Eckerd was founded as Florida Presbyterian College after World War II as part of national growth in post-secondary education. driven by Gls entering college and the anticipated baby boom of children. The United Presbyterian Church and the U.S. Presbyterian Church worked together to start the college, recieving a charter from the Florida legislature in 1958 and opening in 1960. In 1971, Jack Eckerd donated 12.5 million to the college, the largest gift the school ever received.  The school's name was then changed to Eckerd College to recognize Mr.Eckerd's support.
  The past presidents of the college are William Kadel (1958-1968,) Billy Wireman (1968-1977,)  Jack Eckerd (1977, interim President,) Peter Armacost (1977-2000,) and Eugene Hotchkiss (2000-2001, also as interim President.)  Current President Donald R.Eastman has been in that role since July 1st of 2001.
  In the  1980's the college embarked on an extensive developmental program for land owned adjacent to its main campus.  The development included a retirement center and the construction of waterfront homes.  President Armacost would have to eventually retire due to financial irregularities related to these projects.  The school would also lose part of it's endowment, and would eventually lose land adjacent to the campus.
  Some famous alumni of Eckerd are New York Yankees First Baseman Steve Balboni, writer Dorothy Allison, Dennis Lehane (writer of Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone, and Brian Sabean (Gm of the San Fransisco Giants.)
  The school's nickname is the Tritons.  The schools color are navy, teal, and black.  They participate in Division II in athletics.  The school fields 13 teams.
Men's Sports:
Basketball
Soccer
Baseball
Volleyball
Golf
Tennis
Sailing
Woman's Sports:
Sailing
Basketball
Volleyball
Tennis
Softball
Golf
Eckerd also has club sports:
Rugby
Lacrosse
Field Hockey
  The basketball arena is "state of the art" and is called the McArthur Center.