BOZEMAN (AP) - The owners of a Great Falls-based construction firm are donating $500,000 to Montana State University to help pay for upgrades to athletic facilities, school officials announced Thursday.

“It’s critical to support the Bobcat athletic program now,” said Bob Sletten, owner of Sletten Construction Cos. “It’s absolutely imperative to have state-of-the-art facilities to remain competitive both academically and athletically.”

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Montana State is installing artificial turf on its football field this summer and planning is under way for more sky suites at Bobcat Stadium. Future plans include an academic support center for athletes and an indoor practice facility, said athletics director Peter Fields.

In 2004, Bob and Pat Sletten provided a $1 million scholarship endowment for students studying in the college of engineering.

“Bob and Pat Sletten have consistently shown over the years that they understand the importance of athletics, as well as academics, to providing a well-rounded and complete university experience,” Fields said.

Schwanke, Hauck to be honored by NFF

The Montana Chapter of the National Football Foundation recently announced the winners of the 11th annual Contribution to Montana Football Award, the organization’s president Bill Sprinkle recently announced.

Missoula’s Bill Schwanke and Tom Hauck will both be honored with the award, while Tom Lorang of Great Falls and Barb Kenison of Butte will also be recognized at the chapter’s annual awards banquet April 26th in Helena.

Each year the Montana chapter recognizes an official, football coach, administrator and members of the media for their contributions to sport.

Schwanke, who works for the Missoulian, is this year’s sports media selection, while Hauck will be honored for his coaching accomplishments as the former head coach at Billings Senior and as an assistant for the University of Montana. Lorang is a longtime referee and the head of officials, while Kenison will be recognized for her administrative contributions and years of work on behalf of the Frontier Conference.

Sports Briefs
By The Missoulian

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/04/25/sports/sports06.txt