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University of Louisville's Tom Jurich & Stites Chairman Ken Sagan

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC, has committed $2 million dollars toward construction and support for the University of Louisville’s Academic Center of Excellence to help prepare Cardinal student-athletes for their future careers.

“We’re thrilled to provide this gift to the University of Louisville,” said Stites & Harbison Chairman Ken Sagan. “We’ve been longtime supporters of the University’s mission and believe that this is a tremendous opportunity to help the University and its student athletes.”

The gift will be used to assist a number of components of the planned Academic Center of Excellence, including the tutoring program, computer labs and classroom space, where students can obtain the extra instruction and guidance they may need.

“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Stites & Harbison,” said UofL Vice President/Director of Athletics Tom Jurich. “The Academic Center of Excellence will address a critical need for our department and will have a direct impact on the academic success of our student-athletes. Stites & Harbison’s gift delivers us a step closer to building this important facility.”

In recognition of the gift, suite levels on both the east and west sides of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium will be named “Stites & Harbison Suite Level.” The East Suite Level includes 33 luxury suites which were added during the 2010 stadium expansion, while the West Suite Level features 28 suites that were a part of the stadium’s original construction in 1998. The expansive suite levels stretch beyond the full length of the field.

The Academic Center of Excellence is a $14 million, state-of-the-art facility that will be located beneath the Norton Terrace at the South end of the Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. The center will house the academic operations for the entire athletic department and will feature tutorial areas, laboratories, office areas and classroom space. UofL is still in the fundraising stages for the facility.