MONTGOMERY, Ala. ---- Auburn University at Montgomery Athletics has received a significant commitment from Mr. and Mrs. Ben McNeill in support of improvements to the Athletics Baseball Complex.
 
"Q.V. Lowe was such an impactful leader in the Montgomery and the River Region during his time as head coach at Auburn University at Montgomery," McNeill said. "I am extremely proud of what AUM has become and of being an alumnus of such a fine institution. Jo and I are excited about the opportunity to support this facility enhancement campaign and look forward to watching the university continue to grow as a NCAA Division II member."
 
As part of the Athletics Department complex enhancement campaign, the McNeill's gift will fund improvements to the baseball complex entrance. 
 
"We are grateful to Ben and Jo McNeill for their generous and loyal support of Auburn University at Montgomery athletics," Auburn University at Montgomery Chancellor Carl A. Stockton said. "Their investment will help generate momentum for our baseball program and for AUM athletics as a whole as we near the end of the NCAA Division II membership process and prepare for full-fledged membership in the Gulf South Conference. The GSC stands out as perhaps the premier league in NCAA Division II, so it's important for AUM to have athletic facilities that will help in attracting high-quality student-athletes and competing for championships."
 
The McNeill family has also been active supporters in other areas on campus, creating the Jo and Ben McNeill Endowed Scholarship for students pursuing degrees in communication disorders. Mr. McNeill currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Auburn University at Montgomery Alumni Association and was named one of AUM's Top 50 at 50 alumni. The couple are members of the 1967 Society and the 1856 Society.
 
"The department of athletics and our student-athletes are extremely grateful to the McNeill family for their generosity," AUM Director of Athletics Jessie Rosa said. "Seeing an alumnus believe in our goals is especially rewarding and is a tremendous commitment to the ideals set forth by the department. This gift will help us improve the gameday experiences of our student-athletes and spectators, as we continue to work toward becoming one of premier NCAA Division II institutions in the nation, both on the field and off."
 
The gift for the AUM Baseball Complex is part of the university's campaign to enhance its current facilities for 11 varsity men's and women's sports, supporting the university's aim of becoming the premier NCAA Division II institution. Learn more about the AUM Athletics Facility Enhancement Campaign by contacting Jessie Rosa at jrosa@aum.edu or 334-244-3712 or Tim Lutz at tlutz1@aum.edu or 334-244-3832.
 
Established in 1967, Auburn University at Montgomery is ranked among the South's top universities by U.S. News and World Report and was named one of the best colleges in the Southeast by The Princeton Review. Consistently chosen as the best university in the area, Auburn Montgomery provides students with detailed knowledge and hands-on, practical experience, often from professionals in the field.