Homecoming at Chadron State College was capped Saturday afternoon by groundbreaking ceremonies for the multi-million dollar expansion and upgrade of the Armstrong Gymnasium complex.

Just minutes after CSC had defeated Western New Mexico 41-23, the victorious Eagles’ team and the college band led a procession a short distance from Elliot Field to a speakers’ platform just east of the Victory Arch and Bell for the brief ceremony.

CSC Interim President Dr. Randy Rhine told the crowd it will be competitive with any school in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, and said afterward that the day had been a great one in CSC history.

The Nebraska legislature earlier this year approved $6.7-million dollars for the project, while the Chadron State Foundation raised most of the rest through its 5-year Vision 2011 capital campaign…which raised over $16-million dollars for a variety of purposes including the Armstrong project and the new Rangeland Center ag complex.