Lake‑Sumter State College celebrated the formal dedication of the Lake Jem Farms Beach Court Complex at its Leesburg Campus on Friday, July 18. The event honored the individuals and businesses whose generosity made this facility possible and featured the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the courts.

“The success of this College and its Athletics program would not be possible without the generosity and support of our community,” says Dr. Laura Byrd, Interim President and Executive Director of the LSSC Foundation. “Today, we recognize Corey Warner who had the vision for this project and rallied others to make this project a reality. Thank you all for your commitment to Lake-Sumter State College.”

(Corey Warner had the vision for this project and rallied others to make this project a reality. Thank you all for your commitment to Lake-Sumter State College.)

The USA Volleyball championship-quality court complex was built at no cost to the College. Contributions and in-kind support from several local companies made this project possible:

• Lake Jem Farms

• E.R. Jahna Industries

• Raine Tire & Auto

• Randolph Outdoor

• Warner Holding Company

“As our community grows, it’s vital that we continue building strong partnerships, like those we’re celebrating today with Corey Warner and our generous local businesses,” says Senator Keith Truenow. “It’s about investing in the next generation, the ones who will be leading, caring for us, and shaping our future. Sports like beach volleyball help build the teamwork, discipline, and character that young people need to succeed. With continued support and shared vision, I believe we can accomplish great things together in our community.”

“Lake Jem Farms has been rooted in this community for over 30 years, and that spirit of giving back goes back to Senator Truenow’s leadership,” says Corey Warner of Lake Jem Farms. “We’ve been fortunate to grow our business to a place where we can support projects like this, but it truly took a team, from our entire organization to generous partners like E.R. Jahna, Randolph Outdoor, and Raine Tire & Auto all coming together to turn a small idea into something incredible in just over a few months.”

(The Plaque that stands outside the Lake-Sumter State College Lake Jem Farms Beach Court Volleyball Complex.)

Former beach volleyball student-athlete and incoming assistant coach Kaylin McCann was also in attendance to share her perspective as a former player.

“I’ve had the chance to compete at colleges across the country, and I can honestly say these are the nicest beach volleyball courts I’ve ever seen, and that’s because of the incredible generosity of our community,” shared Coach McCann. “Lake-Sumter has shaped me not just as an athlete, but as a person. It’s where I found confidence, community, and the support to grow into who I am today. That’s why it means so much to be back as a coach. I want to give back to the program that gave me everything and help our athletes build the same love for the game and for this College that I carry with me every day.”

“Today we are here to show our appreciation for the individuals and donors that made this possible. This complex will serve as a lasting symbol of your belief in our mission and the potential of every athlete who sets foot on these courts,” says Dr. Byrd, before she and Warner unveiled the dedication plaque outdoors.

Lakehawk Beach Volleyball had a great season, finishing third in the NJCAA/FCSAA Region 8 Championship. They then earned an at-large bid to the NJCAA National Championship, where they finished fourth for the second consecutive year.

Mariana Comartin and Brooke Walker were named to the All-FCSAA Pairs Team and the NJCAA All-America Second Team, joining only 7 other Lakehawks in College history to receive that national recognition.

For more information about Lakehawk Athletics, visit www.lakehawksports.com.