The naming of the Wildcat Dome's track and field honors Dr. Ron Holt's legacy gift to the Wayne State Foundation.
Wayne State College recently celebrated a student-athlete alumnus by naming the Wildcat Dome’s indoor track and field after Dr. Ron Holt, a 1989 graduate of Wayne State, in honor of his generous legacy gift to the Wayne State Foundation.
The air-supported Wildcat Dome is part of the $30-million Athletic and Recreation Complex renovation and addition that was completed earlier this year, and it will be incredibly impactful on Wayne State’s intercollegiate athletics, student recreation, student-wide wellness programs, and overall community and regional use. The project also included renovations to Rice Auditorium and the Recreation Center.
“Having Dr. Ron Holt’s name on the track and field serves as an inspiration for our current and future students,” said Dr. Marysz Rames, president of Wayne State College. “His impressive academic credentials and the impact he has had through his professional experiences should be celebrated. More importantly, his kind and caring nature, along with his passion for helping others be successful and feel good about who they are as individuals, are personal traits we should all aspire to emulate. The naming of our track and field will serve as a legacy gift for future generations and will serve as a testimony to the impact one individual can have on others by giving of both his time and treasures. Thank you, Ron, for your commitment to Wayne State and our students.”
"I'm truly humbled to see my name on this track and field, a reminder of the incredible impact Coach (LeRoy) Simpson had on my life and the lessons I've carried with me. My heart goes out to every student who steps onto this track. I encourage each of you to chase your dreams and make the world a better place," said Dr. Ron Holt, donor and student-athlete alumnus.
The project's historic improvements are critical for Wayne State’s ability to continue to recruit and retain students by providing an exceptional overall student engagement experience.
“It’s truly an honor to recognize Dr. Ron Holt, not only as a student-athlete alumnus who ran track for the Cats from 1986-89, but also as a major contributor to this transformational project,” said Mike Powicki, director of Wayne State’s Athletic Department. “Ron is someone who has made nearly a life-long commitment of giving back to Wayne State College through his financial support of projects and scholarships, his skills and expertise as a doctor, and his passion and support for students. On behalf of Wayne State College and Wildcat Athletics, we thank Ron for his generosity and for being a wonderful ambassador for Wayne State College!”
Dr. Ron Holt currently practices as a student health psychiatrist at San Francisco State University. His community service began at Wayne State in 2000 when he began returning to campus each homecoming week as a volunteer to educate students on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) issues and civil rights.
Throughout his educational and professional career, Holt has exhibited outstanding accomplishments as a strong advocate and champion of civic engagement and community service.
Holt began the Dr. Ron Holt Civic Engagement Award in 2014, which recognizes a graduating Wayne State senior who has served as an exemplary role model and contributed to the service ethos of the college campus and community. He returns to campus each spring to personally present the award to a student.
Holt has received several awards for his community service across the country and at Wayne State. He received Wayne State’s 2004 Alumni Service Award, Wayne State’s 2012 Alumni Achievement Award, the Wayne State 2017 President’s Diversity Award, and the Wayne State 2019 School of Natural and Social Sciences Outstanding Alumni Award.
In 2022, Holt was elevated to Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and graduated from San Francisco State University with a master of arts degree in Human Sexuality Studies.
In addition to his work as a trustee of the Wayne State Foundation, Holt has created numerous endowed and annual scholarships at Wayne State College. He began his first annual scholarship in 1989 when he was a senior at Wayne State.