Campus News

May 26th, 2026

Eiswert Family supports GC archway initiative

Athletic Campaign archway to be built in front of 700 Building

The Eiswert Family's connection to Garrett College runs pretty deep.

"I was lucky to grow up in a family that cared about ideas and learning," said David Eiswert. "Garrett College is a nexus for both. It deserves our gratitude and support."

That philosophy powered the Eiswert Family's decision to support the Garrett College Foundation's Athletics Capital Campaign. Eiswert recently secured on behalf of his family the second naming gift on the Donor Archway that will be built to complete Garrett College's 700 Building renovation.

"Garrett College has enabled the first steps for so many people," said Eiswert. "I attended events at the College with my parents [Len and Kathy Eiswert], and more than one sports camp myself. . . . As to what prompted this gift – well, that comes down to my Mom and her philosophy of stepping up and getting involved when you get a chance to help others."

"We appreciate the Eiswert Family's generous gift," said Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College's president. "I'm very excited about the Donor Archway, which will provide a truly striking entrance to the renovated 700 Building. Our athletes, their families, and guests will travel under that archway every time they enter what's going to be a wonderful facility for the College."

The Athletics Capital Campaign is raising funds to renovate the 700 Building to support Garrett College's expanding intercollegiate athletic programs. The renovation will provide additional locker rooms, athletic training and rehabilitation space, conference space, and coaches offices for the four teams – women's and men's soccer, baseball, and softball – that use the adjoining turf field.

Eiswert – who moved to Garrett County when he was 5 years old – noted his parents "spent 45 years of their lives deeply enmeshed in the community, and my brother and his family live in Oakland."

"That spirit of stepping up – that my Mom lives by – is something the place itself taught us," said Eiswert, who is a Baltimore-based portfolio manager with T. Rowe Price's Global Equity Division. "My work has taken me all over the world and into all sorts of situations, but I consider the experiences of growing up in the mountains of Western Maryland, and the lessons I learned there, as foundational to my journey."

Garrett County Government and the Garrett College Board of Trustees have jointly funded nearly $5 million in construction costs for the renovation, which will be completed in early summer. The athletics capital campaign will fund furniture and equipment in addition to helping offset some of those construction costs, according to Garrett College Foundation Executive Director Cherie Krug.

Midcap said expansion of GC's intercollegiate athletic program, which has grown from four to eight teams since 2018, has helped dramatically increase the College's enrollment.

"At a time when colleges across the country are closing or consolidating, we've been thriving," said Midcap. "We grew nearly 10 percent in credit enrollment during the 2025-26 academic year compared to the previous year, and have increased enrollment by over 30 percent in the last four years.

"The increase in student athletes – we've gone from 70 in 2021 to 194 this year – has played a big role in that success," said Midcap.

Midcap said revenue generated by the expansion of intercollegiate athletics has helped the College launch a radiological technology program and keep its in-county tuition rate at $99 per credit since 2021. It has also helped GC improve student success metrics – including this spring's 96 percent satisfactory academic standing rating.

Midcap said the capital campaign, which started last June, should be wrapped up by late summer.

"We've already received commitments for 23 of the 27 major gift opportunities," he reported. "We are working now on identifying donors for the final four major namings – the four remaining spots on the Donor Archway."

The College and the Foundation recently announced two smaller naming opportunities that will help close out the campaign.

"We've just launched a locker-naming campaign – similar to the seat-naming initiative that was part of the Performing Arts Center Capital Campaign," said Foundation representative Janet Kepple. "We are also establishing a donor wall right inside the renovated 700 Building that's similar to the donor instillation inside the PAC."

The donor wall has three giving tiers - $10,000 (gold), $5,000 (silver), and $1,000 (bronze).

Individuals interested in information about giving to the GCF Athletics Capital Campaign should contact Cherie Krug at cherie.krug@garrettcollege.edu or 301.387.3100.