WATERVILLE — As Thomas College nears the completion of a new $10.2 million sports center, the school announced Wednesday the 18,000-square-foot center will be named in honor of a family that for years has worked to support charitable efforts in the region.

The facility will be named the Sukeforth Family Sports Center, according to a news release issued by the college. It will house a strength and conditioning training space, coaches’ offices, locker rooms, esports facility and the Athletics Hall of Fame. Esports is short for electronic sports and is a form of competition using video games.

Doug and Rita Sukeforth donated to the center through their family foundation, but the amount of the gift is confidential. Several members of the Sukeforth family graduated from Thomas College and the family has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over many years for charitable causes, particularly those focusing on children, the elderly and families in need. For many years the family ran the Festival of Trees fundraiser in Waterville and before that held an annual pig roast and auction.

“The family believes deeply in Thomas’ mission and the way the institution delivers on it, understanding that an investment in young people is an investment in our collective future,” Chris Parsons, vice president of intercollegiate athletics at Thomas, said in the release. “When the family received the opportunity to make a transformational investment that would serve students and the community, they were eager to contribute.”

An NCAA Division III school, Thomas has 18 varsity teams and approximately 400 student-athletes — about 40% of the student body — at its campus at 180 West River Road in Waterville. Included in the varsity teams is esports, where students compete in online games, including “Rocket League” or “League of Legends.”

The building is not meant to replace the Alfond Athletic Center, which was designed for use by the full student body, not just athletes. As the college has expanded, it has outgrown the facility and the new complex is meant to be used in addition to the Alfond Athletic Center.

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