NORFOLK, NE – In an effort to encourage additional attendance at local intercollegiate athletic contests, Northeast Community College has launched an initiative to allow the general public to attend all of Northeast’s regular season, home athletic contests at no charge.

This includes fall athletic programs of volleyball, golf, and men’s and women’s soccer; winter sports of men’s and women’s basketball; and men’s baseball and women’s softball in the spring.

Kurt Kohler, dean of Student Life and Athletics, said Northeast student-athletes enjoy competing in front of crowds.

“Offering complementary admission really provides a perfect opportunity for our fans and the community to come out to watch and cheer on our athletic teams. We appreciate the enthusiasm we have received over the years and this is our way to say ‘thank you’ for the public’s continued support of Hawks athletics.”

Kohler said his department will be speaking with sponsors to underwrite athletic contests throughout the year to assist in covering the expenses to hold the events.

The free admission is for Northeast regular season contests only and excludes National Junior College Athletic Association national and regional championship tournament games and matches, as well as high school sponsored and other special events.

Northeast Community College hosts basketball and volleyball games at the Cox Activities Center on its Norfolk campus. Soccer matches and baseball games are played at Veterans Memorial Field, while softball games are held at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park in Norfolk. The golf team competes at Fairplay Golf Couse and at the Norfolk Country Club.

The first home fall contests will be Friday, August 31, and Saturday, September 1, as the Northeast volleyball team will host a tournament featuring Lake Region State College (ND), Fort Scott Community College (KS), and Southeast Community College (NE).

The Hawks will face Lake Region on August 31, at 5 p.m., followed by a match against Fort Scott at 7 p.m. Northeast will face Southeast on September 1, at 1 p.m.