BUCKHANNON — Lights are coming to Cebe Ross Field on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College next year thanks to an anonymous donor.

President Dr. James Moore announced the new project in a video released Thursday morning, saying the school has secured the funding needed to install lights at the field, which is home to the Bobcat football, lacrosse and track-and-field teams.

“Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, we’ve been able to secure 100% of the funding to construct a state-of-the-art lighting system at our multi-sport stadium this spring,” Moore said.

The lighting project comes nearly a decade after the school kicked off major renovations at Cebe Ross Field by converting the playing surface from grass to artificial turf. It will open new opportunities for the school, including the ability to host Thursday night football games. It will also allow the soccer teams to hold night games when the grass field is unavailable due to weather conditions. Previously, they had to play during the afternoon or at Buckhannon-Upshur High School.

And Moore said the lights will benefit more than just athletics.

“While lighting will immediately benefit home teams that utilize the stadium for competition in games like women’s lacrosse and football, it will have impacts across our entire campus,” Moore said. “It will open up intramural seasons for all students. It will enable practice and performance space for the Bobcat Marching Band, and it will engage countless opportunities for camps and festivals like we experienced in the summer of 2023 with the World Association of Marching Show Bands competition.”

According to Moore, the college has also updated its campus master plan.

“Over the next several months, you’ll learn more about our shared vision for the future of Wesleyan’s physical campus, including athletic recreational housing and academic facility improvements,” he said. “There is a lot of work that’s going to need to be done, and a lot of fundraising that’s going to have to happen too. We deeply appreciate the donors who made this possible, as well as everyone who helps to transform the lives of students and positively impact their experience here at Wesleyan.”