Hampden-Sydney College marked a striking moment in its 250th anniversary celebration last month, cutting the ribbon on the new Shooting Sports Academy set on the College’s birthplace at historic Slate Hill in Prince Edward County, Virginia.
The November 7, 2025, ceremony tied together nearly two and a half centuries of institutional history with a facility built for a sport whose popularity on campus has surged.
The Slate Hill site—where Hampden-Sydney College first took shape in 1775—now hosts a modern complex featuring two skeet and trap fields, two five-stand fields, a third area with 16 shooting stations and a lake. Though already in use, the Academy will continue expanding through spring 2026, when a dedicated practice range, events hall and lodge are expected to open.
College leaders, donors, alumni and members of the local shooting sports community gathered to celebrate the project, including President Larry Stimpert, former Board of Trustees chairman Tom Allen, shooting team head coach Ty Schoolar and Dean of Students Richard Pantele. Their enthusiasm reflected the years of collaboration behind the new facility.
“This project at Hampden-Sydney Shooting Sports Academy has certainly been a passion for a lot of people, especially for many of our students and alumni. Through it, the College has developed a renewed passion for the shooting sports,” Pantele said.
The moment carried particular weight for students who have watched the idea grow from rumor to reality. Shooting Team Captain and Student Senate Chairman Wills Jannerbo recalled hearing whispers of a new range during his freshman year.
“I never would have dreamed of something as cool as this!” he said. “I can’t imagine what the teams that come after us will experience with the foundation you’ve laid for us here.”
Associate Dean of Students for Student Conduct and Director of Greek Life Dwayne Bowyer said the team’s competitive results show exactly why the new facility matters. With top performers already putting up standout numbers, he sees momentum building.
“With coach Ty Schoolar and now with the new facility and support from our alumni, it’s only going to get better,” he said.
The Academy’s debut offered more than a ceremonial milestone—it signaled Hampden-Sydney College’s deeper commitment to the precision, discipline and camaraderie found in the shooting sports. On land where Hampden-Sydney College first took shape, the crack of shotguns now rings out, echoing both tradition and the promise of what comes next.
Watch video of the official opening of the Slate Hill Shooting Academy on YouTube.
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