Aguascalientes, Ags., February 22, 2024.— The groundbreaking ceremony for the Pan American Gymnasium was held on the Aguascalientes campus of the Universidad Panamericana.
Pan American Gym
At a solemn ceremony held at the university, university staff, students from various degree programs and academic levels, and representatives from the business community gathered to witness the blessing, administered by Father Luis Felipe Quesada Pérez, and the announcement of the start of construction on the gym in the campus sports complex.
The presidium included Mtro. Antonio de los Reyes Moreno, rector of the Aguascalientes campus of the National Autonomous University of the State of Universidad Panamericana ; Ing. Jorge Alberto Sandoval Romo, president of the university’s Board of Trustees; and Ing. Ramón Horacio Barba Gómez, president of the company GC Peasa Grupo Constructor and a member of the university’s Board of Trustees.
Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Gym
This facility is being built to continue enhancing the well-being of the university community and promoting sports within the institution. It aims to contribute to the students’ personal development.
Israel de Jesús Gallegos Parra, M.A., the university’s director of Institutional Development, presented the project to those in attendance and began with some background information. He noted that work on this gym began approximately two years ago, citing several factors as justification:
- Student Presence on Campus: The goal is to create a“destination campus”environment where the community can find all essential services in one place. This will allow students to spend as much time as possible on our campus facilities learning and developing their skills.
- This is a continuation of a master plan that has been in the works since the campus was founded. These are steps toward achieving that plan.
- Strengthening young people's habits. The goal of the gym is to help them develop good habits and build character.
- Listening to the university community: There was strong support for building a gym. The proposal was reviewed, and it was concluded that it was indeed important.
- The university wants to promote three areas among its students: art, culture, and sports. It was deemed necessary to provide a space for students to engage in physical activity.
- To support foreign and international students, who make up 38% of the university population.
Mr. Israel comments: “More than 80% of adolescents worldwide do not get enough physical activity. This, in turn, leads to much greater problems in cognitive development. In children and adolescents, physical activity promotes mental health, concentration, and discipline, as well as what employers frequently ask for: the development of soft skills, such as teamwork and resilience, among others.”
For his part, Jorge Alberto, an engineer, stated: “We are very proud to lay the cornerstone of this magnificent project—the largest on campus in terms of area—in the shortest amount of time. […] The commemorative plaque marking the laying of the cornerstone is a tangible reminder of what can be achieved when we work together toward a common goal. May it serve as a lasting reminder of our commitment to progress and excellence at the university so that we may continue to have a positive impact on the state and the region.”
Antonio de los Reyes, M.A., commented: “Every step in this project has brought us closer to this shared goal, which is to promote college sports and encourage a healthier lifestyle. […] It will benefit more than two thousand people who make up this community. It is here that our students, faculty, and staff will find the tools and support they need to reach their full potential. By helping to reinforce better habits as part of their everyday lives, it will also serve as a hub for community engagement—a place where our students will come together around a shared passion for sports and personal growth.”
Finally, Father Luis Felipe Quesada remarked:“We are not only souls destined for Heaven—which we certainly are—but we are a complete unity of body and soul. When the body is well, it contributes to the happiness of the whole person.”
