ALMA — The Hogan Center is Alma College’s primary venue for commencement, convocation, major events and athletics. For many members of the campus and local communities, as well as visitors to the institution, it’s a gathering place, as well as a showcase of Alma College as a whole.

That showcase will be enhanced, thanks to the addition of new furniture in the Carra Jones Smith ’42 Lobby and the David ’60 and Patricia ’59 Hubbard Lobby, made possible by a generous donation by Alma College parents Jeff and Stephanie Leppien.

“For us, it’s about seeing a need and doing what you can to help,” Jeff Leppien said. “Whether it’s something big or small, financial or otherwise, it’s important for us, to give back, for so many reasons related to our family and faith, as well as our love for this community and institution.”

Added Stephanie Leppien: “Alma College has been wonderful for us, our family and this community. We’re excited to make a donation that can have an impact in this way.”

The new furniture coming to the David ’60 and Patricia ’59 Hubbard Lobby, located on the second floor of the Hogan Center and just outside of Cappaert Gymnasium, generally supports smaller group gatherings. It includes single-person tables and couches and ottomans with hard tabletops, in order to facilitate working students.

Coming to the Carra Jones Smith ’42 Lobby, located on the ground floor of the Hogan Center and just outside of Art Smith Arena, is furniture that benefits larger groups, including multi-person tables and sectional couches. The older furniture that currently occupies both spaces will be repurposed elsewhere on campus.

“Whenever a space like this is built, its usage changes over time. With Alma being such a close-knit community, we’ve seen firsthand how this space has changed. We thought it was important to accommodate those changes, in order to present Alma College in the best possible light to the people using this space,” Stephanie Leppien said.

Jeff Leppien is a lifelong Alma resident and current vice president at Garr Tool, a manufacturing firm and one of the largest employers in Gratiot County. Stephanie Leppien works as an administrator at His Place Family Enrichment Center and volunteers in numerous capacities for community causes, including the Alma Public Schools Board of Education. The couple met as students at Anderson (Ind.) University and moved back to Alma to start a family. Two of their three sons, Matthew and Samuel, graduated from or currently attend Alma College, respectively, and both participated in athletics during their time as students.

The Leppien family is known for its quiet, humble contributions to Alma College and other philanthropic causes in and around Gratiot County over the course of many years. The Wright Leppien Opera House Block in downtown Alma is partially named in honor of Jeff and Stephanie Leppien, as well as Jeff Leppien’s parents, John and Cleo. In addition to the Hogan Center project, Jeff and Stephanie Leppien have contributed to the new Andrus Family Field House, as well as other projects.

“Jeff and Stephanie Leppien care deeply about Alma College and the local community,” said Senior Director of Alumni and Engagement Sarah Dehring. “They have a commitment to growth and development within the community, as well as a vision to modernize and enhance the facilities at Alma College.

“The Carra Jones Smith ’42 and the David ’60 and Patricia ’59 Hubbard lobbies are both high-traffic areas on campus. The new furniture will provide a beautiful and welcoming meeting and gathering space, as well as a more comfortable study area. We are truly grateful for the Leppiens’ continued support and generosity.”

The Hogan Center, built in 1969, houses Art Smith Arena, Cappaert Gymnasium, McClure Natatorium and the Baker Jones Educational Unit. It also contains a state-of-the-art fitness center, training room and athletic department offices. The new furniture comes on the 15-year anniversary of the completed construction of the downstairs lobby and Art Smith Arena, a $10.2-million project that was dedicated in October 2010.

“We see this as a recognition that the Hogan Center is not only a place for Alma College student-athletes — who comprise some 70 percent of our first-year student body — but also an active area where our local community members gather,” said Vice President for Advancement Robert Murray ’88. “In addition to their philanthropic support, we are grateful to the Leppiens for their vision and the way that it matches ours.”

For more information on giving at Alma College, visit alma.edu/giving.