Ribbon Cutting Celebrates Completion of Cougar House II

A key and check presentation, as well as a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Tuesday to officially mark the completion of Cougar House II at The Ranches in Eagle Mountain. Cougar House is an annual Utah Valley Home Builders Association project designed to raise money for athletic scholarships at Brigham Young University.

Located on a three-acre lot at 8061 North Simpson Road at The Ranches, Cougar House II was built by more than 60 contractors, suppliers and tradesmen who donated their time, materials and labor. It is the second project of its kind. The original Cougar House, located at Camelot Village in Springville, was completed in July 2001, under the direction of the UVHBA. Proceeds from the sale of each Cougar House are used to endow athletic scholarships at BYU.

"The annual Cougar House project has been an unbelievable experience for BYU Athletics," said Val Hale, director of men's athletics at BYU. "Our ongoing relationship with the Utah Valley Home Builders is very exciting. The generosity and talent of the UVHBA members combined with Scott Kirkland of The Ranches, and the John D. Jacob Company, will provide much-needed financial assistance for our scholarship endowment program."

Net proceeds from the original Cougar House ($106,000), combined with proceeds from Cougar House II ($141,500), will be placed in an endowment scholarship fund. Each year, interest from the endowment will be used to fund grant-in-aids for student-athletes. It takes approximately $200,000 to endow a single scholarship at BYU. Andrew Ord, a senior wide receiver on the football team, who is majoring in construction management, will be the first recipient of the Cougar House scholarship.

"It has been very rewarding for The Ranches to be involved with Cougar House II," said Kirkland, who donated the three-acre property for the project. "This has been a great opportunity to assist the Utah Valley Home Builders in supporting the BYU Athletic Department. We are excited to have Cougar House II in this year's Parade of Homes and anticipate great exposure for future Cougar House projects."

Fred Skousen (BYU Advancement VP), Val Hale and Elaine Michaelis (BYU Athletics); Mike Middleton and Rick Clayton (Cougar Club); Mitch McCuistion and Brad Simons (UVHBA); Scott Kirkland, John Jacob and Brian Haskell (The Ranches); Kelvin Bailey (Mayor of Eagle Mountain); and Scott Hazard (Relator); participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Cougar House II is a 1,790-square foot rambler that has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a three-car garage and a full basement. Features include brick and stucco exterior, vaulted ceilings, central vacuum, fireplace, tile floors, master suite and a jetted tub. The lot also has animal rights and is partially landscaped. Groundbreaking for the Cougar House II project took place on April 29, 2002.

A check for the net proceeds from the sale of Cougar House II is presented to the Cougar Club to go towards the Scholarship Endowment Program. (BYU Photo)

Tours of Cougar House II will be free to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays from noon until 9 p.m. during the Utah Valley Parade of Homes, July 13-27 . Sponsored by the UVHBA, the 2002 Parade will feature 25 homes throughout Utah Valley. Tickets for the entire Parade are $7 and may be purchased at any Far West Bank, the Provo Towne Centre Mall, or at any of the 25 Parade Homes. More than 25,000 people attended the Parade of Homes in 2001.

"We appreciate our partnership with BYU," said McCuistion, UVHBA Chair of Cougar House II. "Joining together with The Ranches and BYU Athletics has been a great experience for members of the Utah Valley Home Builder Association. We are pleased that Cougar House II is part of the 2002 Parade of Homes."

The Utah Valley Home Builders Association is a nonprofit association serving the community since 1973. Affiliated with the Utah State Home Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders, UVHBA represents home builders, remodelers, developers, light commercial builders and association members affiliated with the building industry. The UVHBA annually participates in projects that benefit the community, but this is the only project of its kind in the state of Utah built entirely through donations from builders and contractors in the area.

"This has been a great cooperative effort and the skills of these craftsmen are reflected in the home," Middleton said. "The Cougar Club is grateful to the UVHBA for their professionalism and generosity in this on-going project."

All participants -- including builders, subcontractors and suppliers -- will become Cougar Club members and receive membership benefits. Members of the UVHBA will be featured at an up-coming BYU football game in the fall.