Nail-Driving Contest Highlights Completion of Cougar House III

Traverse Mountain (July 7, 2003) - A nail-driving competition and a ribbon-cutting ceremony this Thursday, July 10, will officially mark the completion of Cougar House III at the new Traverse Mountain Development--east of Thanksgiving Point, just off the Alpine/Highland Exit and I-15. Cougar House is an annual Utah Valley Home Builders Association project designed to raise money for athletic scholarships at Brigham Young University. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.

Cougar House III is located at 2467 West Stonehaven Loop in the Traverse Mountain Development. The home, which has majestic views of the valley and Thanksgiving Point Golf Course, is a 2,000-square foot finished brick house with a three-car garage. It includes three finished bedrooms, three bathrooms and an open kitchen, nook and family room area. There is beautiful tile, cabinetry and finish work throughout the home, and the spacious view lot has been fully landscaped by Kuhni Landscaping. In the unfinished basement, there is room for two more bedrooms, a second family room, additional bathrooms and a home theater.

"The annual Cougar House project has had an enormous positive impact for BYU Athletics," said Val Hale, director of men's athletics at BYU. "Our ongoing relationship with the Utah Valley Home Builders Association is incredible. The generosity of Traverse Mountain's developers, the talent of UVHBA's members and the financial backing we receive from Far West Bank unite to provide much-needed financial assistance for our endowed scholarship program."

The home was built by more than 70 contractors, suppliers and tradesmen who donated their time, materials and labor to this project. It is the third completed home in the partnership between the UVHBA and BYU athletics. Cougar House I, completed in July 2001, is located in Springville in ArrowStar Construction's Camelot Village; Cougar House II, finished in July 2002, is located in The Ranches in Eagle Mountain. The combined estimated proceeds from the three Cougar Houses will be $400,000 that will endow athletic scholarships at BYU.

The recipients of this year's UVHBA scholarships will be construction management major Brandon Stephens, a starting lineman on the BYU Football Team, and Kassi Andersen, a national champion steeplechaser and All-American cross country athlete.

"The Cougar House represents a wonderful partnership between Traverse Mountain and the BYU Athletic Endowment Fund," said Stephen Christensen, an owner and manager of the Traverse Mountain Development. "Traverse Mountain and US Bank are pleased to participate in this tremendous effort."

Tours of Cougar House III will be made available through this year's Utah Valley Parade of Homes, July 12-26. Sponsored by the UVHBA, the 2003 Parade will feature the Cougar House and 25 other homes throughout Utah Valley. Tickets are $7 and may be purchased at any of the 26 home sites, any Far West Bank and the Provo Towne Centre Mall.

"This is the third Cougar House that has been built by the UVHBA, and we hope to continue to make it an annual event," said UVHBA President Dave Lewis. This is the greatest opportunity we have as home builders to be able to contribute in a small way to our local community, and it wouldn't be possible without the generous support of the developers of Traverse Mountain."

The Utah Valley Home Builders Association is a non-profit 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. All participants--including builders, subcontractors and suppliers--become Cougar Club members and receive club membership benefits. Members of the UVHBA and Cougar House III will be featured at upcoming BYU football games in the fall.