(KTNC)--After nearly two years of construction, Peru State College celebrated the completion of its newly refurbished football stadium Saturday.
 Work on a $9 million renovation of the Oak Bowl began after the final home football game of the 2012 season. A combination of state funds and private donations paid for the renovation, which includes a new artificial turf field, new lighting, expanded seating, a new press box, councourse area, concession stand, handicap-accessible restrooms, and pedestrian access.
 The $7.5 million provided by the Nebraska Legislature for the Oak Bowl project is the largest single construction appropriation for Peru State College by the state of Nebraska.
 Peru State President, Dr. Dan Hanson, welcomed people to a ceremony Saturday afternoon and said the renovation of the football stadium is about more than just football. He said it's about an investment in the future of Peru State College and the Nebraska State College System. He said quality facilities are a reflection of a quality institution and the quality education students receive at Peru State College.
 Nebraska State College System Chancellor Stan Carpenter thanked people for their commitment to the college; a commitment he says extends beyond the Oak Bowl, to Peru State College, which he called a vital part of southeast Nebraska.
 Carpenter noted that the first college football game in Nebraska was played at Peru State in 1885 and the Oak Bowl was built in 1901 – 22 years before Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. The first game in the Oak Bowl was played between Peru State, which was then called the Nebraska State Normal School, and Falls City High School, with the collegiate team winning by a score of 30-0.
 A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held before the 7:00 p.m. football game between Peru State and Midland University. In a ceremony Saturday afternoon, the college unveiled a donor wall, which contains the names of 70 individuals and organizations that donated at least $2,500 to the project.
 In addition to the donor wall, entrances were dedicated Saturday to former Peru State football players Jim Kanter and Jim Krajchek, and a plaque was unveiled recognizing the contribution of former District One State Senator and current Lieutenant Governor Lavon Heidemann in securing the state appropriation for the renovation.
 The field will also be used for Peru State’s intramural program and a variety of other events, including band competitions, camps, and high school football playoffs. With the expanded seating, Peru State set an attendance record at Saturday night’s football game with more than 2,400 fans in attendance to watch the Bobcats open the 2014 season.