By: Jordan Griffitt
In the fall of 2025, Kennesaw State sports fans will take part in something bigger than what's taking place on the field: They will be part of a family.
On Aug. 19, KSU Athletics announced that the field at Fifth Third Stadium, home of the Owls' football, soccer and lacrosse programs, will be named Walens Family Field in recognition of a $4 million philanthropic gift from Dave and Donna Walens.
"This is all about family," Dave said. "Donna has been by my side for this incredible journey, and she doesn't care if we live in a shack or a mansion. She kept my feet planted firmly on the ground, and now we have three daughters and nine grandchildren. I had to prove to myself and my family that this was all possible."
Dave Walens, a successful entrepreneur, credits dedication and determination as the foundation for his career, a quality he also sees in KSU students.
His eye for business was formed at age 13 when he launched a landscaping company with a friend from school. His friend's mother kept the books for the business, a ledger he still has today. Later, Walens gained sales experience selling jewelry in high school and for his stepfather's company before making the brief jump to college.
He enrolled at the former Kennesaw Junior College but left after three weeks to pursue business full-time.
At age 21, Walens entered the trade show industry, an ascending market at the time. He said his early mistakes laid the groundwork for his later accomplishments.
"My company was just me for the first month. It was a long time of trial and error and learning from failures. I just chose to make those mistakes out in the business world rather than the classroom," he said.
By 1984, Walens had grown his business into a $1 million operation. At the turn of the century, he founded Exploring Inc., a parent company of several Atlanta-based companies. In 2024, he sold Exploring Inc., calling it one of the toughest decisions he had ever made.
Reflecting on his journey, Walens said he had accomplished everything he set out to do in the business world, and it was time to focus on family and giving back.
In 2017, Kennesaw State launched the state's first undergraduate entrepreneurship degree program with support from the Walens family. Since 2019, he has served on the KSU Foundation Board of Trustees, a role he has cherished for six years.
In that time, the Walens family's ties to KSU Athletics grew stronger.
"When men's basketball was in the ASUN championship about to face Liberty, I was in Bordeaux, France," he said. "After they made it to the championship game, Donna and I knew we needed to get to Kennesaw as soon as possible. We moved up our flights from Bordeaux to Paris to Atlanta so we could have a chance to get to the game. After a full day of international travel, we finally got in the car and arrived 30 minutes before tipoff. It was worth every minute."
Walens said one of the most profound traits he sees in KSU student-athletes is the same one that propelled his career: dedication and determination.
"I hope this field signifies hope and opportunity for every student who sits in this stadium," he said. "I want them to know that you can achieve anything and reach as high as you possibly want to."
Kennesaw State football will make its debut on Walens Family Field Sept. 13 versus Merrimack at 6 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here.
