University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI Athletics Feature: Panther Scholarship Club
9/21/2020 9:46:00 AM | General
For almost 50 years, the Panther Scholarship Club (PSC) has been providing UNI student-athletes with scholarship opportunities in order to gain an education while playing the sport they love. While the PSC has a strong support system of donors, now more than ever the organization has been relying on its loyal cast of members in order to keep providing these opportunities for student-athletes at UNI in the coming athletic seasons.
The PSC got its start in 1963 as the Century Club as a way for the athletic department at UNI to receive funding. Over the years, it developed into a scholarship fund for UNI student-athletes. Groups of volunteers and community leaders were among the first members of the organization to help raise funds for the department, with there being about 40 volunteers nowadays performing the task of fundraising for PSC. Primarily, these volunteers are tasked with asking around their neighborhoods and the greater Cedar Valley community for help to fund UNI Athletics and the PSC.
While PSC donors receive benefits such as reserved parking for football and men's basketball, hospitality for certain home events or special invitations to the Athletic Director's reception, the main message the PSC sends their donors is that the number one benefit of giving is the fact that any donation, whether big or small, helps UNI student-athletes.
"First and foremost, the greatest benefit is knowing that they are supporting our student-athletes," said Nathaniel Smith, PSC's Assistant Director of Development. "Gifts to the Panther Scholarship Club are truly impactful and make a difference in the lives of our student-athletes. The funds we raise enhance the student-athlete experience and provide them opportunities to be successful athletically and academically.''
While PSC uses many strategies to reach new donors, perhaps the main way is through building relationships with the community and spreading the message through the word of mouth.
"The biggest thing comes down to relationships," said Nathan Christensen, the Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs. "Working with people that we already have relationships with to assist us with opening new doors and opportunities with potential donors. The main thing is utilizing the connections we have that benefit our department and student athletes."
The Panther Scholarship Club is about community and relationships more than anything. Most of the primary donors for the PSC live and work right here in the Cedar Valley area and want to see UNI's student-athletes succeed both on and off the field. The biggest message for donors to remember is that every dollar goes towards every sport in some way or another, and that our relationships with the community are truly the driving force behind what they do. No matter how big or how small, every donation helps the PSC thrive, and thus helps UNI student-athletes with their success both on the field and in the classroom.
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The PSC got its start in 1963 as the Century Club as a way for the athletic department at UNI to receive funding. Over the years, it developed into a scholarship fund for UNI student-athletes. Groups of volunteers and community leaders were among the first members of the organization to help raise funds for the department, with there being about 40 volunteers nowadays performing the task of fundraising for PSC. Primarily, these volunteers are tasked with asking around their neighborhoods and the greater Cedar Valley community for help to fund UNI Athletics and the PSC.
While PSC donors receive benefits such as reserved parking for football and men's basketball, hospitality for certain home events or special invitations to the Athletic Director's reception, the main message the PSC sends their donors is that the number one benefit of giving is the fact that any donation, whether big or small, helps UNI student-athletes.
"First and foremost, the greatest benefit is knowing that they are supporting our student-athletes," said Nathaniel Smith, PSC's Assistant Director of Development. "Gifts to the Panther Scholarship Club are truly impactful and make a difference in the lives of our student-athletes. The funds we raise enhance the student-athlete experience and provide them opportunities to be successful athletically and academically.''
While PSC uses many strategies to reach new donors, perhaps the main way is through building relationships with the community and spreading the message through the word of mouth.
"The biggest thing comes down to relationships," said Nathan Christensen, the Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs. "Working with people that we already have relationships with to assist us with opening new doors and opportunities with potential donors. The main thing is utilizing the connections we have that benefit our department and student athletes."
The Panther Scholarship Club is about community and relationships more than anything. Most of the primary donors for the PSC live and work right here in the Cedar Valley area and want to see UNI's student-athletes succeed both on and off the field. The biggest message for donors to remember is that every dollar goes towards every sport in some way or another, and that our relationships with the community are truly the driving force behind what they do. No matter how big or how small, every donation helps the PSC thrive, and thus helps UNI student-athletes with their success both on the field and in the classroom.
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