University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI Athletics rebrands Panther Scholarship Club as Ever Loyal Club
1/12/2026 1:00:00 PM | Ever Loyal Club
The Panther Scholarship Club will now transition to the Ever Loyal Club with new benefit offers.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI Athletic Department on Monday announced the launch of the Ever Loyal Club, previously known as the Panther Scholarship Club.
In the past year, transformational change across the NCAA Division I landscape has created a need to provide essential clarity and transparency about donor funds within the UNI Athletic Department. Among the notable changes for UNI Athletics in the last year has been the implementation of the Competitive Excellence Funds, a revenue share program across all Panther sports programs. Sport-specific giving programs have long supported designated gifts to Panther teams and continue to be a vital resource. In this spirit, a rebrand with a new name and imagery was announced in order to better reflect the inclusive use of the unrestricted funds in the Athletic Department budget.
The Ever Loyal Club funds are used to support every aspect of the student-athlete experience across the operational budget. Unrestricted funds are not assigned to a specific sports program, department unit or special project. Through the generous support of its members, the Ever Loyal Club provides critical resources such as scholarship support, student academic and support services, nutrition, equipment and other essential needs that allow Panther student-athletes to thrive.
"The Ever Loyal Club builds on the vision started in 1963 with the founding of The Century Club," said UNI Director of Athletics Megan Franklin. "The idea then, and as it continues to be today, was to cultivate the passion fans have for Panther Athletics into donations to support the student-athlete experience at UNI. With the iterations of the name over the decades, the purpose remains the same to support student-athletes in the classroom and competition through the unrestricted annual fund."
The Ever Loyal Club will continue to ensure that all UNI student-athletes are positioned for success both in the classroom and in competition, while fostering a lasting tradition of excellence and pride.
"The Ever Loyal name celebrates Panther Pride referenced in the UNI Fight Song," Franklin added. "It puts into practice the loyalty of members who have transformed UNI Athletics from 1963 to today."
In addition to a new name, the rebrand also provides an opportunity to analyze giving levels and benefits. As such, the Ever Loyal Club will offer fewer giving levels and adjustments to benefits with a focus on personalizing individual giving plans with benefits that matter most to donors. Additional information regarding new benefits will be announced at a later date and sent directly to members via their membership renewal packet.
During the 2025 Panther Scholarship Club Fund Drive, a record $1,576,146 of funds were raised through 1,133 members. The PSC saw its first year-over-year member increase since 2015, along with 278 new members joining last year, the most since 2011.
The Ever Loyal Club is governed by its board of directors, led by President Mark Scheel and Vice President Chris Larimer, along with board members Nikki Hudnutt, Kris Christensen, Polly Jacobson, Ann Kuhter, Brady Gruhn, Kelsey Randall, Ashley Johnson, Corrine True, Sam Koch and Doug Ross.
For more information, visit supporthepanthers.com for additional information related to the Ever Loyal Club.
HISTORY OF THE EVER LOYAL CLUB
In 1963, spearheaded by then-head football coach Stan Sheriff, an idea came about to support Panther student-athletes with the facilities and resources that they needed. Originally "The Century Club," a goal was made to get fans to donate $100 each. As the first fundraising campaign came to a close, 100 people had contributed a total of $6,000 to the UNI Athletic Department.
Shortly following the inaugural fundraising season, avid Panther fundraisers became known as part of The Athletic Club. The Athletic Club was established to ensure participants in collegiate athletics at UNI all have the opportunity to cherish success both in the classroom and on the playing field.
Today the Ever Loyal Club, formerly the Panther Scholarship Club, is leading the charge in fundraising for the UNI Athletic Department. With more than 1,130 active members in 2025, the Ever Loyal Club has been able to continue to support UNI student-athletes on the field and in the classroom.
UNI Athletics action can be followed all year long on social media on Facebook (UNI Athletics), X (@UNIAthletics) and on Instagram (@uniathletics). Schedules and rosters, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
