Seattle University Athletics has announced the launch of the Aerie Club – The Annual Fund for Seattle University Athletics that will benefit all 20 sports, through unrestricted gifts, currently sponsored at the NCAA Division I level by the University.
“The Aerie Club and its donors will allow us to reach a new level,” Fr. Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J., President of Seattle University, says. “It’s about student spirit, alumni pride, visibility, and galvanizing our community. That’s what excellence in Athletics can do, as few things can, and that’s why we are working to bring Division I championships to Seattle University.”
Seattle University has continually made athletic support a priority with annual funding increases since the 2006-07 academic year, but the current budget still lags behind the majority of Seattle U’s peer institutions. By making a gift to the Aerie Club, supporters are helping every team, every student-athlete, and every coach.
Besides the results in competition, student-athletes combined for a 3.2 grade point average and 2,296 community service hours in 2012-13. In each term, 70 percent of student-athletes maintained at least a 3.0 GPA, and there were at least 20 student-athletes with perfect 4.0 GPAs in each quarter. In addition, 129 student-athletes earned All-Academic honors from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) last year.
Aerie Club members receive benefits ranging from e-newsletters and discounts at the Redhawk Shop to priority parking at home athletic events and invitations to VIP events at the WAC Basketball Tournament in March and at the Red Tie Celebration May 31.
“Resources provide opportunities for student-athletes. Opportunities lead to championships. If we consider the courage and tenacity of our student-athletes, coaches, administration, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends, we are poised to reclaim our place of NCAA Division I prominence today, tomorrow, and for generations to come. Growing the Aerie Club through your participation and unrestricted donations is essential to our future,” adds Bill Hogan, Seattle University Director of Athletics.
Membership in the Aerie Club is determined by cumulative unrestricted gifts to athletics received between July 1 and June 30, and all gifts are tax-deductible, per IRS guidelines. Donations can be made to the Aerie Club online by going to www.goseattleu.com/aerie-club, or by phone by calling (206) 296-6100.
For more information about the Aerie Club, contact Associate Athletic Director/Senior Fundraiser Ken Winstead at (206) 296-2598 or winsteak@seattleu.edu, or Athletics Development Officer John Dougherty at (206) 296-2829 or dougherj@seattleu.edu.