DePaul University Athletics
Athletics Alumni All Set for Scholarship Month
5/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | ATHLETICS
Join DePaul's Scholarship Month competition: Give to DePaul
Get Instant Updates on Scholarship Month - Twitter: @DePaulScholMo | Instagram: depaulscholarshipmonth
CHICAGO - As the calendar turns to May, it's time for warmer weather, the Kentucky Derby and the fun and competitive event known as "Scholarship Month."
For the next four weeks, alumni and alumnae from DePaul's athletic programs will engage in a spirited competition to see who can bring in the most scholarship gifts along with raising the most money. Gifts of $25 or more count towards the total.
"It's a fun competition among former Blue Demons from our various teams for prizes and bragging rights," said Sean McDonough of Athletics Development. "We're talking about former student-athletes who still have that competitive fire because they want to win.
"The goal is 100 gift donations in the month of May and total funding of $10,000. Last year, athletics programs came in with 135 gifts and $21,020 total funding. In the four-year history of Scholarship Month, there have been 409 gifts for a total of $218, 939."
DePaul awards scholarships to approximately 150 student-athletes covering all or portions of tuition, fees, board and books at a cost of more than $5 million annually. Many athletic scholarships are funded through generous gifts from passionate and loyal alumni.
"Scholarship Month is about awareness, participation and education," McDonough said. "It's so important for our alums to be invested and take ownership of our athletic programs at any level in helping teams maintain their success.
"Let's say someone takes the first step and gives $25 to a women's soccer scholarship. Hopefully, that is the beginning of becoming more engaged with the program. Maybe that new donor will start to follow more closely how well the team does in the fall and feel like a part of their winning season.
"Remember, gifts must be directed to a scholarship to be counted for the competition among sports programs during Scholarship Month."
A total of six prizes will be awarded to the top three athletic programs in gift donations and total funding. The prizes are composed of proceeds raised from on-line auctions and rummage sales.
Softball is the reigning three-peat champion after women's basketball finished first in the inaugural contest in 2012.
Last year, coach Eugene Lenti's softball alums brought in 44 scholarship gifts while track and field was second with 27 and women's basketball third with 24. Softball went for the sweep, leading in total funding with $5,922 followed by track and field ($4,799) and men's basketball ($3,325).
