With entry into the Big East Conference in 2005, endowing athletic scholarships has become a high priority for Marquette athletics. Since Marquette first sought conference affiliation in 1989 in order to challenge its teams with tougher competition, funding athletic scholarships have become critical. Evolving through the Great Midwest Conference and Conference USA, Marquette stepped up to face its toughest caliber of competition in the Big East.

With tougher competition, comes a greater opportunity for the University to gain critical exposure in the marketplace. Often perspective students first learn about Marquette through hearing of athletic achievements. While Marquette has always been known for its strong tradition in men's basketball, since the University left its athletic independent status it has established national caliber teams in all of its 14 sports. To ensure this level, a permanent foundation is required.

What is an endowed scholarship?

Endowed athletic scholarships are a permanent funding source for tuition and expenses of athletes. Once established an endowed athletic scholarship continues to grow and provide the critical support for an athlete to excel academically while representing Marquette in the competitive arena.

What is the difference between an endowed scholarship and the Blue & Gold Fund?

Endowed scholarships complement the efforts of the Blue & Gold Fund, which provides current tuition dollars. The Blue & Gold Fund is not permanent, and therefore it needs to annually raise the necessary funds to field athletes. Because it is money raised year after year, Marquette is rightfully conservative in the number of athletic scholarships offered since it is a four-year award.

With the increase in endowed scholarship funding, Marquette will be able to attract the finest student-athletes in the nation and the world. Investing in the future of Marquette student-athletes symbolizes the donor's commitment to ensuring that the University continues to be a leader in academics and athletics.

Great Investment

In the first national ranking of the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate (APR), Marquette University's student-athletes tied as the 13^th best program in the country out of 328 universities. The APR measures athletes' academic progress. This was not a surprise to Marquette where the student-athlete graduation rate averages close to 5% higher than the regular student body. The cumulative grade point for all MU student-athletes is normally over 3.000. Investing in Marquette student-athletes is investing in success!

Endowment Funding Levels

Scholarship endowment funds are invested by Marquette University with the annual earnings going directly toward scholarship funding with appreciation over the payout returned to the principal for perpetual growth. Gifts made to athletic scholarship endowment funds are tax deductible as allowed by law and count towards the individual "points" for Bradley Center seating if so desired.

All endowed scholarships can be funded over a five-year period. The beginning funding levels for endowed athletic scholarships are:

• Full-Endowed Athletics Scholarship - $600,000
  • Provides complete support of a scholar-athlete including tuition, and room and board
• Tuition-Endowed Athletics Scholarship -- $450,000
  • Provides tuition support of a scholar-athlete
• Partially-Endowed Athletics Scholarship -- $150,000
  • Provides partial tuition support of a scholar-athlete
• Supporting Endowed Athletics Scholarships -- $25,000
  • Provides partial tuition support
    

Endowed Scholarships for Athletics

• Patrick and Jane (Gramling) Carlin Scholarship Endowment
• Albert J. DiUlio, S.J. Athletics Scholarship Fund
• Kevin and Sheila Frisinger Endowed Athletic Scholarship Fund
• Jimmy Halling Memorial Scholarship Fund
• Dr. Richard J. Kitz Endowed Scholarship Fund
• Marquette University Athletes Endowed Scholarship Fund
• James M. Meier Athletics Scholarship
• Dr. Robert and Sandy Pavlic Athletic Scholarship Fund
• Hank Raymonds Endowed Scholarship Fund
• Elizabeth Denkewalter Ryberg Endowed Scholarship Fund
• The Vincent R. Shiely Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund
• Earl L. and Elaine R. Winkelman Endowed Scholarship Fund
  

Ways to Fund

There are numerous ways to fund an endowed scholarship including outright gifts of cash, securities, life insurance, retirement assets or properties. Providing funding through inclusion in a will or other estate planning vehicles such as charitable trusts, gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, or charitable remainder unitrusts is also possible to increase the level of an established scholarship.

The Raymonds Legacy

The Hank Raymonds Endowed Athletic Scholarship Wall will be established in the Al McGuire Center to forever display the names of endowed scholarship donors. Pictures and names of the student-athletes receiving the scholarship awards will be displayed for the top three levels of endowed scholarships.

Endowed scholarship donors are listed in publications and receive communication from the benefiting athlete(s) as well. Endowed scholarship donor will receive other recognitions as well.

For more information, contact Paul M. McInerny, Ph.D., Chief Athletics Advancement Officer, at 414-288-0289; or at paul.mcinerny@marquette.edu.