He grew up in California, has lived for more than 10 years in New York, and even spent a few years sailing around the world. But perhaps the most influential place for Mike Gehb? The University of North Dakota, where he spent two years as a walk-on hockey player.

"It was a great experience for me," Gehb said recently from his Manhattan office, where he works as Director of Finance & Operations for a division of Omnicom Group, Inc. "It was a huge step up playing with fantastic players."

Even being cut from the UND hockey team two years in a row (1977-79) didn't spoil his love for the experience or the relationships made. Gehb and hockey teammate Erwin Martens were suite-mates in Walsh Hall. The two now work a block apart in Manhattan, and Martens' loyalty and generosity to Sioux hockey sparked Gehb's interest in giving back to the program.

The Mike & Janel Gehb Hockey Scholarship Endowment was established in December. The gift is split equally between two student-athletes — one each from the men's and women's hockey programs. It's just the second endowment established to benefit the women's program.

"I've been fortunate to go to college with family support. Not everyone has that, and if I can help out it's terrific," Gehb said. "We're fortunate to be able to do this. I saw Erwin's giving and he sets a great example. When I made the contribution, it was tremendous to see the response I got from old teammates. The whole thing with helping the women's program is to give them a start. The sport of women's hockey is tremendous and I've seen it firsthand here in the Northeast."

"We want our program to have what the men's program has built — loyal alumni giving back," said UND women's hockey coach Brian Idalski. "To see what Mike and Janel have done for us is a great example for our own alumni."

"Mike is a great example of Fighting Sioux loyalty," UND men's hockey coach Dave Hakstol said. "We get a chance to see him when we play on the East Coast and he's a great success story." 

Gehb's reconnection with UND hockey came in 2000 at the Frozen Four in Providence, R.I. He had just been transferred to the East Coast and decided to go watch the Fighting Sioux. Of course, that was a national championship year for UND and during the time that Ralph Engelstad Arena was being built. Gehb and his family decided to apply for season tickets and a Fighting Sioux Club membership, figuring they would try to make it back for one home hockey weekend a year. And the Gehbs have donated four of their remaining season tickets to every home game to a local charity for the past 10 years.

"I always thought of it as a benefit to kids," said Gehb, a member of Coaches Club. "In Grand Forks, Sioux hockey is THE event, so giving that experience to someone who doesn't have the means to do it themselves makes our family proud. We intend to do it indefinitely." 

The Gehbs have been able to come back to Grand Forks only once, but Mike is there whenever the Sioux play on the East Coast. He and Janel also attended the Ignite the Spirit event in New York City this winter, where they got a chance to meet UND President Robert Kelley and hear about North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND. 

"You don't have to live in North Dakota be in the North Dakota spirit," said Tim O'Keefe, executive Vice President of the UND Foundation. "Mike and Janel exhibit the North Dakota Spirit of commitment all the way from the East Coast by providing opportunities to our student-athletes in both hockey programs, and also giving generously to the community by providing opportunities to attend hockey games to those who may not otherwise have that chance."

As for what North Dakota Spirit means to the guy who grew up in California and now lives on the East Coast?

"I felt it that night in New York (Ignite the Spirit event)," Gehb said. "There's a real commitment to the school and the state. I'm proud to be associated with North Dakota. I felt it from all of those I met that night. When I was asked to contribute to the Campaign, I feel like the alumni from UND really support the school. And even though I didn't graduate from there, I'd rather donate to UND."

Whether it's a scholarship endowment, a Fighting Sioux Club membership, or donating his tickets to Grand Forks area kids, Mike Gehb is making an impact at the University of North Dakota — even from 1,500 miles away.

Want to make your own impact on UND Athletics? Contact Steve Brekke (steveb@undfoundation.org) or Josh Morton (joshm@undfoundation.org) or call 800-543-8764.