The challenge? UND athletics scholarship needs were increasing quickly with the move to Division I. The solution? Impact Scholarships.

The year was 2007, four years or nearly $3 million ago. Since the start of North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND, $2.96 million has been raised in support of Impact Scholarships.

"At that time, we knew that scholarships would be our biggest priority in athletics fundraising," said Steve Brekke, associate athletics director for development. "Just an example: Football went from 36 scholarships in our last year in Division II to being allowed 63 full scholarships in FCS — that's a huge step up and wouldn't be possible without great private support from alumni and friends."

Private scholarship donations come to UND Athletics in three ways: Fighting Sioux Club, Athletics Endowments, and Impact Scholarships. An endowment is a long-term solution, and Fighting Sioux Club annual dollars provide general scholarships, but Impact Scholarships are so named for a reason. The impact is easy to see as donors making commitments of at least $25,000 over five years have a named scholarship. They know who receives their donation and the student-athlete knows who is providing them the opportunity to get a great education and play the sport they love.

"The Donor Social, where the student-athletes meet their donors, is one of the great nights during the school year" says director of athletics Brian Faison. "It just means so much more when our supporters can meet the student-athletes that they are helping get an education. It puts a face to their generous donations."

The Donor Social every fall is one way to see who these scholarships impact. It's fitting that it's held in the traditions area of Ralph Engelstad Arena, right next to the Legacy Wall — a wall listing nearly 90 alumni and friends who have made athletics endowment and Impact Scholarship gifts of $25,000 or more.

Olympic silver medalist and sophomore women's hockey player Jocelyne Lamoureux is receiving the Hal & Kathleen Gershman Impact Scholarship this year.

"A scholarship offers me an opportunity to pursue my education and athletic career at a place that I love," Lamoureux said. "Those opportunities aren't just in the classroom and at the hockey rink, but meeting with kids and trying to make an impact on the community is something that goes farther and means more than grades and stats." Her twin sister, Monique, has Bremer Bank to thank for her education this year. 

Impact Scholarships can be general or sport specific. Multi-year pledges help UND Athletics plan for the future. Where endowments have the principal continually invested, Impact Scholarships are non-invested dollars that can be used right away - for immediate impact.

Make your impact today!

• Full Scholarship - $15,000/year x 5 = $75,000
• Partial Scholarship - $7,500/year x 5 = $37,500
• Supporting Contribution - $1,000-$7,000 x 5 = $5,000-$35,000
• Annual gifts less than $1,000 are welcome and will be pooled with other similar gifts to support Impact Scholarships.

With gifts of all amounts you:

• have the pride and satisfaction of impacting a UND student-athlete's life,
• receive Fighting Sioux Club Priority Points (must be an FSC member),
• may qualify for new or increased membership in the UND Foundation Eternal Flame Society.