Marquette Today

Campus News and Events

Submit news

Menu

  • Campus News
    • Top News for Students
    • Top News for Faculty & Staff
    • Magazines at Marquette
    • Campus Alerts
  • Archives
  • Submit news
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Contacts
  • @MarquetteToday
  • Events Calendar
  • Topics
    • Community Engagement
    • Diversity
    • Innovation
    • Master Planning
    • Marquette Momentum
    • Research
    • Strategic Planning
  • January 30, 2023

Marquette Athletics energizes new initiative, visibility for women’s athletics

June 13, 2022

Alumni gifts establish first full-tuition endowed scholarship for female student-athletes, largest ever excellence fund gift for Women’s Basketball

Marquette Athletics today announced the new Time to Rise: Elevating Excellence in Women’s Athletics initiative to champion women’s athletics and honor the upcoming 50th anniversary of Title IX. The initiative is focused on growing excellence fund and scholarship support across Marquette’s seven NCAA-level women’s athletics programs.

“Marquette has a long history of excellence in women’s athletics, and this initiative will make a meaningful impact on our prestigious programs,” President Michael R. Lovell said. “Come to any event for our women’s teams, and you’ll see the love our fans, alumni and students have for these great student-athletes and leaders.”

Marquette has a strong heritage of success in women’s athletics, beginning with tennis, volleyball and basketball in 1975 and 1976. For Marquette student-athletes to continue to achieve success in the classroom, on the field and in the community, Sport Excellence Funds are separate from normal operating budgets and are used to maintain and enhance the student-athlete experience. The excellence funds are essential to the coaches so that programs can stay competitive in recruiting, upgrade technology, travel on foreign trips and provide leadership development opportunities for current and future female Golden Eagles.

“Our women’s athletics programs are a true beacon for the university, and our female student-athletes and coaches become incredible role models for young women,” said Bill Scholl, vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics.

Championing through scholarship

The Elevating Excellence initiative is catalyzed by the creation of the first full-tuition endowed scholarship for women’s athletics thanks to an estate pledge from Marquette alumni couple Michael, Bus Ad ’74, Grad ’75, and Barbara, Bus Ad ’76, Klein. The couple has also established an endowed women’s basketball scholarship and provided annual support to the women’s basketball excellence fund.

“For the student-athlete recipient, scholarship is a chance to live the Marquette experience. We hope our support will open doors and lay a foundation for student-athletes to thrive throughout their time on campus, as part of a Marquette team, and after graduation,” the Kleins said. “The women’s basketball program is on such a positive trajectory. Coach Duffy has done a great job developing our student-athletes and preparing them to be successful in the world beyond the court.”

Women’s Head Basketball Coach Megan Duffy has gotten off to the best two-year start of any coach in Marquette women’s basketball history, going 43-15 and 27-9 in BIG EAST play. The Kleins hope their gift provides the university with a powerful national recruiting tool and a foundation from which to build further support.

As 51-year season ticket holders for men’s basketball and first-time season ticket holders for women’s basketball, the Kleins are passionate about Marquette Athletics. They often donate their tickets to local Boys & Girls Clubs members, who can walk around the campus and start to envision themselves at Marquette — especially while attending women’s basketball at the Al McGuire Center.

“The reputation of our women’s teams speaks to the great enthusiasm and support of the university, our fans, and our entire Marquette family,” Duffy said. “For basketball and beyond, the idea of Elevating Excellence in Women’s Athletics will provide our student-athletes — and incoming student-athletes — with even more opportunities as part of their time at Marquette.”

Expanding resources for excellence

Alumnus Bob Sobczak, Eng ’71, Grad ’74, launched the Elevating Excellence initiative even higher through the university’s largest excellence fund gift for women’s athletics.

“I am pleased to ‘tip off’ the Marquette Women’s Basketball Excellence Fund,” said Sobczak, who with his late wife Nancy, Eng ’70, Grad ’72, ’07, has supported a variety of scholarships across Marquette. “After seeing these young women play basketball together year after year and meeting them individually, it became clear that they are exemplars of what athletic competition in college means. They are building their own storied history and are encouraging a growing fan base to come to Marquette’s campus and watch women’s basketball.”

The Elevating Excellence in Women’s Athletics initiative reflects a groundswell of support for women’s athletics at Marquette, an energy and excitement tied closely with the university’s Time to Rise philanthropic campaign. To date in the campaign, Marquette has raised $3.6 million toward women’s sport excellence funds and endowed scholarships for women’s sports.

Those inspired to invest in the development and success of Marquette women’s student-athletes can learn more at give.marquette.edu/womens-excellence.

Time to Rise: The Marquette Promise to Be The Difference

Marquette’s $750 million comprehensive fundraising campaign, which is the most ambitious in Marquette’s 140-year history, is elevating resources to advance the university’s mission and pillars of excellence, leadership, faith and service. The university has raised more than $582 million to date, amounting to 77% of its goal. More than 56,000 donors have already supported Time to Rise, including 44% of donors making their first-ever gift to the university.

Filed Under: For Faculty/Staff, For Students, Home - Featured Stories, News

More news

Soup with Substance on the situation in Iran, Feb. 1

January 30, 2023

Finding the courage to continue toward the healing our world needs

January 30, 2023

Ticketing process for 2023 undergraduate Commencement announced

January 30, 2023

Rec Plex Nest space opens; all interim fitness and recreation space fully operational, open to campus community

January 30, 2023

Apply to Marquette Volunteer Corps by Feb. 8

January 30, 2023

2023 SPARK and orientation leader applications now live

January 30, 2023

Grand reopening of the Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion, Feb. 1

January 30, 2023

Attend the Study Abroad Fair, Feb. 1 

January 30, 2023

More news

Quick Links

  • Faculty/Staff News
  • Student News
  • Magazines at Marquette
Submit news

Featured Stories

We Are All Marquette: A Q&A with Dr. Amber Wichowsky, professor of political science and the director of Marquette’s Civic Dialogues program and Democracy Lab

We Are All Marquette: A Q&A with Dr. Amber Wichowsky, professor of political science and the director of Marquette’s Civic Dialogues program and Democracy Lab

Interviewed by Melissa Barclay, senior communication specialist in the Office of University Relations The Marquette Civic Dialogues program works to foster deliberation about the pressing issues facing our world today, prepare students to be citizens with purpose, and advance scholarship on the benefits of civic dialogue. Through programming and research, students are encouraged to Be […]

Marquette University makes safety a top priority

Marquette University makes safety a top priority

Marquette University is committed to providing the safest environment possible in which to learn, live and work. Through Marquette University Police Department’s expansive patrol operations, on- and off-campus outreach and nationally recognized Department of Campus Safety, Marquette continues to set the standard in excellence in comprehensive campus safety efforts. The university continuously addresses campus and community […]

From ankle joint pain to digital archives: Six participating faculty research projects funded through Office of the Provost 

From ankle joint pain to digital archives: Six participating faculty research projects funded through Office of the Provost 

By Katie Darragh, communication intern in the Office of University Relations at Marquette University    To provide non-tenure-track faculty access to funds for research and scholarship, the Office of the Provost annually allocates $10,000 to be distributed to full-time participating faculty for research activities during the 2022-23 academic year. These funds are the result of the […]

Read more featured stories.

Safety

Marquette University makes safety a top priority

MUPD warns to protect your delivered packages this holiday season

LIMO safe rideshare service to become EagleExpress in January, rides requested via app

Human Resources News

Healthy Heart Challenge: My Wellness points and weekly giveaway available

Help Marquette compete against other AJCU Schools; Register for the Go Move Challenge kicking off Feb. 1

New My Wellness opportunity: Earn points for 30 minutes of activity each day

Research

From ankle joint pain to digital archives: Six participating faculty research projects funded through Office of the Provost 

Engineering professor receives phase two approval for $4 million funding for Department of Energy grant

Marquette faculty and staff research grants from June/July 2022

Awards & Accomplishments

Klingler College of Arts and Sciences student named UMOS Hispanic Youth of the Year

Adjunct instructor named to Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40

Marquette Latinx studies professor named UMOS Hispanic Man of the Year

Marquette UniversityCopyright 2022 by Marquette University
MARQUETTE.EDU // A TO Z