Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Photo by: Scott Eklund / Red Box Pictures
Huskies Host 22nd Annual Donor Appreciation Scholarship Dinner
October 24, 2019 | General, Tyee Club
On Wednesday night, the 22nd Annual Donor Appreciation Scholarship Dinner took place in the Don James Center. Each year, the Tyee Club puts on the event to thank the endowment scholarship donors for their incredible impact on student-athletes and the athletic department at the University of Washington.
The night began with emcee Tony Castricone, the Voice of the Huskies. Castricone highlighted a number of academic achievements for the Huskies. Included in that recognition were the following: 19 of the 22 teams at UW earned a team GPAs of 3.0 or higher each quarter of last year, 438 student-athletes made the Dean's List, with 31 earning a perfect 4.0, and UW football ranked first in the conference in APR and top five in the country.
The success was not limited to the classroom, however. Women's rowing took home its second NCAA championship in three years, the men's rowing team finished second at the IRA championships, softball advanced to the Women's College World Series, football competed in the Rose Bowl while earning a third 10-win season, men's basketball won the Pac-12 championship and an NCAA tournament berth, and men's and women's cross country finished sixth and ninth at NCAAs, respectively.
After Castricone's opening remarks, alumni Ingrid Russell-Narcisse spoke about her own UW student-athlete experience as a basketball player from 1983-88 and the importance of her Husky family.
"I will remain forever grateful for the scholarship that provided me such a great education," said Russell-Narcisse. "For all those life lessons, the friendships, and the relationships with people like you who inspire me every day. 30 years after graduating, I am living proof that support like yours can change lives."
Myles Bryant, a senior defensive back on the football team shared his experience as a scholarship student-athlete and the impact his donors have had on his entire family's well-being. Bryant came to UW as a walk-on, and earning a scholarship changed his life.
"Mr. and Mrs. Eerkes, just like all of you endowment donors here today, you lift that stress and burden from so many of our families," said Bryant. "You're not just helping student-athletes fulfill their dreams, you're also helping entire families as well.
"For me, i took a leap of faith to come to Washington," continued Bryant. "Now I'll be graduating in June with a degree in communications, life-long experiences, and friendships with my teammates, and opportunities that are helping me reach my potential as a man."
Sis Bates, a senior and unanimous First Team All-American softball player spoke next. Sis has been recognized on the conference, regional, and national scale in each of her three years at UW thus far.
Bates spoke about her dream to be a Husky from her childhood while growing up in a small Californian town.
"My parents wanted a better life for my brother and I, but we knew it would be a financial struggle to pay for school," said Bates. "When I watched Washington win the college world series in 2009, it was the first time I realized I could play softball in college, and that could be a pathway to a scholarship and a great education. So I decided then and there, at age 10, I was going to be a Husky."
"Everyone of you have given each of us in this room the incredible experience of being a student-athlete," Bates continued. "You have given us our futures."
Craig Eerkes, an endowment donor spoke next. Eerkes spoke about the importance of funding scholarships and realizing that it is more than investing in the experiences of student-athletes, it is investing in their lives.
"We believe in the values and the mission of this university and what they have created for these student-athletes. We choose to help these young people learn and grow because they are our future."
The final speaker of the evening was men's basketball coach Mike Hopkins who brought energy and excitement to finish the event.
After getting everyone out of their seats so the student-athletes could hug their scholarship donors, Hopkins spoke about the importance of community within UW athletics.
"We're here to say thank you. When we all work together we're able to build a house that can weather any storm, tornado, or hurricane. Because of you all we create this community of coaches, staff, and student-athletes. Thank you for making this all possible."
The night began with emcee Tony Castricone, the Voice of the Huskies. Castricone highlighted a number of academic achievements for the Huskies. Included in that recognition were the following: 19 of the 22 teams at UW earned a team GPAs of 3.0 or higher each quarter of last year, 438 student-athletes made the Dean's List, with 31 earning a perfect 4.0, and UW football ranked first in the conference in APR and top five in the country.
The success was not limited to the classroom, however. Women's rowing took home its second NCAA championship in three years, the men's rowing team finished second at the IRA championships, softball advanced to the Women's College World Series, football competed in the Rose Bowl while earning a third 10-win season, men's basketball won the Pac-12 championship and an NCAA tournament berth, and men's and women's cross country finished sixth and ninth at NCAAs, respectively.
After Castricone's opening remarks, alumni Ingrid Russell-Narcisse spoke about her own UW student-athlete experience as a basketball player from 1983-88 and the importance of her Husky family.
"I will remain forever grateful for the scholarship that provided me such a great education," said Russell-Narcisse. "For all those life lessons, the friendships, and the relationships with people like you who inspire me every day. 30 years after graduating, I am living proof that support like yours can change lives."
Myles Bryant, a senior defensive back on the football team shared his experience as a scholarship student-athlete and the impact his donors have had on his entire family's well-being. Bryant came to UW as a walk-on, and earning a scholarship changed his life.
"Mr. and Mrs. Eerkes, just like all of you endowment donors here today, you lift that stress and burden from so many of our families," said Bryant. "You're not just helping student-athletes fulfill their dreams, you're also helping entire families as well.
"For me, i took a leap of faith to come to Washington," continued Bryant. "Now I'll be graduating in June with a degree in communications, life-long experiences, and friendships with my teammates, and opportunities that are helping me reach my potential as a man."
Sis Bates, a senior and unanimous First Team All-American softball player spoke next. Sis has been recognized on the conference, regional, and national scale in each of her three years at UW thus far.
Bates spoke about her dream to be a Husky from her childhood while growing up in a small Californian town.
"My parents wanted a better life for my brother and I, but we knew it would be a financial struggle to pay for school," said Bates. "When I watched Washington win the college world series in 2009, it was the first time I realized I could play softball in college, and that could be a pathway to a scholarship and a great education. So I decided then and there, at age 10, I was going to be a Husky."
"Everyone of you have given each of us in this room the incredible experience of being a student-athlete," Bates continued. "You have given us our futures."
Craig Eerkes, an endowment donor spoke next. Eerkes spoke about the importance of funding scholarships and realizing that it is more than investing in the experiences of student-athletes, it is investing in their lives.
"We believe in the values and the mission of this university and what they have created for these student-athletes. We choose to help these young people learn and grow because they are our future."
The final speaker of the evening was men's basketball coach Mike Hopkins who brought energy and excitement to finish the event.
After getting everyone out of their seats so the student-athletes could hug their scholarship donors, Hopkins spoke about the importance of community within UW athletics.
"We're here to say thank you. When we all work together we're able to build a house that can weather any storm, tornado, or hurricane. Because of you all we create this community of coaches, staff, and student-athletes. Thank you for making this all possible."
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