Northern_Today_Fall_2020

NORTHERN TODAY 14 FALL 2020 S WE LOOK to the return of sports here on campus and a sense of normalcy for our student-athletes, coaches and staff, I think it is important to note the hard work and diligent steps that have gotten us to this point. Following the cancellation of NCAA Winter Championships and spring sports seasons due to COVID-19 earlier this year, our student-athletes and coaches were presented with both a difficult and unique challenge. Despite virtual learning and the feelings of “what could have been,” our student-athletes displayed their resiliency in the face of adversity, setting a record high department GPA of 3.4 in spring 2020. We entered the uncertainty of the summer months, with a goal of developing a re-engagement strategy for our student- athletes. Through careful consideration and working closely with Sanford Health, our student-athletes resumed training in June 2020. In spite of all of the challenges facing our student- athletes, retention was extremely high as we entered the fall semester, and we ended up with over 400 student- athletes enrolled on campus, including a record number of freshman and transfer students in most of our sport programs. We are now wrapping up the fall semester, and we are very excited to finally look forward to competition in January. I would like to personally thank all of our loyal Wolves Club members who have paid their memberships already and for those folks who have contributed a little extra to the athletic scholarship fund for this year. From day one, we have stated we are 100 percent committed to fulfilling all athletic scholarships this year, regardless of the outcome of competitions; backing the NCAA-passed legislation from earlier this fall requiring scholarship commitments to be funded for 2020-21. The impact of COVID-19 on our budget remains unclear, but we expect to face significant revenue losses this year. Because we have to generate every single dollar for athletic scholarships each year; now, more than ever, we need every Wolves Club member, business partner, and alumni to stay united with the Wolves. In the South Dakota, state law requires us to externally fund all athletic scholarships. Simply put, there is no state funding to help fill in the gaps we currently face due to season revenue loss. In response to the challenging times ahead, we are asking our loyal Wolves Club members and business partners to renew their memberships for 2020-21, with an added gift to the athletic scholarship fund. By renewing your Wolves Club membership and giving to the athletic scholarship fund, you will be protecting the future of our student-athletes, and helping maintain the proud tradition of Wolves Athletics that has been built over decades. We have worked tirelessly with Sanford Health, the NCAA and the NSIC to develop protocols and safeguards to ensure the safest possible environment for our student-athletes, coaches and staff, and loyal fans. Thank you to our loyal donors and alumni who have donated to NSU Athletics and our Wolves student- athletes this fall. If you have been on the fence about donating or would like to make your first donation, I encourage you to contact Austin Hieb (austin.hieb@ northern.edu) or me ( wolvesclub@northern.edu) to learn more about our tremendous student-athletes and giving options. This year has already been very challenging for all of us, and our mission of supporting NSU student-athletes is now being tested more than ever. The value and power of our student-athletes’ positive impact on this region and beyond has been evident during this difficult time. Our student-athletes need you now more than ever. On behalf of our 400 student-athletes and 50-plus coaches and staff members, THANK YOU for your continued support, and we hope to see you all on campus again soon! GO WOLVES! Josh Moon Director of Athletics Letter from the Director of Athletics