The University of Memphis athletic department is expected to set a record for donations to its Tiger Scholarship Fund, surpassing last year's record of $5 million.
The TSF, the fund-raising arm for the athletic department, reached its longtime goal of $5 million last year, but could approach $6 million when figures are announced next month. A re-seating at FedExForum for the Tiger basketball program -- coming off consecutive Elite Eight appearances and expected to be ranked in the preseason top five -- has contributed to increased donations.
''We budgeted $5.2 million (in donations) for 2007, but we are going to surpass that,'' said Bill Landsen, UofM associate athletic director/development. ''We'll be setting a new record, although I'm not sure what it will be.''
After last year's record donation total, athletic director R.C. Johnson, who set the $5 million bar when he was hired 11 years ago, said $6 million would be the next benchmark.
''I don't have a tally, but we're having phenomenal success with our (TSF) renewals and with new members,'' Johnson said. ''We wanted 500 new members, and we have surpassed that.
''As for our donations, the goal was $5.2 million. I feel confident we'll make that, which will be another all-time record. The goal has always been to offset scholarship costs.''
Johnson said each percentage point increase in tuition translates to about $52,000 in scholarship costs. Tuition has increased in recent years by about five percent annually.
Golfer transfers
Kyle Peterman, a freshman on the UofM men's golf team who finished in a tie for first in his college debut, is transferring to Western Illinois near his hometown of Sherman, Ill.
Peterman said he was leaving the Tiger program because he was unhappy with the limited playing time he received in the spring. Peterman had a 74.3 scoring average for six rounds in the fall, including a tie for first in the Mason Rudolph Intercollegiate, where he fired a second-round 66. He did not qualify for any spring tournaments, according to Grant Robbins, the UofM men's coach.
''He had every opportunity to qualify (for spring tournaments),'' Robbins said. ''He just didn't qualify. He'll do well (at Western Illinois). He's a good golfer.''
Busy offseason
Lady Tiger basketball player Aroha Jennings, a native of New Zealand, may find herself returning to the UofM this fall to rest. Jennings, the lone returning senior for coach Blair Savage-Lansden, has been busy traveling with the New Zealand national team after earning a roster spot in May.
Jennings, who led the Lady Tigers with an 11.9 scoring average last season, traveled to Japan in late May for a five-day tour that included three tournament games. Last week, the team flew to Beijing, China to begin an eight-day stay and participate in a four-team tournament in preparation for the Olympic qualifying tournament.
New Zealand, ranked 17th in the world, will participate in the William Jones Cup tournament in Taiwan early next month.
Odds and ends
Former Tiger kicker Stephen Gostkowski, beginning his second NFL season with the New England Patriots, will be involved in a minor league baseball promotion with the short-season Class A Lowell (Mass.) Spinners Sunday. Gostkowski will kick autographed footballs into the stands between innings of the Spinners' game against the Vermont Lake Monsters. There was no mention of Gostkowski, a former Tiger righthander, throwing out the first pitch. ... Former Lady Tiger basketball assistant Jay Bowen, a Memphis native and former Ole Miss assistant, has been hired as head basketball coach at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas. East Texas Baptist, a Division 3 women's program, went 22-5 last year. Another former Lady Tiger women's basketball staff member, Bartlett native Toby Bush, has been named head coach at Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kan. ... Former Lady Tiger golfer Stacey Tate participated in last week's U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links tournament at Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington, Ky., but missed the cut by one stroke after rounds of 75 and 79.Labels: academy awards, career training, education online, financial aid, free college, free education, high school, student loans, study abroad |
