Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) has launched a new annual giving program for its athletics department, named 1Roo for Athletics. The announcement was made during the Hall of Honors induction banquet last week.
The program allows donors to contribute directly to individual sport programs or to the director of athletics fund, which supports all student-athletes and teams.
According to ENMU, the annual giving program is designed to help meet the specific needs of student-athletes that are not currently addressed by the athletic department's budget. The initiative aims to provide a strong athletics experience and foster a championship culture at the university.
Kevin Fite, Director of Athletics, outlined three main areas where the funds will be directed. "Recognize the athletic and academic achievements of teams and individual student-athletes by providing high quality awards that mirror the commitment the student-athletes have made to their academic and athletic goals. Such awards will include senior awards suitable for hanging in a corporate office setting, conference, regional and national championship rings, first team All-American rings, updated letter jackets, academic All-American recognition, and conference award recognition through various items. We must do a better job celebrating our student athletes' achievements!
Provide financial assistance for student-athletes that have completed their eligibility but have not yet graduated so they can finish their degree at ENMU. We must do everything we can to help support our most committed student-athletes to get across that finish line and complete their degree!
Improved equipment to heighten student-athlete performance and enhance team unity. This will address unmet equipment needs such as shoes, sports equipment (gloves, bats, pads and other sports accessory items), travel apparel and other important training equipment. These needs vary from sport to sport but often play a significant role in the recruiting process, have the funding to buy 'the extras' often plays a role in the best prospects decision to commit or even to retain a top student-athlete that may be considering entering the transfer portal."
ENMU supports more than 400 student-athletes across 15 sports programs. The university is part of the Lone Star Conference and NCAA Division II for most of its teams, while its men's and women's rodeo teams compete in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) in the Caprock region.
The university highlighted recent achievements including earning 381 Lone Star Conference Commissioner Honor Roll awards over the past year and launching the President's Leadership Academy with 60 participants.
For more information about ENMU athletics or the new giving program, visit goeasternathletics.com or giving.enmu.edu/g/1roo-for-athletics/.
