How does the Duke Club impact James Madison University Athletics and more specifically, our strategic vision
Engaged in Excellence?
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For those of you who are new to the Duke Club, we raise private funds to support student-athlete scholarships and part of our overall operating budget. Additionally, we generate private support for athletics facilities and projects such as the new Convocation Center.Â
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The core of
Engaged in Excellence is our steadfast commitment to being the NCAA model for the student-athlete experience. Each of the five guiding principles and seven strategic themes are outlined in more detail throughout the overall plan, which I encourage you to read. As Director of Athletics
Jeff Bourne has said, being the model is an ambitious standard for our university and program, but one that we are committed to meeting.
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As the model, we strive to be the program that other universities want to emulate – the best of the best. Part of attaining that position is growth in our annual fund – and increasing the number of donors in the Duke Club family. We raised just over $2 million of our overall $8 million need for the athletics annual fund last year. We are extremely grateful for what our donors do for our student-athletes and proud of the work our team has done. That being said, we still have more to accomplish.Â
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The new Convocation Center is the primary capital focus for our plan. It will be a showcase facility worthy of being built on our campus. As we've seen with the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, first-class facilities provide our students with unique practice and performing venues to showcase the skills that afford them an opportunity to earn a college degree. The new Convocation Center will do the same for men's and women's college basketball.
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Why does the Duke Club exist, and why should anyone care? We provide the financial resources for our student-athletes to take the world-class education they receive and use that as a springboard for their lives after graduation. While they are working hard in the classroom, they are simultaneously representing JMU, with distinction, in competition on a national level and becoming leaders in our community.
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When our student-athletes have competitive success, we showcase everything that JMU has to offer students, alumni and friends of the university. From needing temporary seating at Veterans Memorial Park for the 2016 NCAA Softball Super Regional against LSU to the amazing experience over 12,000 people on the Quad for ESPN's College GameDay, Athletics serves to promote pride for current and former students. It's also an avenue to demonstrate to the next generation of Dukes all of the wonderful academic programs JMU has to offer. I often say that Athletics may not be the most important thing that is happening on our campus, but without question, it is the most visible part of life at JMU.
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Relative to our peers we are a young school, and the best part is we have a great opportunity in front of us to establish the standard and grow private support for our student-athletes. In order to be the best, we need you! Give a little, give a lot, give what you can – but please get in the game. Through your support of Athletics and our student-athletes, you will further enhance the stature of this great university to heights yet unseen.
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Proud and True,
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Bryan Allen
Assistant Athletic Director/Major Gifts
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More from Duke Club Week:
What is the Duke Club?
Where does the money go?
Growing Membership
Believing in the Mission
Letterwinner Chapter
Bourne Dialogue
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