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Viaero Wireless Signs on as Signature Sponsor of
Walk
The UNK Athletic Department is proud to announce Viaero
Wireless as the title sponsor of the 2008 Loper Women’s Walk. Viaero
Wireless has donated $20,000 to provide financial support for the first
ever Walk.
Speaking on behalf of the UNK Athletic Department,
Associate Athletic Director Jaime Lundgren sees the partnership as an
exciting opportunity for the university and Viaero. “This will be a
relationship that will grow,” Lundgren said, “and we’ll definitely want
to continue this.”
Lundgren is looking forward to the fundraiser and the
opportunities that the event will bring to UNK. “This is an exciting
event with endless possibilities,” Lundgren said. An important aspect,
Lundgren noted, is the effect the Walk will have on all athletes, not
just women. With the money raised from the Women’s Walk going directly
to female studentathletes, male student-athletes will also benefit. “The
Walk will really enhance our women’s athletics and stabilize our men’s
athletics,” Lundgren said.
The Loper Women’s Walk is a 30-minute fun walk that will
take place indoors and around the UNK campus. The event is scheduled to
begin at 10 a.m. on Sept. 13, 2008.
Chair Excited About Opportunity to Help
Student-Athletes
Patty Sitorius is one of two local businesswomen that
are co-chairing the first annual Loper Women’s Walk. The onetime UNK
Volleyball coach has been working at Re/Max Executives Inc. for the past
eight years in sales. The other co-chair is Sherry Morrow.
Patty feels that having a fundraiser to specifically
benefit women’s athletics is something that will have a big impact. She
feels that the Walk is a great opportunity for women from all
backgrounds to get involved with helping other women. “The walk gives
many women out in the community an opportunity to contribute to the
cause of helping young women gain a valuable education while competing
on the court/field not only on the local level but on a national level
as well,” Sitorius said.
Patty decided to become a cochair for the Women’s Walk
for several reasons. “I’ve been involved in athletics at some level for
40 years,” Sitorius said. “I see the benefits it provides for those
young people that put their heart and soul into becoming better people
and athletes.” Patty also has two teenage daughters that are very
involved in athletics.
Having been a former coach at Hastings College and UNK,
Patty has a unique perspective on how athletics can help female student
athletes after graduation. “Athletics provides an avenue for young women
to learn discipline, work ethic and team work,” Patty said. “Young women
must embrace what athletics offers and teaches and then put it to use in
all aspects of life.”
Athletes Weigh in on Scholarships, Benefits of Being
a Student-Athlete
 
Melissa Hinkley and McKenna Irwin are student-athletes
that have had four years to experience the benefits of their athletic
scholarships. Hinkley is a senior who plays two sports, basketball and
softball. Irwin, also a senior, competes for the Loper’s tennis team.
Both women have had great experiences from competing for
UNK, and having athletic scholarships has helped them the past four
years. “Many students have
to get a job to pay for their education, but since my education is paid
for I get to focus on my sports and studies,” Hinkley said.
Irwin said that her scholarship has helped with the cost
of her education. “Obviously a scholarship will help make school more
affordable,” Irwin said.
The student-athletes both feel that having participated
in athletics throughout their education will benefit them in the long
run. Irwin said that she has gained much more than just a monetary
benefit from her scholarship. She said, “Throughout my experience I have
made so many close friends on the team and from other sports as well.”
Irwin went on to add, “Being a student-athlete also
teaches you how to manage time well and work well with others.”
Hinkley also feels that athletics teaches time
management and other life skills, such as responsibility. “I have also
learned how to work as a team, how to take criticism, how to
communicate, and how to build relationships,” Hinkley added. |
