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We announced an incredibly generous major gift for our athletics department to fully fund our new 5980 Academic Fund for its first two years. I would like to thank this anonymous alumni couple for their everlasting philanthropy, and for supporting our Wildcat Way mission to develop student-athletes into academic, athletic and life champions. This gift makes our athletics department one of the few and select schools across the nation to fully fund this new benefit.
Launched in the fall, the fund provides supplemental academic awards to student-athletes up to the established maximum of $5,980 per year. All Arizona student-athletes are eligible so long as they maintain good academic performances, meet NCAA eligibility requirements and embrace Arizona's Wildcat Way core values.
We are seeking additional financial support to fund this important initiative in future fiscal years. The 5980 Academic Fund is the newest component to our first-class student-athlete experience and will be a point of pride for Wildcats in the future. Click here to donate to this important initiative today.
RED OUT MCKALE CENTER ON THURSDAY
McKale Center will be the place to be this week as Arizona Women's Basketball returns home to host Stanford and California. Our marquee match-up with the sixth-ranked Cardinal is set for 7:30 p.m. (MST) on Thursday, Feb. 9 on ESPN. This nationally-televised match-up will be a RED OUT in McKale, so wear your best red Wildcat gear.
We are currently leading the Pac-12 Conference in attendance for women's basketball, and Thursday's game will be a great opportunity to showcase our premier gameday atmosphere. We have tickets available for purchase by clicking here or by dialing 520-621-2287. Bear Down and Go Cats!
GIVING DAY
In celebration of Valentine's Day, as well as the state of Arizona's birthday, Monday, Feb. 14 is the University of Arizona's Annual Giving Day. Giving Day is a 24- hour university-wide effort to inspire Wildcats in the University of Arizona community to make a gift in support of the people, places, and programs that make the university extraordinary.
Arizona Athletics is committed to building academic, athletic, and life champions. With your support, Arizona student-athletes will be able to achieve excellence in competition and in the classroom. For this year's Giving Day, we're focused on three priorities within our athletics department.
1. 5980 Academic Fund
2. William M. "Bill" Clements Golf Center
3. Baseball Clubhouse Renovation
As mentioned above, the 5980 Academic Fund provides an opportunity for student-athletes to receive compensation for academic success. Another focus is the William M. "Bill" Clements Golf Center to give our Men's and Women's Golf teams a facility they can call their own. The new golf center will include locker rooms, coaches' offices, and a short game practice area. The third focus is a renovation to the baseball clubhouse at Hi Corbett Field which will be a modernization of the facility and include updates to the player's lounge, kitchen, training rooms and a team meeting room. The new Golf Center and Baseball Clubhouse renovation will propel these programs towards future generations of All-Americans and team championships.
Please consider supporting Giving Day this upcoming Tuesday.
UPCOMING EVENTS
WILDCAT HEADLINES
SHOW YOUR COLORS
Here is a picture of my sweet baby LUNA on December 31st, 2022!
She got her new shirt from Santa at Christmas and was excited to cheer her Cats onto a WIN vs. ASU!
Luna. 4 years old. Denver, CO. Daughter of 2016 Alum Kacie Ireland-Wulf.
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Send us your photos of you wearing the colors!
Thank you for wearing the colors and sharing your Arizona pride! Make sure to take a picture the next time you are wearing the colors and send it to us, we just might include it in next week's Wildcat Wednesday! And even if your photo submission doesn't make next week's edition, please check our "Wear the Colors" album at facebook.com/ArizonaAthletics on Fridays.
NOTE: Please submit photos for Wildcat Wednesday with an original email to uofaad@arizona.edu using the subject line 'Wildcat Wednesday photo.' Also, please ensure all submissions are clear and properly lit. We also ask that you identify everyone in the photo so we can highlight them accordingly.
Bear Down and Go Cats!
Dave Heeke
Vice President and Director of Athletics
University of Arizona
uofaad@arizona.edu
