University of Minnesota Athletics
Strandemo Honored at GGF Scholarship Banquet
10/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
MINNEAPOLIS - University of Minnesota women's cross country and track & field fifth-year senior Madeline Strandemo was honored as the Patty Berg Legacy Award recipient at the Golden Gopher Fund's annual Scholarship Banquet earlier this week.
Gopher student-athletes and the donors who support their athletic scholarships filled the DQ Club Room at TCF Bank Stadium on Tuesday night to celebrate the accomplishments of Gopher teams and student-athletes from the previous year, as well as the donors who support athletic scholarships and make those accomplishments possible.
"At this very podium last year, I told you that I feel like I have the best job in America because I'm in the business of making dreams possible. That's as true now as it was a year ago," Athletics Director Mark Coyle told the audience of more than 400. "I hope all of you feel the same way about your role as a donor to athletic scholarships. I hope each of you takes pride in the opportunities created for young men and women through your support and generosity."
More than 500 Gopher student-athletes receive some form of scholarship support each year, with nearly half of those receiving support from endowed scholarships. Endowed scholarships are a particularly sustainable funding source, as the initial contribution is invested as principle and a portion of the annual return then fuels the endowed scholarship, covering expenses such as tuition, books, and room and board. That long-term stability helps donors to these scholarships leave a lasting legacy of support for Gopher Athletics and provide critical funding toward the department's scholarship bill, which will be more than $12.5 million this year.
"When you invest in scholarships, you are investing in generations of Gophers," said Coyle. "You make dreams possible for so many Gopher student-athletes. We can't say thank you enough for that."
Two student-athletes were honored with the Williams and Berg Legacy Awards, which are given annually to recognize an outstanding male and female student-athlete at the University of Minnesota. Along with Strandemo receiving the Patty Berg Award, gymnast Joel Gagnon received the Henry L. Williams Award.
Strandemo, a Fargo, N.D., native began her Gopher career as a walk-on and has since become a Big Ten champion, winning two individual titles last year as a junior: first winning the indoor mile and then winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase at last spring's outdoor championships. Strandemo is also a four-time Academic All-Big Ten and three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree, and a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar as she studies marketing and Mandarin Chinese.
"Any of my individual accomplishments are second to the team. I'll remember winning the 2016 team outdoor title far longer than any of my individual accolades," said Strandemo. "That's how it is at Minnesota. We are one big team of donors, coaches, athletes and fans. Like me, all the athletes here recognize what an honor it is to wear the M because of how much community there is behind it."
Fitting with the event's focus on highlighting exceptional student-athletes and exceptional donors, the banquet also included the presentation of the Director's Award, given each year as a way for Gopher Athletics to show its gratitude for outstanding service and commitment to the University of Minnesota's athletics program and its student-athletes. Bill and Judy Walter, long-time donors and mentors to Gopher student-athletes, received this year's Director's Award.
Gopher thrower Temi Ogunrinde also spoke at the Scholarship Banquet, joining Gopher baseball's Micah Coffey in welcoming the audience and sharing what their athletic scholarships mean to them and their families. Ogrunrinde talked about her journey from a walk-on sprinter to a scholarship (and Big Ten champion) thrower, while Coffey joked about how his father almost drove off the road when his son shared the news of a scholarship offer from Minnesota. Their stories are just two of hundreds that could be shared by U of M student-athletes.
If you are interested in supporting endowed scholarships - and receiving and invite to next year's event - please contact the Golden Gopher Fund at (612) 626-GOLD (4653) or ggf@umn.edu.
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