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June 20, 2002--The 2001 MBNA Blue Hen Golf Classic raised $100,000 to support University of Delaware athletic programs, according to Edgar Johnson, director of athletics.
“The MBNA Blue Hen Golf Classic is the premiere scholarship fundraising event for the athletics program,” Johnson said. “The funding it provides touches almost all of our sports programs through the general scholarship fund or by helping sport-specific endowed scholarships to grow.”
Johnson added that the tournament “has provided countess opportunities for student-athletes to experience a UD education and participate in intercollegiate athletics. It is a wonderful event that has a very positive and meaningful outcome in support of students.”
University President David P. Roselle said the golf classic has grown in importance with UD’s move to the Colonial Athletic Association.
“The CAA provides a much higher level of competition in NCAA Division I,” Roselle said. “The coaches and players have embraced the challenge and are already being successful. All of us must understand that the ability to be successful in the long term will require additional financial resources. We are thus entirely grateful to MBNA and to the MBNA Blue Hen Golf Classic participants and sponsors.”
Proceeds from the 2001 tournament benefit several sports and, in particular, money was earmarked to support the Harry Rawstrom Scholarship, named for the late swimming and diving coach who directed the Blue Hen program from 1946-81; the Ray Walker Tennis Scholarship fund, which honors the late UD varsity tennis player and team captain; and the F.W. Sipple fund, in support of athletics, which was started by the late Delaware College football player (1895-96).
The 2002 MBNA Blue Hen Golf Classic is scheduled Monday, Sept. 23, at the DuPont Country Club. For details, see the web site at http://www.udel.edu/PR/GolfClassic/index.html.
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