Staff report

The Penguin Club has made a $100,000 gift to Youngstown State University in support of Kilcawley Center, part of the ongoing Kilcawley: Centered on the Future campaign.

The Penguin Club is the booster organization that supports Youngstown State University student-athletes participating in 21 Division I sports. It helps provide scholarships and grants-in-aid, which enable student-athletes to pursue their education while competing in the Horizon League, Missouri Valley Football Conference, Conference USA and Mid-American Conference.

“We are thankful for the Penguin Club’s support in the Kilcawley: Centered on the Future Campaign,” said YSU President Bill Johnson. “Kilcawley Center is a special place on campus, and the generosity of organizations like the Penguin Club cannot be overstated.”

The WATTS, Cafaro Field, Zidian Family Arena, Covelli Sports Complex and Stambaugh Stadium are some of the many capital projects the Penguin Club has provided contributions for through the years. The Penguin Club has worked closely with the university and YSU Foundation to create and enhance scholarship endowments to provide many opportunities for students and student-athletes.

“The Penguin Club is honored to contribute to the upcoming Kilcawley Center renovation project,” said Penguin Club Board President Ted Schmidt. “The students on our campus deserve to have the best experience possible, and part of that in the near future will be to utilize a state-of-the-art facility. This project will be a huge asset to the school, community and region.”

Membership is open to alumni, friends of the university, businesses, foundations and YSU fans. As the cost of both higher education and athletic competition continues to rise, so does the challenge of competing at a championship Level. To meet this challenge, the YSU Athletic Department relies on Penguin Club membership, fundraising events and special donors to provide the margin for excellence each year.

“The Penguin Club has a long-standing generous history of supporting YSU student athletes,” said Centered on the Future Campaign Chair Scott Schulick.