Giving Day - Wrap Up

Peacocks Blogger: Taylor Hoth

The Upper Iowa University community once again beat the clock and surpassed its Giving Day goals. Overall, more than 550 donors contributed $95,688 over 1,857 minutes Wednesday, April 25, through Thursday, April 26, as part of UIU’s second annual event. As a bonus surprise, an additional $2,500 was donated after Thursday evening. Thank you to all former and current Peacocks who made Giving Day such a great success! 

Peacocks Athletics is pleased to announce that over $10,000 was raised for the Refueling Station Challenge. All of us in the athletic department are anxiously awaiting its potential installation this summer. 

Athletic Director Rick Hartzell was very pleased with the support shown towards Peacock athletics. “I am thrilled by the high level of generosity shown toward our athletics program at Upper Iowa. Those who gave to the goal of funding the student-athlete refueling station during the Giving Day initiative have shown, once again, their pride in the Peacocks.” 

He was also excited about the potential advantage this refueling station will provide Peacock Athletics. “This gives us a recruiting advantage because it is not something that everyone we compete against has. I know our student-athletes will be very appreciative of this refueling station and what it means to them. Thanks to our donors, we look forward to getting this up and running by fall.” 

To all our great and generous donors, thank you for helping today’s and future Peacock athletes. Thank you to all donors for showing your Peacock pride University wide! Mark your calendars for next year’s UIU Giving Day − April 11-12, 2019. 

Giving Day - Brent Lammers
Peacocks Blogger: Taylor Hoth

Peacock Athletics continues its push to install a nutrition bar in the Upper Iowa weight room for Giving Day 2018.

            Today’s student athlete perspective comes from Brent Lammers. Brent plays quarterback on the Peacock football. The junior came to UIU from Manchester, Iowa, and like all of us in Peacock athletics, Brent is excited about the opportunity to have a nutrition bar. “I think UIU needs a nutrition bar because it would allow the athletes to get their recommended protein and other nutrients throughout the day. Many student-athletes are so busy during the day they don't have time to go to the cafe or their house to grab a snack in between classes. Having a nutrition bar available throughout the day would be very beneficial.”

Brent is right, the life of Division II student-athletes can be a crazy one. The nutrition bar would help Peacock athletes retain fuel and remain focused on and off the field.

            One of the larger benefits of a nutrition bar is that it would help student-athletes eat healthy each and every day. Something Brent admits isn’t always easy. “With the busy schedule during the season, eating correctly sometimes takes a backseat to other parts of the day.”

            For Brent and many of his teammates, the football season can be long and brutal. The nutrition bar would allow Peacock football players like Brent the opportunity to refuel and get ready for the next game or practice. “In football it would help us out throughout the season by keeping us fresh and hydrated throughout the grinding weeks.”
The opportunities and benefits the nutrition bar would create will only benefit the student-athletes here at UIU. Brent, Coach Anderson and all of us in the Peacock Athletic Department urge you to give! Help change Peacock Athletics. On April 25, show your Peacock pride and give to UIU!

           UIU Giving Day 2018 Homepage

Giving Day - Brinn

UIU Athletics Giving Day 2018
Peacocks Blogger: Taylor Hoth

            As UIU Giving Day is only a few days away, Peacock Athletics continues its push to install a nutrition bar in the Upper Iowa weight room. Peacock Athletics urges donors and alumni to give back to UIU and help your fellow Peacocks.

            Today, we get a student-athlete perspective on why UIU needs a nutrition bar and what benefits it would have. Sophomore Brinn Grunder is a thrower on the UIU Track and Field team. Brinn came to UIU from Durant, Iowa, and shares the same enthusiastic attitude as Coach Anderson about the nutrition bar.

Brinn noted that the nutrition bar is needed to help athletes get calories they can’t get normally throughout the day. “I think there are many reasons regarding why we need the nutrition bar in the weight room. The most important reason is the benefits it would allow the athletes that the cafe does not provide. In having a nutrition bar, athletes can really bare down and focus on proper nutrition and how to properly fuel themselves.”

            As previously mentioned, some of the major benefits of the nutrition bar would be that it gets the athletes into the weight room and allowing even more interaction between the strength and conditioning coaches and student-athletes. It also will aid student-athletes in post workout recovery. These are points that Brinn echoed, saying, “We, as athletes, would better understand why we need to take better care of ourselves. It would give us another reason to go to the weight room and increasing the chances of stretching. I am sure it would greatly benefit our recovery from hard lifts as well. There truly is an endless list of benefits this nutrition bar could give to the athletes here.”

            Each athlete is different. Each has unique nutritional need depending on their body and sport. As a thrower, Brinn is looking to naturally increase her protein, fruits and vegetables. “I think this nutrition bar would personally help me increase  my input of proteins, veggies and fruits. This would allow me a place to come get a nutritional snack.  It gives me the opportunity to make the better decision for my own health and success.”

            The opportunities and benefits the nutrition bar would create will only benefit the student-athletes here at UIU. Brinn, Coach Anderson and all of us in the Peacock Athletic Department urge you to give and help make a change Peacock Athletics. On April 25, show your peacock pride and give to UIU! 

UIU Giving Day 2018 Homepage

UIU Athletics Giving Day 2018
Peacocks Blogger: Taylor Hoth

            As Giving Day 2018 inches closer, the UIU Athletic Department continues to urge all Peacocks to give. Peacock athletics hopes to be able to install a nutrition bar in the weight room to the benefit all Peacock student-athletes. According to Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Zach Anderson, the project would take the UIU weight room and transform it into a Division I level facility.

            The quest to becoming a better student-athlete starts off the field. Away from the lights and fans, in the weight room, grinding and pushing yourself. The nutrition bar would aid these athletes in their push for success.

“Not only would the nutrition bar serve as a performance and growth aid, but also an educational aid. It will educate student-athletes on how and what to put in their bodies to fuel them. Not only for their sports, but for their life,” Anderson said. “It would allow them to come in when the strength coaches are here. To come in and grab a shake, grab a bar, grab some granola or anything. So they get anything they need and go on with the rest of their day.”

            Urging donors to give, Anderson said, “Look at the possibilities. Be part of the change. We’re going to shake things up in the conference and only going to be good things coming from this.” He said to “trust and believe” in the work that the University is doing. He described it as a budding flower that is ready to bloom.

            So, on April 25, be part of the change. Look at the possibilities and help out your fellow Peacocks. Circle the date and show your Peacock pride. The time to give is NOW!

UIU Giving Day 2018 Homepage

UIU Athletics Giving Day 2018

Peacocks Blogger: Taylor Hoth

As UIU Giving Day moves closer, Peacock Athletics urges potential donors to give. Your donation will help the continued improvement of UIU student-athletes. The potential installation of a nutrition bar in the Upper Iowa weight room, excites Head Strength and Conditioning coach Zach Anderson. Coach Anderson says, “It’s vital…not a need, but vital.”.

            This installation of the nutrition bar would be a great asset to all Peacock athletes.

The life of a student-athlete can be a crazy and fast-paced one. In between classes or in some spare time athletes would be able to come in and get healthy snacks and various protein shakes. Coach Anderson stressed the fact that these quick stops at the nutrition bar can give the student-athletes a boost to help them get through the day. Frequent interaction with the strength and conditioning staff will also go hand-in-hand with this nutrition bar. “It will allow them to come in here, we get to see their face, kind of get them off the couch. Let them grab something really fast and then their on the go.”

            The nutrition bar would go far past just the performance aspect. This would allow for several education opportunities. Coach Anderson said this will allow student-athletes to learn how to make healthy combinations of food. From what kind of shakes to drink to what to mix the in-house made granola with. Students interested in nutrition or exercise studies would also benefit. Coach Anderson spoke about the possibility for those interested to be able to intern with the strength and conditioning team. Allowing them to work with Coach Anderson and Peacock student-athletes to gain real world experience.

            Coach Anderson says the nutrition bar would give UIU Athletics an upper hand on other NSIC schools. “Once that nutrition bar in in here, this will blow away every NSIC strength and conditioning department and athletic department out of the water.”

            So, on April 25^th give to Peacock Athletics. Be part of the quest to change lives on and off the field. Help out your fellow Peacocks. The time to give is NOW! 

UIU Giving Day 2018 Homepage

UIU Athletics Giving Day 2018

Peacocks Blogger: Taylor Hoth

After a very successful 2017 Giving Day, UIU is once again preparing for its annual day of giving. On April 25, UIU asks you to generously give. The UIU Athletic Department is asking donors to give in order to help improve the resources available to all student-athletes that represent Upper Iowa University. This year, Upper Iowa athletics is looking to install a nutrition bar in the weight room. This will give all UIU student-athletes access to healthy foods. UIU athletics would like to thank all of its past donors. Your generous donations help student-athletes improve on and off the court.

The 2017 Giving Day initiative included more than 10 unique giving challenges for various UIU programs, all of which directly impact UIU students. The challenge goals ranged from $1,500 to $25,000, including a $25,000 matching gift once UIU received contributions from all 50 states. The 361 donors included 154 alumni, 116 faculty and staff, 71 friends of the University, 17 students and three parents. A total of $81,215 was raised and the funds were designated to 43 UIU programs.

“We are greatly appreciative of the overwhelming support shown by our alumni, faculty, staff, students, and other friends and family of the University, who helped make our first Giving Day such a tremendous success,” said Naomi Aziz, UIU director of annual giving. “To celebrate UIU’s 160th Anniversary, the initial goal was to reach 160 donors in 36 hours. Amazingly, that goal was reached within the first 10 hours of the campaign!”

            So, circle April 25 on your calendars and give to UIU. Join in the 1857 minutes of giving and help UIU reach their goal of 500 donors!  There's no better TIME to give than NOW. We all wear multiple hats and walk in different shoes, but no matter where life has taken us, UIU is what connects us. Today is the day for all Peacocks to join together and Step Up to this challenge!

UIU Giving Day 2018 Homepage