January 18, 2008

UNK Athletics Announces First Annual Loper Women's Walk

Benefiting Women's Athletics; Presented by Viaero Wireless

      Kearney, Neb. –  The Nebraska-Kearney athletic department announced Thursday afternoon that the inaugural Viaero Wireless Loper Women's Walk will take place September 13^th (Saturday) on the UNK campus.

      The goal for the annual event, which will take place every fall, is to help enhance educational opportunities for women by raising funds for UNK female student-athletes.

      Many NCAA Division II schools around the Midwest, including Nebraska-Omaha and Minnesota State-Mankato, hold similar walks that raise in upwards of $ 100, 000 annually.

      "This Viaero Wireless Loper Women's Walk is very exciting for the university," said UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen. "We recruit students everyday of the week. We tell them, very candidly, we do not guarantee you success. What we guarantee you is opportunity and what you make of that opportunity is your collegiate experience. And the women's walk is going to be able to give more opportunities to young women."

      The entire event on the 13th will take just two hours to complete. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. with the 30-minute walk, starting and finishing at Cushing Coliseum, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and followed by breakfast and an awards ceremony.

      "When we have this walk in September, it'll be a great atmosphere," said Patty Sitorius, honorary co-chair of the walk and former head volleyball coach at UNK. "This is a chance for women to step up to the plate and help gather funds, from themselves and also the business they run, and put that towards scholarships for the next generation of women."

      The walk is based on a team concept as walkers are organized into teams by "team captains." It is the responsibility of the captains to recruit as many walkers for their teams as possible. Each team member/walker is asked to raise a minimum of $ 50.00. Those that raise at least $ 100.00 will be eligible to win special individual prizes at the conclusion of the walk.

      "Viaero is very excited to be a part of this wonderful event," said Michelle Burdette of Viaero. "We're also excited to be a partner in helping these young women athletes receive a high level of education that they may not be able to receive without these types of events."

      Loper fans can get involved in the event in a variety of ways. For more information, call the UNK women's walk office at (308) 865-1563. Also, more specific information on the walk will be posted at lopers.com. soon.