University of Illinois Springfield Athletics

The UIS Athletics Donor Spotlight for the month of January is Glen and Lola Garrison. Their continued support of UIS Athletics has made a significant impact on the lives of Prairie Stars student-athletes. Read below to learn why they give to UIS student-athletes.

Why is it important to give to programs like UIS Athletics?
Participation in sports of any kind offers numerous, long term benefits to every athlete. They reap multiple physical benefits, develop relational and leadership skills which will impact them throughout their life, and create self discipline and time management habits both in and out of the sport arena. Athletics strengthens self worth while also teaching the value of humility. Athletes learn to make personal sacrifices and come to appreciate a team approach to life. Through team interaction and travel to many different campuses and communities, athletes are exposed to settings and situations that continually broaden their life experiences. 

The athlete benefits, but the energy, atmosphere, and excitement that can develop on campus and in the community through a successful sports team is exhilarating. High level sports competition brings people to the campus, both as spectators and as student athletes, and unites everyone around a common goal. Enthusiasm, unity, and a reason to cheer are all rays of delight in today’s world. Without sufficient funding, none of this would be possible.
 
What interests you most about UIS athletics?
Being fans of many sports, attending games/meets of all sorts has become an integral part of our social life. While we enjoy the competition, getting to know some of the athletes on a more personal level is really what we enjoy. Watching them develop and improve their athletic skill is fun, but watching them grow and mature as valuable citizens is most rewarding. Praise goes to coaches, trainers and staff who help these student athletes reach their full potential.
  
What are you most excited for when it comes to UIS Athletics?
Like everyone, we love winning seasons, conference titles, individual award winning players, high level competition, improved facilities, and all that goes with any outstanding program. But what excites us most about UIS athletics is the amazing potential the university has. The growth of the UIS program in just the last few years is noteworthy, and hopefully that trend will continue. Getting a track program going in addition to the cross country team, continuing to improve and enlarge the existing facilities, adding needed support personnel (ie. trainers, dietitians, etc.) and constructing new multi-purpose venues are all things to look forward to at UIS.
 
What are you most passionate about?
What we are most passionate about concerning UIS is that the university is seen and appreciated by the Springfield community as an institution of higher learning where every student is valued, every student is given the opportunity to achieve mastery in their chosen field of endeavor, morality and integrity are the expected standards to live by, and becoming valuable citizens of our country is the outcome of each student. Athletics can play a crucial role in fulfilling all of those goals; Springfield and UIS can both grow and thrive through a partnership of mutual effort and support.