GIVING GUIDE 25 26
EKU ATHLETICS LAUNCHES NEW COLONELS PRIORITY POINTS SYSTEM
The Colonels Priority Points system rewards loyal Eastern Kentucky University Athletics supporters based on longevity and financial contributions. Points determine priority for seat assignments, ticket upgrades, postseason access, club access, parking, and special events.
Points are awarded for annual contributions and recalculated quarterly to reflect current support. The system ensures fairness and recognizes those with a lasting impact on Colonel Athletics.
It is important to note that priority points activation will require being a season ticket holder for any sport. Postseason ticket access will give priority to season ticket holders of that specific sport and their priority point ranking overall.
“The Colonel Priority Points initiative is a new way for us to reward our tremendous donors and season ticket holders,” Vice President and Director of Athletics, Kyle Moats said. “This new system will better allow us to engage those who have been generous and faithful in their financial support of EKU Athletics while creating a new avenue to incentivize new givers as well. All of this will be done while ensuring a clear and fair system in how we reward the many donors and season ticket holders of EKU Athletics and Colonel Club, who we greatly value.”
Points will be awarded for season ticket purchases, gifts to the Colonel Club and sport specific giving, NIL contributions to the Maroon Fund, Athletics special event purchases (Suits for Seniors, Most Exciting Night, Colonel Club Golf Classic, etc.), University giving, sponsorships, and being an EKU alumnus, retired or current faculty and staff at EKU, former or current spirit members, or an EKU letter winner.
EKU Athletics will use this system for the newly renovated premium seating inside Baptist Health Arena this season and will release the first set of rankings in early September.
Visit EKUSports.com and select the Fans tab for more information about the Colonels Priority Points system or to access your ranking and points.
Questions?
Contact Sean.Hamilton@eku.edu or Bryson.Brooks@eku.edu.
2 POINTS
FOR EVERY $1,000 GIVEN TO EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY OUTSIDE OF ATHLETICS
PER YEAR OF CONSECUTIVE COLONEL CLUB MEMBERSHIP /GIVING
THE FIRST POINTS FOR CONSECUTIVE GIVING WOULD BE IN THE NEXT YEAR OF CONTRIBUTING (2026)
FOR EVERY $1,000 CUMULATIVE CONTRIBUTED FOR SEASON TICKETS, SPORT SPECIFIC GIVING, AND SPECIAL EVENT TICKET PURCHASES
FOR EVERY $1,000 GIVEN TOWARD NIL OR THE MAROON FUND
HOW TO EARN PRIORITY POINTS
FOR EVERY $1,000 SPENT TOWARD SPONSORSHIPS WITH EKU ATHLETICS
FOR EVERY $1,000 GIVEN TO COLONEL CLUB
FOR BEING AN ACTIVE SEASON TICKET HOLDER EACH YEAR FOR EACH SPECIFIC SPORT
FOOTBALL, MEN’S BASKETBALL, WOMEN’S BASKETBALL, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, AND VOLLEYBALL
3 4 4 4 5 5 10
FOR BEING AN ALUMNI, LETTER WINNER, CURRENT OR RETIRED FACULTY OR STAFF, CURRENT OR FORMER BAND OR SPIRIT SQUAD MEMBER (ONE-TIME BONUS) 10 POINT MAXIMUM
POINTS OF PRIDE
EKU ATHLETICS
On the Field & Court 2024-25
Football returned to the
FCS PLAYOFFS
for the second time in three years
Colonels qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships 3
Men’s Cross Country claimed its third straight ASUN Title
Volleyball won
21 GAMES
• Women’s Basketball secured back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2001-02
• Beach Volleyball earned its firstever ASUN Tournament win
• Softball won its second straight ASUN regular season championship, securing the 2025 Gold Division title
Soccer advanced to the ASUN Championship game
FOR THE FIRST TIME
in program history
Men’s Basketball was led by senior Devontae Blanton, who earned the first team All-ASUN honors
In the Classroom Spring 2025
71 STUDENTATHLETES WITH 4.0 GPAS
17 TEAMS EARNED A 3.0 GPA OR HIGHER
27 TH CONSECUTIVE SEMESTER WITH AN ALL-ATHLETE GPA ABOVE 3.0
121 STUDENT-ATHLETES ON THE DEAN’S LIST
3.309
HIGHEST EVER ALLATHLETE TERM GPA
254
EKU COLONEL CLUB AND GIVING SOCIETIES
EKU COLONEL CLUB
College athletics is undergoing unprecedented change, but one constant for Eastern Kentucky University is the Colonel Club. Gifts to the Colonel Club provide vital resources including scholarships, travel expenses, equipment, academic support, and much more.
EKU COLONEL CLUB BENEFITS
Priority Points (requires season tickets)
Decal
E-mail Newsletter
EKU Luggage Tag
Donor Social Event Invitation
Exclusive Colonel Club Hat
Website Recognition
Exclusive Colonel Club Apparel Item
Special Gameday Recognition
EKU President's Circle
Olympic Sports Pass
1909 Society Automatic Induction
VIP Events with Leadership/Coaches
These initiatives, along with scholarship fundraising, are an integral part of helping us win. Investment from community members like you is fundamental. Will you support EKU student-athletes with your gift to the Colonel Club?
EKU ATHLETICS GIVING SOCIETIES
The 1909 Society is an elevated level of giving within EKU Athletics. Representing EKU’s first year of intercollegiate athletics, the program is designed to provide an additional giving opportunity that rewards both premium ticket purchases and philanthropic giving of $5,000 or more, including $2,500 to the Colonel Club to support student-athlete scholarships.
This group is philanthropic in nature and its members are invested in the enhancement of EKU Athletics by providing crucial resources for student-athletes. Members will be rewarded with unique access opportunities that will be established throughout the year.
LEGACY SOCIETY GIVING SOCIETIES
The EKU Legacy Society recognizes alumni and friends who have provided for EKU in their estate plans. These charitable contributions greatly benefit Eastern while often offering substantial tax advantages to the donors. The most common form of an estate or “planned” gift is a will bequest in which a donor names EKU Athletics as beneficiary of a specific dollar amount or residual percentage of an estate. Other planned gift options include charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and gifts of life insurance.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY GIVING SOCIETIES, VISIT GO.EKU.EDU/GIVINGSOCIETIES
EKU ATHLETICS IMPACT OPPORTUNITIES
SUPPORT YOUR FAVORITE TEAMS WITH A GIFT THAT WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT STUDENT-ATHLETES.
Basketball Program - Men’s
Men’s Basketball’s greatest needs fund
Basketball Program - Women’s
Women’s Basketball’s greatest needs fund
Beach Volleyball
Beach Volleyball’s greatest needs fund
Bratzke Student-Athlete
Success Center
Supports student-athletes’ academic excellence
Baseball Diamond Legacy Fund
Baseball’s greatest needs fund
Cheerleading – All Girl
All-Girl Cheerleading’s greatest needs fund
Cheerleading – CoEd
Co-Ed Cheerleading’s greatest needs fund
Dance Team
Dance Team’s greatest needs fund
Football Matter of Pride Boosters
Football’s greatest needs fund
Football Scholarship Fund
Supports scholarships for football student-athletes
Worn Cleat Club Football
Alumni Event Fund
Supports Football alumni tailgates and special events
Golf Program - Men’s
Men’s Golf Team’s greatest needs fund
Golf Program - Women’s
Women’s Golf Team’s greatest needs fund
Soccer Program
Soccer Team’s greatest needs fund
Martha Mullins Women’s Softball Fund
Supports facility projects that benefit the Softball Team
Softball Program
Softball Team’s greatest needs fund
Sports Medicine
Supports equipment, supplies and staffing needs for the department tending to the medical needs of student-athletes
Sports Performance
Supports equipment, supplies and staffing for the department focused on the strength, conditioning and nutritional needs of student-athletes
Tennis Program - Men’s
Men’s Tennis Team‘s greatest needs fund
Tennis Program - Women’s
Women’s Tennis Team‘s greatest needs fund
Track and Field & Cross Country - Men’s
Men’s Track and Field & Cross Country’s greatest needs fund
Track and Field & Cross Country - Women’s
Women’s Track and Field & Cross Country’s greatest needs fund
Volleyball Alumni Legacy Non-Endowed Fund
Designed to encourage support from, and competition among, EKU Volleyball alumni. Funds are used for the indoor Volleyball Team’s greatest needs.
Volleyball Program
Volleyball Program’s greatest needs fund
Women’s Athletics Program
Funds are used to support an EKU Women’s team at the discretion of the Athletic Director
Please call (859) 622-2122 or email tickets@eku.edu to secure your tickets.
If you are interested in learning about the opportunity to make a significant impact for EKU Athletics through a major gift or planned gift, please contact Sean Hamilton at Sean.Hamilton@eku.edu or (859) 622-6372.
“This past summer I had the amazing opportunity to go on an international trip to Europe with the EKU Volleyball Team. We explored Croatia, Austria, Slovenia, and Italy as a team and truly bonded. The experience and places I got to see will not be forgotten. It was a once-ina-lifetime trip. Thank you to all of our donors, especially Dr. Geri Polvino, for making this possible.”
- Cooper Abney, EKU Volleyball student-athlete
