Jessica Kovacevich Kiecker, ‘07, played hockey at UND from 2002-2006.
Jessica’s father, Terry Kovacevich, who set up the scholarship endowment, watched his daughter go through many of the same experiences as Secord-Holmes, who plans to graduate in May 2013. “Hockey is a job,” Kiecker said, which makes it hard to earn any extra money to pay living expenses. Most of a student-athlete’s time left over after a long, full day in the classroom and a three-hourplus practice at night is spent studying or doing homework. Kiecker’s hard work paid off, and today she is an occupational therapist for the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis, working with veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. “We are very proud of what Jessica has been able to accomplish. It takes a special kind of person,” Terry Kovacevich said. Kovacevich works as an asset manager for Marathon Oil Corp. in Dickinson, N.D. Through Marathon, he is also able to provide a 1-to-1 match to his gift, effectively doubling his family’s impact to UND through the women’s hockey impact scholarship. His original $25,000 endowment gift becomes $50,000, or $10,000 a year for a scholarship. That covers two-thirds of a student-athlete’s tuition, fees, books, room and board. Kovacevich said his reason for giving to the women’s hockey program’s future student-athletes is simple: “We wanted to give back to UND because my daughter was able to play hockey and get a great
education there. And she was helped by scholarships.” The Kovacevich/Kiecker scholarship gift makes them contributors to North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND, a University-wide fundraising effort to direct $300 million to passionate students like Secord-Holmes, inspirational educators like the women’s hockey coaching staff, extraordinary places like Ralph Engelstad Arena and innovative programs like UND Athletics. When Kiecker thinks about North Dakota Spirit, she thinks of tradition and community support for student-athletes like herself and Ashley Secord-Holmes. It’s a tradition she is carrying on by giving back to the women’s hockey program. And Secord-Holmes has one message for Jessica Kiecker and her family: “Thank you for helping me make my dreams come true.” To learn more about how you can impact a passionate student like Ashley Secord-Holmes and for more on North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign For UND, log on to spirit.und.edu. AR
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ENDOWMENT TAX CREDIT! Do you pay taxes in North Dakota? Do you have a desire to make an enduring impact at UND? The North Dakota State Legislature has made it even more enticing to consider making a gift to an endowment through the UND Foundation. Endowments build on the University of North Dakota’s investment in students, faculty, programs and places of learning as well as help us achieve new levels of excellence in all college endeavors. Endowments create a legacy with the power to change lives. With a gift of at least $5,000 to an endowment, you could benefit from a federal tax deduction AND an additional 40 percent of the gift on your 2011 North Dakota state income tax. There are three ways to give to an endowment: create an endowment, support an existing named endowment, or benefit one of the “Exceptional UND” endowments. For more information, contact us at donorrelations@ undfoundation.org or call 800.543.8764.
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