Valparaiso Receives $2M For Basketball Recruiting

(Image couretsy of Valparaiso University Athletics)

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Two Valparaiso University alumni have made a large donation to assist the university’s men’s basketball team. Jan Sievers and Paul Schrage have committed $2 million to establish an endowed recruitment fund.

The university says when fully funded, the Paul D. and Janet C. Schrage Endowed Recruitment Fund for Men’s Basketball will provide a permanent source of support for the men’s basketball program’s recruiting activities. As longtime financial supporters of Valparaiso’s basketball program, the couple funded the Schrage Basketball Wing which houses the men’s and women’s basketball offices.

"We are extremely blessed to have Mr. and Mrs. Schrage as supporters and friends of Valpo basketball," said Bryce Drew, men’s basketball head coach. "My family and I have been close to them for many years, and their long-term support of the program has been a key to our success. We are grateful for their continued support with this most recent gift, which will allow us to be competitive at a higher level with our recruiting activities as we strive to maintain a standard of excellence moving forward."

Paul Schrage served on the university’s board of directors as recently as 2015. The couple also previously established the Paul and Janet Schrage Endowment Fund to provide ongoing support for university’s Athletics-Recreation Center.

"The long and proud history of Valpo basketball has been strongly influenced by the Drew family," said Paul Schrage. "They instill everything that Valparaiso University represents and have been a great inspiration to Jan and me as we considered our gift. A university is a complex institution and many parts must fit together to make it strong. We hope that our support of the basketball program will help make it even stronger and continue to have a positive impact on the entire University community."