Recognizing Athletes: UIndy celebrates Letter Winner Day with alumni
The University of Indianapolis will be hosting Letter Winner Day on Oct. 15.
The event will be held in the Athletics and Recreation Center and will recognize UIndy alumni who have earned a letter in their respective sports.
The event had been an opportunity for athletes who have graduated from the university to return to campus to tour the new athletic facility and watch the football game. A tailgating picnic will be held before the game and all alumni who earned a letter in the past will be invited to attend.
“This is an event for which we’re asking any former athletes who received letters to come back and celebrate the home game,” said Associate Director of Athletics Matt Donovan. “It is a great opportunity to encourage letter winners in all sports to visit the campus and see what we’ve accomplished.”
After athletes complete their second year of participation in any sport, they are given a letter. As acknowledgment of their accomplishment, most teams have awards banquets for athletes in which coaches recognize individuals by granting them this honor in the form of a letter jacket, certificate or a plaque. However, each sport differs in the way it recognizes its athletes.
“The award system varies from sport to sport, and coaches establish requirements and guidelines for their own athletes,” said Director of Athletics Sue Willey.
According to Willey, an exception also can be made for injured athletes. If they are hurt, but their coach determines they would have earned a letter without the injury, they may be awarded a letter regardless of their inability to participate.
Some of the general guidelines for lettering include percentage of participation and placement in tournaments.
Additionally, athletes must be full-time students and uphold respectable academic reputations such as maintaining good grades.
“Track partially bases its awards system on the number of points earned, golf bases it on the best scores and basketball and soccer consider the number of games the player has participated in,” Willey said. “Also, the class rank of the student determines how their athletic achievements are recognized.”
Every university’s award system differs, and the athletics faculty have their own expectations for their athletes. The system is not dictated by the NCAA, but instead is predicated on the structure of each sport.
This is not the first Letter Winner Day in UIndy’s history.
According to Donovan, the university has held the event for a number of years. However, due to an increased number in attendance, the event is put on only for special occasions, such as this year’s opening of the ARC.
The event is something Donovan feels strongly about.
“I see myself as the spokesperson for the event whose responsibility is to encourage the engagement and involvement of former athletes,” Donovan said.
Donovan encourages all UIndy alumni who have lettered to return to their alma mater, not only to enjoy the game, but also to see firsthand how much the university has progressed since their graduation.
