November 20, 2012
It takes a community to build a successful college athletics program. Shawnee State University is reaching out to the community to support the program by joining the 2013 Bear Club, the official SSU athletic booster program.
Joining the Bear Club is a vital investment in the future of the university and its student athletes.
"Last year, support from the Bear Club made possible the most successful year ever for Shawnee State athletics," said Robin Hagen-Smith, Hall of Fame head coach for women's basketball. "Community support makes a positive impact on the quality of athletic programs at Shawnee State University."
The undefeated SSU women's basketball team is ranked No. 2 overall in NAIA Division I and it is a Mid-South Conference preseason favorite.
MSC Coach of the Year Eric Putnam led the SSU cross country men and women both to conference titles. The cross country teams head to the NAIA National Championships in Vancouver, Washington this weekend.
Five members of the women's soccer team have been selected to the Academic All-MSC team and men's soccer placed three members of its team on the Academic All-MSC squad.
Bear Club members make a positive impact on the quality of all these athletic programs at Shawnee State. Shawnee State was recently recognized as one of 221 NAIA institutions to be named a Five-Star Champions of Character Institution for the 2011-12 season.
Charitable donations to the Bear Club provide financial support for 11 varsity athletic programs including basketball, soccer, cross country, softball, tennis, outdoor track and field, volleyball and golf with nearly 200 student athletes that will benefit from Bear Club memberships.
For more information or to join the Bear Club, call 740-351-3284 or go online at http://www.shawnee.edu/off/dev/bear-club. Follow Shawnee State Athletics at http://www.ssubears.com/