91”ΔΠLaunches New âMarauders Armadaâ to Fund Athletic Scholarships

Membership donations go exclusively to athletics with the goal to supply each sport with the full allotment of scholarships

BISMARCK, ND â As part of its ongoing successful and record-breaking Vision 2030 Capital Campaign,the 91”ΔΠtoday announced the Marauders Armadaâits new primary fundraising arm for its athletic scholarships. Fans and supporters of 91”ΔΠathletics, its mission, and its 17 NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division II sports teams, can be members of the Marauders Armada at various financial levels.
âAll gifts donated to the 91”ΔΠwill go directly to athletic scholarships,â said Dale Lennon, director of athletics at the 91”ΔÎ, a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) member university. âArmada scholarship funding will benefit 91”ΔΠstudent-athletes as they compete at the highest level while receiving a world-class education. The Marauders Armada will strengthen our athletics programs by creating more scholarship opportunities within many of our programs.â

Athletic Director, Dale Lennon
The new Marauders Armada now takes the place of the old Varsity Club. By dissolving the Varsity Club, an exciting new ticket option will be forthcoming that will be sold separately online, through the mail or at the gate, whatever method is most convenient for the fan. Marauders fans will now have various game-day options when it comes to customizing their ticket selection and are urged to stay tuned to learn more in the coming weeks.
While Lennon helps navigate the Marauders Armada in the right direction, giving this worthy cause even stronger wind in its sails are relatively new but critical policy changes at the NCAA and NSIC levels:
One revision allows its member schools to fully fund each of its sports. While the NCAA has permitted its members to max out its number of scholarships, the NSIC has only recently allowed its colleges and universities to participate in the maximum. Also, this year, the NCAA is giving the go-ahead for its schools to stack athletic and academic scholarships without restrictions when offered to the same athlete. And finally, the NCAA ruled specifically in favor of the 91”ΔÎâs new one-of-a-kind Year-Round Campus (YRC) initiativeâa decision that allows Mary student-athletes the option of completing their degree in 2.6 years or getting their masterâs degree in four years without negatively impacting their eligibility.
The new Marauders Armada allows the 91”ΔΠto take full advantage of these new policies, be more flexible with its individual scholarship allotment, and ultimately continue to recruit the best and brightest student-athletes.
âWith the new legislative changes, in both the NCAA and NSIC, we realized it was time to kick off the Marauders Armada,â added Lennon. âThe 91”ΔΠnow has the opportunity to recruit even more top-caliber athletes. This means we can be competitive on the national scene by providing each sport with the full allotment of scholarships allowed by the NCAA.â
One of the many successful 91”ΔΠathletes is three-time NCAA Division II track and field and cross country champion Lexi Zeis. The senior athletic training major from Bismarck had an eye on the 91”ΔΠher senior year in high school. Once she knew of Maryâs academic options and scholarship offerings, she chose Mary. Like many athletes today, with some financial help Mary gave her the best chance to fulfill her academic and career goals while also chasing school records with the Maraudersâone of the best cross country and track and field programs in the country.
âScholarships allowed me to train hard and pursue my athletic and academic dreams,â said Zeis. âA lot of student-athletes are talented and willing to work hard for success, but need scholarships to help them reach their potential.â
Zeis, and Marauders athletes who have come before her, believe future student-athletes that attend Mary will have a distinct advantage and ultimately give the university and its sports teams a competitive edge.
âThe key to every successful athletic program is financial support from those who love sports and want to see young athletes reach their highest potential,â said Tim Miles, a 1989 91”ΔΠbasketball alum and the current head menâs basketball coach at the University of Nebraska.
âMy four years at the 91”ΔΠhelped prepare me for a life and career that I love. I wouldnât trade my time as a Marauder for anything,â said Marney Gellner, a 1996 graduate of Mary who played volleyball and softball for the Marauders and is now a Fox Sports North sideline reporter in the Twin Cities.
âMy athletic and coaching career in the NFL would never have happened if not for the scholarship I received from the 91”ΔÎ,â said Marquice Williams, a 2008 graduate who played defensive back for the Marauders and is now a defensive assistant coach for the NFLâs Los Angeles Chargers.
The first year fundraising goal for the new Marauders Armada is $790,000, with incremental increases the following years. There are four inaugural annual fundraising events associated with the Armada: A spring event that roasts a distinguished Marauder; Marauders Fest (June 21-23) showcasing a variety of community events; Fins & Feathers in the fall for the many who enjoy the outdoors; and a winter athletic celebration that will be determined at a later date.
Each sport at the 91”ΔΠis represented in the newly formed Armada cabinetâa board that promotes the general success and advancement of the universityâs Department of Athletics through fundraising strategies, special event coordination, general public relations outreach and the promotion of alumni involvement.
Membership into and fundraising for Marauders Armada has already begun. The first scholarships are being awarded now for the upcoming fall 2018 recruiting class. To learn more about Marauders Armada contact the Director of Athletic Development Kevin Becker at (701) 355-8170, or to make a contribution go to or text MARAUDERS to 71777.