Today was the 6th annual endowment luncheon at the Ramada Inn.

This year there are 81 endowed scholarship funds that provide money to the NDSU athletic department for athletic scholarships. There are another 13 scholarship funds already set up that will kick in earnings in future years. These scholarship funds are very important because they provide a foundation for permanent funding of scholarship needs. The money donated by these contributors is never spent. It is invested along with the other NDSU Development Foundation assets, and only the earnings on those funds are distributed to the athletic department. The amount of each scholarship fund varies, but most do not cover the entire scholarship cost of an athlete.

Each scholarship fund is designated to go to an athlete or athletes in the sport of choice by the contributor. The lunch is a way for those athletes receiving the scholarships to meet those that donated the money. It was nice to meet our future starting quarterback, Nick Mertens, at the lunch today. He is the recipient of the "roadwarrior" scholarship fund!

Erv Inniger reported that $673,000 was earned this year through this program and the Cornerstone of DI programs.