Huskers to Celebrate Student Appreciation Days

Lincoln - The Nebraska Athletic Department is sponsoring the first-ever Student Appreciation Days. This event will take place in February and April at various Husker home sporting events. All UNL students who attend any one of these events will be eligible to win one of several exciting prizes.

Student Appreciation Days was conceived by the NU Athletic Marketing staff and S.O.R.A.D. (Student Organization Representatives to the Athletic Department) to say thank you to current students at the University of Nebraska who have shown their tremendous support to Husker athletic teams.

"Student sections set the tone and create the atmosphere, period," Athletic Director Steve Pederson said. "The Nebraska students will be key to our success in the years to come."

The efforts made by student-fans are not lost on coaches or athletes. Nebraska women’s gymnastics coach Dan Kendig said he was pleased that his Husker team’s competition against Utah on Feb. 20, was one of the featured attractions of Student Appreciation Days.

"As a coach, I always enjoy seeing our great students attend our events, and I know the team truly appreciates it when they see their fellow students at the meet supporting them," Kendig said. "The student body can have such a huge impact on our program. Since the events are free to them, we hope they will come support us, not only for the Student Appreciation Day, but for the entire season."

The No. 6 Husker wrestling team’s dual with No. 1 Oklahoma State will be the first featured event of Student Appreciation Days. Coach Mark Manning is glad about the opportunity for his team to wrestle in front of their peers.

"Our team is excited to be part of Student Appreciation Days, because it is a chance for our team to give back to the great students on Nebraska’s campus," Manning said. "We hope as many students as possible can get out and watch some of the best collegiate wrestling in the country next week."

This year the goal of Student Appreciation Days is simply to increase student-fan support for all of Nebraska’s athletic teams.

S.O.R.A.D. was created in the Spring of 2004 by Associate Athletic Director for Corporate Marketing Paul Miles to create a link between the athletic department and students on campus. This connection has enabled students an avenue to give feedback to the athletic department.

To find out more about Student Appreciation Days, visit Huskers.com and click on "NU Students" on the left side of the page.

The dates of Nebraska’s Student Appreciation Days are listed below. Promotional items available for students to win (if attending the event) are listed next to the event. The prize for the outdoor track and field meet on April 21 has not yet been determined.

• Feb. 10 - Wrestling vs. Oklahoma State ? Dell Laptop Computer ($1 Hot Dogs and Pepsi)
  Feb. 20 ? Women’s Gymnastics vs. Utah - $500 Book Scholarship
• Feb. 23 ? Women’s Basketball vs. Kansas State - $2,000 cash (1 - $500 prize; 2 - $250 prizes; 10 - $100 prizes)
• April 13 ? Softball vs. Iowa State ? slim Playstation 2
• April 21 - Outdoor Track and Field - Nebraska Twilight