Advertising junior Lee Davenport lays on the floor after a round of basketball on Friday night, Sept. 28, 2012 at IM Sports-West. MSU Greenlline hosted the five-on-five “Full Court Support” tournament as a fundraiser for scholarship. Justin Wan/The State News
MSU Greenline and friends hooped it up to raise money for the MSU Promise Endowed Scholarship on Friday night for the first ever Full Court Support basketball tournament.
Cheers echoed across the IM Sports-West court from spectators as more than 60 people faced off against colleagues and friends on opposing teams. The teams included the Monday and Wednesday shifts pulling out a 38-32 victory against the Tuesday and Thursday shifts in the championship round.
The cost for the event was $25 per team or $5 per person and the event raised more than $400, said Danielle Matlick, the organization’s external philanthropy manager.
She said the event was the first time, but she hopes it can expand to multiple times a semester.
The scholarship fund is a pool of money for donors looking to help the university pay for scholarships for students on the basis of need.
MSU Greenline, the university’s student-based telemarketing service, attempts hundreds of thousands of calls each year contacting alumni for support of university programs.
Although they raise millions each year, MSU Greenline wanted to continue to give back to a scholarship they raise money for, Matlick and her boyfriend were helped by the scholarship during the 2011-12 year. Matlick received about $400 each semester, and her boyfriend received about $900 each semester through the scholarship.
“The MSU Promise (Endowed) Scholarship is something that really hits home to a lot of callers because they have scholarships too,” Matlick said. “That’s why we decided it would be great to give back to the university.
Athletic training junior Kyle Knapp said the tournament was a great opportunity to help current and future students get financial aid.
Knapp, who has many friends working at MSU Greenline, said the basketball aspect made the fundraiser more exciting, and it felt good donating to his peers.
“It will definitely help someone out in the future, which is what I’m all about,” Knapp said. “If I can help anyone, I mean five bucks to play basketball, (it’s a) done deal.”
Matlick said the idea for the basketball tournament was inspired by Frank Tramble, MSU Greenline’s program coordinator.
She said the event was a tribute to Tramble, who lost his scholarship after hurting his arm when he was younger.
For psychology junior James Mooney, the event helped MSU Greenline and friends stay active and bond as a group.
“We call on the phone all of the time for this scholarship to help kids out,” Mooney said. “So we’re out here having fun, getting closer as a company, as a bunch of friends and hopefully send some kids to school here.”
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