USU announces historic fundraising campaign

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah (ABC4 Sports) – Utah State is trying to keep up with the big schools in college athletics.

Utah State University announced its first-ever comprehensive capital campaign Friday, which is the largest and most ambitious fundraising effort in University history.

As part of the university-wide Create Your Aggie Impact initiative, the Reach and Rise campaign was officially announced during a USU-hosted VIP event at the Bastian Agricultural Center in South Jordan, in Utah.

“Athletics are an important part of the Utah State University experience,” said USU President Elizabeth Cantwell. “The impact that championship-level athletics can have on the university’s profile, the student body experience, with our alumni and in the Cache Valley community is immeasurable.”

The campaign, which aims to raise $125 million over the next five years for Aggie Athletics, is committed to positioning USU’s more than 400 student-athletes and 16 academic programs for success in modern college athletics.

“This is a historic moment for Utah State Athletics,” said Diana Sabau, USU vice president and director of athletics. “The Reach and Rise campaign is ambitious and bold, signaling our commitment to the future. The opportunity to solidify ourselves as a premier athletics program in the West is within our grasp and it is time for Aggies across the country to rise together to support a new era of athletics Utah State.

The three pillars of the campaign are: redefining the student-athlete experience by providing tools for success beyond their athletic career; raising the standard of excellence through a renewed commitment to increased funding for recruitment and retention of student-athletes and staff, as well as facility improvements; and change lives through education by funding scholarships for student-athletes.

More than $20 million has already been raised during the “silent phase” of the fundraising campaign.