By Madison Fessler and Raeghan Hilton / Jambar Contributors
Since 2019, Penguin Club has provided over 220 student athletes with one-year scholarships.
Founded in 1974, the club is a resource for athletes of the 21 Division I sports at Youngstown State University and acts under the motto, “the team behind the teams.”
Austin Snodgrass, business manager of auxiliary income and events, talked about how the Penguin Club raises money to give back to the athletes.
“[The club raises money] through different events that we run,” Snodgrass said. “Different memberships that we have for basketball and football games, as well as what we call Olympic Sport Membership, means there’s no tickets involved.”
There are two memberships for revenue sports. The Gridiron Club is for football fans and the Courtside Coaches Club is for fans of men’s and women’s basketball. Both memberships offer levels where the more money donated increases the benefits.
Snodgrass said the money from revenue-sport memberships doesn’t always go back to that sport, but into the main scholarship fund to help primarily non-revenue athletes. The club’s main focus is those non-revenue athletes as their events don’t generate ticket sales.
“[Non-revenue sports] would be volleyball, soccer, tennis, track, golf [and] swimming,” Snodgrass said.
This year, Penguin Club gave out 58 scholarships at $1,000 under the Joseph F. Malmisur Scholarship. Joseph Malmisur served as athletic director for almost 11 years and became a driving force behind the Penguin Club.
Senior bowler Ellie Drescher, talked about how she personally benefits from receiving the scholarship.
“I’m a very grateful person when it comes to these things and they impact me very heavily because as a person who’s in a sport that doesn’t get as much recognition as many other sports, it’s harder to receive scholarships or offers from school,” Drescher said.
Fifth-year senior Soma Albert, a member of the YSU swim and dive team, said the Penguin Club scholarship takes away some financial stress.
“It’s much easier to get by. I don’t have to work that much next to school and practices, which saves me a lot of time,” Albert said.
In addition to offering financial support, the Penguin Club acts as a liaison between the athletes and club members.
Rebecca Fink, senior associate athletic director for internal operations, elaborated on member’s involvement that reaches past the financial support.
“What I appreciate most outside of the financial contributions is really those connections that our student athletes have been able to make,” Fink said. “I [can’t] think of a Penguin Club member, especially from our board, that doesn’t love the opportunity to get to sit one on one or with a group of student athletes and just get to know them as people.”
Fink also said athletes have gained connections for mentoring, summer internships, student employment and jobs from Penguin Club members.
Snodgrass said the club has financially contributed to projects like the academic center and renovations to Beeghley Center, along with a new classroom in Stambaugh Stadium.
“We’re always trying to help with the capital projects that Ron Strollo is able to go out and raise money for, but he comes to the Penguin Club to help out as well,” Snodgrass said.
For more information on the Penguin Club, how to donate or to become a member, visit ysusports.com.
