BROOKINGS – The Jackrabbit Athletic Scholarship Auction set another record Saturday night as the targeted goal of $1 million was exceeded.
"The ability to provide student-athletes the access to higher education by earning a scholarship is one of the most important parts of our mission," Director of Athletics Justin Sell said. "There was a lot of magic in Frost Arena (Saturday) night. To be able to raise that kind of money for scholarships in one night is mind-boggling, and by having an anonymous donor step up and match the dollar amount on a two-to-one basis has really elevated this event to a whole new level."
A total of $1,026,000 was raised during the event as more than 300 items - many of them one-of-kind pieces of Jackrabbit memorabilia - were up for bid between the silent and live auctions. Some items, including game-worn football jerseys, remain available for purchase through the mobile bidding auction site at Jacks2017.gesture.com.
The gala event was sponsored by Sanford Health and First PREMIER Bank.
The previous record for the Jackrabbit Athletic Scholarship Auction was $603,000, which was set in 2015.
Next year's Jackrabbit Athletic Scholarship Auction is tentatively scheduled for April 28, 2018.
