Contact: Bruce Conley, News Information Director
Phone: (605) 274-5526
Fax: (605) 274-4903
e-mail: bruce_conley@augie.edu
www.augie.edu

February 23, 2004

Student-Athlete Committee Raises $1,000 for Make-A-Wish

Augustana student-athletes pooled their talents in a winning effort that won't be found in a scorebook.

On Saturday night, at halftime of the Augie men's basketball game with St. Cloud State, juniors Angie Mattke (Spicer, MN) and Kylie Tamke (Fremont, NE) presented a check for $1,000 to Mary Olinger, president and chief executive officer of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota.

Since January, members of the Augustana Student-Advisory Committee have been selling raffle tickets at each of the Vikings' North Central Conference games in the Elmen Center's Hall Sports Forum. For $1, fans had the opportunity to watch the games from courtside in a loveseat, donated by South Dakota Furniture Mart. Valentino's provided the winners with free pizza and soda. Augie student-athletes called the project "Head-Honcho Seats."

The project was part of a nationwide effort by all NCAA divisions to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.

Since 1984, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota has been making very special wishes come true for South Dakota Children facing life-threatening medical conditions. The South Dakota chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America grants wishes of each referred and eligible child in the state. Wishes are granted to approximately 50 children each year at an average cost of $5,000.

The Augustana Student-Athlete Advisory Committee consists of 29 student-athletes representing each sport offered by the college. Mattke is a member of the track and cross country teams, while Tamke competes with the soccer team.