INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI men’s and women’s golf teams have been traveling in style this season. After organizing fundraising efforts among alumni and donors for the past six years, the golf program was able to purchase a van upon receiving two generous donations during the 2022 Jags Giving Week campaign. The Busker family and Yoder Oil Company provided the lead gifts to make the purchase come to fruition.
Last week, Scott and Susan Busker were honored at the IUPUI Spirit of Philanthropy Awards Ceremony for their transformational gift to the program.
The 2022 9-passenger Ford Explorer Van has Jaguar logos embroidered on the headrest of each seat, is equipped with a television, wireless headphones and a surround sound stereo system to make traveling enjoyable.
“It’s been a long journey with many, many folks helping us along the way to not only do some of the extra things we want to do for our program and players, but to ultimately purchase a team vehicle for both the men’s and women’s team to share and make their experience of being a Jaguar just a little bit better,” head coach Jamie Broce said.
The van also has enough storage space for players to travel comfortably during cross-country road trips – something that was once a problem for both teams.
“The van simplifies traveling, which we do a lot of,” said junior women’s golfer Madeleine Pape. “Before, we were piling into one or two rental cars with golf bags, push carts, and luggage for five to six people. It was often a tight, uncomfortable squeeze for trips as far as South Carolina.”
In addition, the golf teams’ new mode of transportation will play an important role in the overall success of both programs from the likes of attracting recruits, gaining outside support and creating a greater sense of school pride.
“It (the van) helps our players to feel important and shows the commitment to the programs from the athletic department,” said Broce. “Recruits want to feel important and that our programs are going in a great direction. Recruits like new shiny toys just like everyone else and it will help us going forward.”
Most recently, the women’s golf team utilized the van during a spring break trip to Georgia earlier this spring and the men’s team made the short trek to West Lafayette in style. Having the whole team seated in one place during a long road trip created the perfect opportunity for players to strengthen inner-squad relationships and create a feeling of togetherness.
“All players on the women’s team rode together in the van to our spring break trip in Georgia,” said Pape. “Normally we would be split into a few cars, so it was nice to have that bonding time together.”
Broce is hoping to carry on the pattern of support from donors and alumni moving forward in an effort to continue building on both teams’ past achievements.
“It goes to show that when you have a good cause, many people want to be a part of that,” said Broce. “We want to continue to see success with both programs and having people who support the program in a major way gives me confidence that we can continue to push the envelope of success moving forward.”
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