Suh’s latest feat one of amazing generosity

The gift will benefit the athletic program and create scholarships.

Former Nebraska football player and college of engineering alumnus Ndamukong Suh has pledged a $2.6 million gift to his alma mater, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The gift, announced at the Huskers annual spring football game Saturday afternoon, will benefit the Husker athletic strength and conditioning program and create scholarships for students. See the video shown at the game.

Suh is a former defensive tackle for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and one of the most decorated linemen in Nebraska’s football history, winning numerous national awards, including 2009 Associated Press player of the year, and finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Suh is expected to be one of the first players, if not the first player, picked in the National Football League draft on April 22.

“It says so much about Ndamukong Suh that one of his first acts as a graduate is one of giving back, and helping students who are in need of a scholarship to the University of Nebraska,” said Clarence Castner, president of the University of Nebraska Foundation. “He is an inspiration and a role model. It may be that his biggest impact will occur off the field.”

Castner noted the University of Nebraska is currently conducting a fundraising campaign with scholarships identified as the top priority and Suh’s gift will assist in meeting that goal.

Suh’s gift includes $2 million to athletics, for renovations and updates to Memorial Stadium’s strength and conditioning center, and $600,000 for scholarships, to benefit students enrolled in UNL’s College of Engineering. Suh graduated in December of 2009 from the college’s Charles Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction. Suh asked that students from his high school, Grant High School in Portland, Oregon, be given preference for the scholarship he is creating. He said he wanted to help out-of-state students, who pay more to attend the University of Nebraska.

“The balance between athletics and academics is one-of-a-kind at Nebraska,” Suh said. That’s the reason I came here, and that’s the reason why I wanted to support the College of Engineering. I wanted to make sure that other out-of-state students would have the same opportunities that I did at Nebraska. This is a great school and will hold a special place in my heart forever.”

Read the news release on huskers.com here

Other coverage of Suh:

ABC News Story on Ndamukong Suh

USA Today Feature on Suh

New York Times Q. and A. with Suh

Detroit Free Press Column on Suh

Make a gift to a scholarship fund today

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