Donors to SMU Athletics are inspiring excellence on the field and in the classroom by nearly 500 student-athletes each year – like Mustang wide receiver Austin Upshaw ’21, ’23. Investments in new and upgraded facilities and dynamic programs help the University cultivate the personal and professional development of these high-achieving student-athletes.
Fueled by ongoing support from generous donors, the construction of the Garry Weber End Zone Complex is making steady progress after its groundbreaking in December 2022. Made possible by the largest gift in the history of SMU Athletics and other principal gift commitments, the complex will launch a new era for athletic excellence at SMU by supporting its student-athletes and offering premier opportunities for Mustang fans.
During the last decade, 16 of the school’s 17 Division I sports teams have made the postseason, and 12 of them have won at least one conference championship. SMU student-athletes have excelled in the classroom, with two-thirds earning cumulative GPAs of 3.0 or higher, over one-third boasting GPAs of 3.5 or better and 91 percent earning degrees.
The three-level, 192,500-square-foot complex caps a decade-long push for investment in championship-caliber facilities: more than $250 million since 2013. New facilities like the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center, Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium and Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex help SMU attract the best student-athletes and outstanding students looking for a complete university experience. Additional investments in coaching, staff and support programs help student-athletes thrive while at SMU – and transition smoothly to the workforce.
SMU Athletics brings the highest level of collegiate competition to Dallas and prepares student-athletes to be champions in their pursuits on the field and throughout their lives.
Bill Armstrong ’82, co-owner and CEO of Armstrong Oil and Gas, SMU Trustee and co-chair of the SMU Ignited Campaign Steering Committee for Athletics
Donors to the SMU Ignited campaign understand the crucial role that athletics play in enhancing our campus and community. Gifts to SMU Athletics enable the University to bring the highest level of collegiate competition to Dallas – and inspire our student-athletes to invest in themselves and their communities around the world.
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Find out how your gift can spark the biggest impact in the lives of our students and the future they are building in the classroom, on the field and in communities around the world.
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