Lundquist Draws Scholar-Athletes

It's no secret that the University of Oregon's successful sports teams enable the school to stand out on the national stage. But not everyone knows that the world-class education available at the Lundquist College of Business helps persuade many student-athletes to attend the UO in the first place. In the past year alone, faculty members associated with the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center have introduced the college and its programs to literally hundreds of visiting high-school athletes and their parents. "The Warsaw Center is a big draw for us and some of our most high-profile student-athletes are business majors," said Maurica Powell, assistant coach for men and women's track and field. Volleyball star Alaina Bergsma--recent recipient of the Honda Sports Award for volleyball among many other honors--is one of many who acknowledges the Warsaw Center's influence on her decision to attend the UO. "I knew I could study what I loved and earn a valuable degree while doing it," Bergsma recalled. Though a potential student's interest may first be sparked by the Warsaw Center's offerings, this isn't always where he or she ends up. "At last count, we had sixty-five student-athletes in the business school," said Warsaw Center managing director Paul Swangard. This number includes students in the finance and entrepreneurship tracks, as well as those in the Warsaw Center. "We don't view ourselves as the only place that students athletes can come to study in the business school, but we think we are a good window for them to start thinking about the business school," explained Swangard.