Dear Purple Knights Supporters,
Greetings from Saint Michael’s College! Fall has arrived in full color and campus is buzzing with the excitement that a new school year brings. Our students are deep into their academic pursuits and taking advantage of the many opportunities and activities available on and off campus.
This weekend we welcomed hundreds of alumni and family members back to campus, including our newest Athletic Hall of Fame inductees and many alumni who were student athletes. It was good to see so many return, and the spirit and energy on display all weekend was invigorating! This is a very busy and exciting time of year for the Department of Athletics – all 21 varsity programs and 460+ student-athletes are in motion, either in season or preparing for their respective seasons.
This year marks the seventh Purple Knight Challenge, our biggest annual athletics fundraiser. We have had tremendous success over the past six years, raising nearly $950,000 in support of our varsity athletics programs.
Your support is critically important and makes a real difference in the experiences of our Purple Knights. Our student-athletes are shining examples of Saint Michael’s, proudly representing our College in competition, in the community, and in the classroom – where, for the second straight year and fifth time in our history, we reign as the nation’s leader in NCAA Division II Academic Success Rate!
I hope you will join me in making a gift to the PK Challenge today. As someone who has enjoyed the great privilege of being part of our College’s athletics program for many years, I can’t think of a better way to honor the legacy of those Purple Knights who came before – and those who will represent Saint Michael’s varsity teams long into the future!
Best wishes to you, and GO KNIGHTS!
Chris Kenny '86 M'98, P'18
Director of Athletics
Dear Purple Knights Family,
The seventh annual Purple Knight Challenge is nearing its conclusion, but we’re still a bit short of the finish line. As athletes, we know how important it is to give that last bit of effort and to not give up.
Playing sports at St. Mike’s has enhanced our college experiences immeasurably. We’re so grateful for the teammates who’ve become like family, the coaches who’ve guided us and the wins and losses that have taught us valuable lessons along the way. Please support the PK Challenge today so that our fellow teammates and future St. Mike’s athletes can enjoy the wonderful experiences that come with being a varsity athlete.
Thank you, and go SMC!
Mary Kohn '24, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President, Women’s Swimming and Women’s Lacrosse
Dave Ciancio '25, SAAC Vice President, Men’s Ice Hockey
Kennedy Richard '24, SAAC Vice President, Field Hockey
P.S. Don’t forget to check out the team leaderboard to see where your team falls in the donor rankings.
1016 days ago by Ashley Freccia
Dear Purple Knights Family,
This year’s PK Challenge is in full swing, and our teams couldn’t be more excited or grateful for the support we have already received.
In the past, Men’s Lacrosse has used funds from our generous donors to purchase film software, a virtual playbook, tons of lacrosse balls, and more. We rely heavily on our donors to provide our student-athletes with the best possible experience, so your support of our program is highly appreciated!
The tremendous generosity of past Swimming and Diving donors has made an impact beyond the quantifiable. Feeling the support and care of families and past teammates motivates us to do the amazing things we do. This year we will be proudly wearing brand new parkas purchased with funding raised during the PK Challenge. We also were able to slightly offset the cost per student-athlete of our training trip to Puerto Rico in January. Your donations make a difference, and we are so grateful.
Today, we’re asking you to support all our varsity teams by donating to the PK Challenge.
Thanks to your support, our varsity athletes will continue to grow as well-rounded individuals and enjoy the distinctive experiences that enhance their collegiate athletic careers.
Eileen Hall
Head Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Coach
Alex Smith
Head Men's Lacrosse Coach
Donors
View All Donors| Team | Donors | Raised ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Men's Golf | 19 | $2,085 |
| Women's Cross Country | 72 | $5,580 |
| Softball | 59 | $8,435 |
| Women's Lacrosse | 75 | $9,900 |
| Nordic Skiing | 124 | $13,213 |
| Men's Soccer | 86 | $8,272 |
| Men's Lacrosse | 183 | $34,510 |
| Women's Soccer | 90 | $10,062 |
| Men's Basketball | 138 | $28,400 |
| Field Hockey | 56 | $5,001 |
| Baseball | 87 | $14,582 |
| Swimming & Diving | 105 | $10,942 |
| Women's Basketball | 158 | $13,483 |
| Men's Ice Hockey | 122 | $34,437 |
| Alpine Skiing | 126 | $14,089 |
| Sports Medicine & Performance | 9 | $1,010 |
| Women's Tennis | 46 | $3,453 |
| Athletics & Recreation | 14 | $1,715 |
| Men's Tennis | 42 | $4,595 |
| Men's Cross Country | 36 | $3,105 |
| Women's Ice Hockey | 49 | $15,120 |
| Women's Volleyball | 50 | $4,596 |
