Today, I am writing on behalf of University of Iowa student-athletes to say that we’re eternally grateful for our supporters’ generosity and genuine passion for Iowa athletics. Even though our demanding schedules don’t allow us to thank our donors as often as we’d like, we never forget that the success we enjoy in sports and student achievement is only possible because of our loyal alumni and friends.

Student-athletes are indeed ultra-competitive, but we also recognize that what we learn through sports transcends wins and losses. We learn the value of teamwork and the importance of trusting teammates when the going gets tough. We realize the importance of hard work and persistence, and we discover that “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” We learn the value of effective and efficient communication. Finally, we develop the ability to overcome adversity, which comes in all forms, both on and off the court.

We learn all of these things because of the generosity and support from the Hawkeye faithful — the legions of fans and alumni who support our sports teams and student-athletes.

These principles are important to us now, but the real value of these lessons will be the ability to apply them well after our days with the Black and Gold have passed. We’ll apply lessons in teamwork to our careers in business, medicine, or public service. We’ll remember the importance of persistence, helping us to achieve success in the various fields that we’ll choose to explore after graduation. We’ll recall that communication is a tool instrumental not only for success in our jobs but also in our families, among friends, and in other relationships. Finally, while we’ll most certainly face our fair share of adversity after graduation, we’ll embrace it, knowing that we’ll be equipped to overcome it.

Donor support doesn’t just produce winning teams, it produces productive people. People who enter the world with confidence, who can lead successful families, organizations, or companies of their own, and who give back to the community. We are people who will lead effectively in our churches, careers, and communities and who will someday support future generations of Hawkeyes, just as our donors do today.

It has been said that one of the noblest forms of generosity is helping someone you may never meet. I see our Hawkeye supporters’ backing of Iowa athletics as fulfilling that premise. Their support facilitates life-learning, which will foster stronger relationships and greater success on into the future. At the end of the day, donor support makes a difference in the lives of hundreds of student-athletes each year, not only while we are here on campus but for years to come.

We are deeply and sincerely grateful for the Hawkeye faithful’s support.

Ally Disterhoft
Class of 2017
Iowa Women’s Basketball