Edwardsville, IL – SIUE Athletics proudly recognizes Emily & Stephen Gates and their family for their unwavering support and commitment to the Cougars Champions Fund (CCF). The Gates' have been a staple in the Edwardsville community for many years, and their consistent presence has been impactful. 

While being new to the CCF, the Gates' impact has been extremely impactful across all 16 varsity programs and has reached all SIUE student-athletes. 

Hear from Emily: 

Q: What does being a part of the SIUE community mean to you? 

When I was a kid, SIUE seemed like an island separated from the community.  There wasn't the crossover that we are seeing today, especially in the support and excitement of area businesses and families. So, for me, being a part of SIUE is a part of our community's growth.  Watching SIUE, in turn, support our community is a bonus.  It is really cool to see how it all came together!   

Q: What inspired you to join the CCF and support SIUE student-athletes? 

For my family, supporting our community is a huge part of who we are. And through the years watching SIUE grow has been truly inspiring. The athletic department, especially the basketball programs and their coaches, has done a tremendous job inspiring their athletes to lead by example.  SIUE has some tremendous young men and women in their sports programs. And for my kids to be able to look up to them, that means the most to me.   

Q: Was there a specific moment that motivated your support to SIUE Athletics? 

Winning the OVC basketball championships last year is something my family will never forget. That palpable excitement is obviously hard to top. But over the course of the last two years, again, the influence that the athletes and the coaches have on my children, and watching my kids become so invested in SIUE has really been exciting. As someone who grew up here, I love the endless opportunities for families to become integrated with campus and athletics!   

Q: What does it mean to you knowing your support directly impacts SIUE student-athletes? 

That's important to me, because as someone with a background in nonprofit development, I want to know where my money is going, I want to see that it is helpful to the organization. It's meaningful to know that donor dollars are a part of our student-athletes' success.     

Q: What excites you most about the future of SIUE Athletics? 

The growth. There are so many opportunities for growth! With growth comes expense, trial and tribulation, and it cannot be done overnight. But I want to be a part of this growth and help in every way I can!   

Q: Use one word to describe SIUE Athletics. 

Heart. Whether you look at our athletes, coaches, or even administrators, you notice that everyone is here with their hearts. You can see it on the faces of fans, for sure.  But, our athletic department wears their heart on their sleeves; you can see it in the passion of Sam and Brian during a game, our athletes greeting their fans after a game, Jake and Andrew engaging donors in the Arena, and Laura working in the Pavillion; you notice it every time and it feels good to see.   

Join Emily & Stephen and many others in helping shape the future of SIUE Athletics by making a gift to the Cougars Champions Fund today. No matter the amount, your support creates an immediate and lasting impact on our student-athletes and programs. 

Have any questions or want to learn more? Contact Jaren Alnutt for more info! jalnutt@siue.edu 

JOIN THE CCF TODAY!