Through the generous support of our alumni and donors, the School of Kinesiology is advancing excellence and making its mark on campus and around the world.

2021-22 By the Numbers

• 136 scholarships and awards offered
• 98 student recipients of scholarships and awards
• $27,129 in internship assistance given—more than the last 5 years combined!
• $518,127 in total student support given
• 31% increase in student support given over the last 5 years
• 855 gifts given to our school
• 349 total donors
• 70% of donors gave $100 or less

Regional Awards

The University of Michigan School of Kinesiology created several new awards this year to help students in specific communities across the country.

At the May SoCal Mixer hosted by Eve (LSA '98) and Seth Rodsky, the school introduced the SoCal Award for Student Excellence. The alumni, donors, students, and parents in attendance learned how the award will help students from Southern California cover costs associated with internships, job interviews, conferences, education abroad, and other financial needs in the area of professional development and advancement, including travel and housing.

The New York Tri-State Award for Student Excellence, also launched this year, provides the same kinds of support to students from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Later this fall, the Chicagoland Award for Student Excellence will complete our school's trio of regional awards.

Undergraduate and graduate Kinesiology students in these regions can apply annually for funding. Award decisions will be based on both academic and leadership excellence.

Donor Innovation Grants

Donations that are not designated for a specific purpose go to the Kinesiology Annual Fund, which supports multiple school initiatives. Each year, up to five $5,000 Donor Innovation Grants are awarded to faculty and staff members for a special project that directly impacts our students. Here are the 2021-22 recipients.

Associate Professor Melissa Gross used her grant to help students in need participate in the "Art and Anatomy in the Italian Renaissance" global engagement program. Over the course of a month, Dr. Gross led her students on a trek across Italy to examine how anatomical knowledge was discovered, learned, and shared through Early Modern art and science.

Vanessa Barton, academic program manager for global engagement and student outreach, used her grant to help students in need participate in the "Managing Sport Business Culture in the United Kingdom" global engagement program. Students toured Tottenham Stadium, McLaren Racing, Lord's Cricket, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, St. Andrews, Etihad Stadium, and Wimbledon and met with leadership teams to expand their knowledge of UK sport business.

Shannon Hennessey, director of undergraduate student affairs, used her grant to help under-resourced students defray the costs of their summer internships. Students were able to use the funds for transportation, housing, and technology related to their internship. As a result, these students could pursue an internship most relevant to their career goals, regardless of the location or pay.

Clinical Associate Professor Pete Bodary used his grant to hire students to work on recruitment and community-building activities for the new Movement Science & Applied Exercise Science (MAES) winter-start program. Bodary also hired students to help build the AES/MVS 280 course in partnership with the Student-Athlete Health and Welfare Department, which includes athletic medicine; performance science, nutrition, and psychology; and strength and conditioning.

Mitchell Funds

Last fiscal year, the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology worked with John (LSA '39) and Patricia Mitchell to establish two funds that benefit Sport Management students.

The Patricia W. Mitchell Scholars Fund provides scholarship support for SM students who are committed to fostering ethical leadership, equal opportunities, and a diverse landscape in the sport and entertainment industry.

The John H. and Patricia W. Mitchell Experiential Learning Fund provides resources to support SM students with hands-on learning opportunities, including internships, industry immersion treks, consulting projects, and more.

"The Mitchell funds have allowed us to expand SM students' education outside of the classroom through enriching academic and professional development experiences," said Kelli Donahue, Sport Management associate program chair. "This past year, these funds supported students as they traveled to sport organizations and venues with faculty and peers to learn directly from sport industry leaders. They also supported housing and travel costs for students who otherwise may not have been able to afford to work in sport internships over the summer."

We are grateful to the Mitchells for creating an endowment, matched 1:1 by the school, that will impact so many students for decades to come.