The University of St Thomas launched the Tommie Athletic Fund to financially support the university’s student athletes as they transition to Division I athletics.

Recent commitments to providing athletic scholarships have amounted to $3 million, a university news release reported. The two most recent contributions come from the Thomas W. Schultz and Ann Gray Harvey Scholarship for women’s basketball and the Krupa/Coughlin Scholarship for men’s basketball.

“The launch of the Tommie Athletic Fund symbolizes our commitment to an investment in the holistic student-athlete experience, one that will impact their lives long beyond their time at St. Thomas,” Phil Esten, vice president and director of athletics, said in the release. “Critical to our comprehensive success are the various opportunities for our community to engage and support their journey.”

Six initiatives of the Tommie Athletic Fund intended to play key roles in funding opportunities for student-athletes include: an annual giving program, alumni engagement, athletic advisory board, endowed scholarship program, capital projects and sport-specific giving program.