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UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA CEDAR FALLS, IA THURSDAY, APRIL 5 VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42
CEDAR FALLS, IA
IN THIS ISSUE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026
VOLUME 122, ISSUE 16
Nearly 2,000 vounteers ‘Spring Into Service’ at Pack the Dome event
By InsideUNI
ESPAÑOL
Timothée Chalamet stars in the recently released, “Marty Supreme,” an American sports comedy-drama.
See SUPREME, page 4
Nearly 2,000 volunteers, including University of Northern Iowa faculty, staff and students, along with organizations and businesses from across the Cedar Valley, came together to assemble more than 70,000 food bags during the 2026 Pack the Dome event, the community’s larg-
est annual volunteer effort. Held in conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Pack the Dome encourages participants to honor the holiday through acts of service. This year, 1,958 volunteers filled the UNI-Dome floor to assemble donations for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank
and its backpack program, surpassing the event’s goal of 60,000 bags and assembling a total of 70,272. “Pack the Dome shows what makes this community special — when people come together in service, the impact reaches far beyond a single event. It illustrates
the best of who we are,” said Julianne Gassman, director of Community Engagement at UNI. “Seeing so many people working side by side to support their neighbors shows just how deeply giving back is woven into the fabric of this community.” See SERVICE, page 3
UNI Athletics launches Ever Loyal Club
SESQUICENTENNIAL
The University of Northern Iowa has launched its “UNI 150: People You Should Know” project, starting with a profile on leader Edward Gee Miller.
See MILLER, page 6
SPORTS
UNI men’s basketball team fell to the Valparaiso Beacons 54-44 on Saturday, Jan. 17.
See BASKETBALL, page 10 SPORTS
Senior Ryley Goebel scored 32 points against Bradley, scoring the first 11 points of the game.
See GOEBEL, page 11
Courtesy Photo UNI Athletics rebrands the long-standing Panther Scholarship Club amid changes across NCAA Division 1 athletics.
By Lily Munnik News Editor
The University of Northern Iowa Athletics Department announced the launch of the Ever Loyal Club, a rebrand of the long-standing Panther Scholarship Club, aimed at increasing clarity and transparency in how donor funds are used amid changes across NCAA Division 1 athletics. The rebrand comes during a period of transformation within college athletics, including new financial models that have reshaped how athletic departments allocate their resources. One of the most notable developments for UNI Athletics this past year was the implementation of Competitive Excellence Funds, a revenue-sharing program that supports all Panther sports programs. While sport-specific programs will continue to provide designated support to their individual teams, the Ever Loyal Club will place an emphasis on the importance of unrestricted funds
within the department’s overall budget. “The Ever Loyal Club builds on a vision started in 1963 with the founding of The Century Club,” said UNI Director of Athletics Megan Franklin. “The idea then, and as it continues to be today, was to cultivate the passion fans have for Panther Athletics into donations to support the student-athlete experience at UNI.” Funds raised through the Ever Loyal Club are unrestricted, meaning they are not designated for a specific sport, department or project. Instead, donations support a widerange of student-athlete needs, including scholarships, academic and support services, nutrition, equipment and other essential operational expenses. According to the athletics department, this funding model allows UNI to respond more effectively to evolving needs across all programs while ensuring student-athletes are positioned for success both in
competition and in the classroom. “The Ever Loyal name celebrates Panther Pride, referenced in the UNI Fight Song,” said Franklin. “It puts into practice the loyalty of members who have transformed UNI Athletics from 1963 to today.” In addition to the name and visual identity change, the rebrand also introduces a reevaluation of giving levels and donor benefits. The Ever Loyal Club will offer fewer giving tiers, with an increased focus on personalizing individual giving plans and benefits based on what matters most to each donor. Additional details regarding updated benefits will be shared directly with members during the upcoming renewal cycle. The announcement follows a record-breaking fundraising year for the Panther Scholarship Club. During the 2025 fund drive, the organization raised $1,576,146 from 1,133 members, marking the first
year-over-year increase in membership since 2015. The campaign also brought 278 new members, the highest number of new donors since 2011. The Ever Loyal Club is governed by a board of directors led by President Mark Scheel and Vice President Chris Larimer. The Ever Loyal Club traces its roots back more than six decades. Today, with more than 1,130 active members in 2025, the Ever Loyal Club continues that mission, serving as the primary fundraiser for UNI Athletics. More information about the Ever Loyal Club is available at SupportThePanthers.com.