New to the 2015-16 Eagle Fund, the Champion Society is an exclusive group comprised of members who support Georgia Southern University Athletics, Foundation, and most importantly, student-athletes. Inaugural members Matt and Linda Hube, Doug Lambert, Billy Hickman, and Anthony Tippins collectively agree on one thing: student-athlete's academic success is vital. Therefore, they've committed to give $50,000 to the Foundation's annual fund.

As Eagle Nation continues to rise to higher sporting levels, so does the cost of providing a first-class education for our athletes. By donating to the annual fund, the Champion Society is helping over 386 student-athletes who play in one of the 17 Division I varsity sport programs by providing academic scholarships. These major contributions will greatly impact the program's development by helping fund student-athlete scholarships.

"As the university grows and continues to compete for the best students, athletics becomes more and more important to the college experience. If academics is the heart of the university, athletics is the public face," said Doug Lambert, Champion Society member and Georgia Southern University alumni.  Lambert has been an avid fan of Eagle Athletics since his undergraduate days in Cone Hall, the backyard of baseball's J.I. Clements Stadium.

Matt & Linda Hube also realize the importance of supporting a growing university. They feel an obligation to support the university because of the success it has brought their family.

"Not only has my business been successful, in part, due to the fact that the University exists and has grown like it has, but we also get so much enjoyment out of watching Georgia Southern athletics that we try and support the various sports teams in any way that we can," Matt Hube said.

Georgia Southern's impact doesn't stop with the Hubes. Anthony Tippins, Champion Society member and Mechanical Engineering alumni, enjoys being able to help support Georgia Southern's student-athletes in achieving their goals, not only on the playing field but also in the classrooms and seeing the overall success our programs have had over the years.

"I'm excited to see what the future holds for Georgia Southern and the impact it has on our community," says Tippins. "The time I spent at Georgia Southern was an integral part of my life and I have been blessed with the opportunity to give back and to be able to invest in our young men and women at Georgia Southern.  I hope to be able to provide a positive impact in their lives as they become future leaders for the next generations."

In addition to supporting student-athletes, Champion Society members receive two pregame sideline passes and are  invited to the Champion's Suite during Eagle football games, and receive an exclusive Champion Society jacket, which is presented on-field at a home sporting event.

Join the Champion Society today! To donate online, log into your account at GSEagles.com/Login. Further questions may be directed to the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation at 1-800-GSU-WINS or AthleticFoundation@GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

The Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation's (GSUAF) primary goal is to provide the University's student-athletes with the opportunity to compete for a championship ring and earn a college education while developing them as future leaders in their respective communities.

The mission of the GSUAF is to provide private financial support for athletic scholarships, facilities and staff enhancement for the Athletic Department of Georgia Southern University.  All of the activities of the Athletic Foundation are conducted with the highest regard for academic and athletic excellence and within the guidelines established by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, conference affiliations and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).