MBNA Blue Hen Classic draws more than 200

“I couldn’t have made it without my UD athletic scholarship,” Caryn Blood, co-captain of UD’s women’s soccer team, told Blue Hen Classic participants. Photo by Duane Perry

4:55 p.m., Sept. 30, 2003--More than 180 golfers and 26 tennis players took part in the 12th annual MBNA Blue Hen Classic at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington on Monday, Sept. 22. The daylong event raises funds to support UD athletic scholarships.

Besides tennis and golf, the day’s events included a Gala Auction Party, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, highlighted by awards for winning participants and live and silent auctions. Special auction items included a trip to Jamaica, jewelry and autographed sports and rock music memorabilia.

The party also included words of thanks from two UD student athletes who have benefited from athletic scholarships.

“UD is the best place for me as far as academics and athletics,” Caryn Blood, HNS '04, told those at the fundraiser. “When my father lost his job after Sept. 11 [2001],” she said, “I couldn’t have made it without my UD athletic scholarship.” Blood, who is co-captain of UD’s women’s soccer team, was named the Colonial Athletic Association Women’s Soccer Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 22.

Jay Sterin won the top raffle prize, a 32-inch plasma TV, courtesy of Hi Fi House. Photo by Duane Perry

Jason Nerys, HNS '04, who is co-captain of UD’s football team and is in his third year as a starting offensive guard, said, “The best thing I ever did was to come to the University of Delaware. I never would have been able to go to school here, though, without your scholarship help.”

UD President David Roselle thanked those in attendance for their strong support of student athletes, noting that the MBNA Blue Hen Classic helps the University continue its “rich athletic tradition of excellence both on the playing fields and in the classrooms by providing talented young scholar-athletes the chance to further their educations.”

YoUDee congratulates Scott Schaeffer, who shot a hole-in-one on the 12th hole of the Nemours course at the DuPont Country Club. Photo by Duane Perry

He particularly thanked the people of MBNA for their continuing generosity and support. MBNA is the title sponsor of the event.

“I am especially pleased to be able today to offer a very special thank you from the University of Delaware to the people of MBNA, who, through the company’s title sponsorship of this important event, evidence their wonderful friendship and support of UD students, faculty and programs,” Roselle said. “It is both an honor and a privilege to have such wonderful friends,” he said.

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