Athletics to award scholarships and grants at 2021 home football games

​This fall, Central Michigan University students have the chance to win a new and unique grant. CMU Athletics is awarding two $1,000 prizes, one scholarship for a student and one grant to a registered student organization, at each of the 2021 home football games for showing school spirit and supporting the CMU Chippewas on game day.

The fund was created through a donation by Mike and Beth Tierney and Brian and Heidi Tierney. Mike, Beth and Brian are CMU alumni and Brian played football for CMU from 1984-1988. The Tierneys, who are longtime CMU supporters, made the donation to not only help current students and promote the football program but to also honor their parents, Ruth and Joe Tierney, who supported five of their children (Mike, Pat, Maureen, Kerry and Brian) and two grandchildren (Ryan and Poom) through CMU.

The 12 recipients of the prizes are chosen through a drawing at each game. The drawings are open to any currently enrolled CMU student and RSO. Here is how to enter:

• For students: Post a selfie with an Action C from within the stadium on your Instagram feed after gates open on game day.
• For RSOs: Post a group photo in front of the "Fire Up Chips wall" in the student section on your RSO Instagram feed after gates open on game day. The photo must have the majority of your RSO membership pictured to be eligible.
• Use #FireUpForGameDay in the caption of the post.
• Tag @CMUAthletics.
  

A winner for each of the two prizes per game will be chosen randomly during halftime, and the winners will be notified through Instagram by CMU Athletics. Winning students must respond before the first media timeout of the third quarter, or another account will be selected as the winner. The winners will be presented with the scholarship and grant on the field during a timeout during the second half of the same game.

In addition to these 12 prizes, the Tierneys pledged an additional $1,000 to be given out as an extra drawing at the Sept. 25 game against FIU. The extra award will be given to an additional student and made in person by Ruth and Joe Tierney during the game.

The program kicked off at the Sept. 11 home game against Robert Morris University. CMU student Jessica Bertolini won the individual scholarship, and Student Environmental Alliance and Take Back the Tap received the RSO grant.

CMU football has five remaining home games this season: Sept. 25 vs. FIU, Oct. 16 vs. the University of Toledo, Oct. 23 vs. Northern Illinois University, Nov. 10 vs. Kent State University and Nov. 26 vs. Eastern Michigan University.

The Tierney family has supported CMU for many years and have made significant contributions to both CMU Athletics and the university as a whole, including to the new Champions Center, which renamed the student tailgate lot to the Tierney Family Tailgate Lot. Mike Tierney has served on the CMU Advancement Board for 25 years.