DeKALB, Ill. – With a completely transformed and elegant venue in the Kenneth and Ellen Chessick Practice Center, a keynote address by former football head coach Jerry Kill, a live auction of unique experiences from trips with teams to the College Football Playoff, not to mention comedian Adam Grabowski as emcee, it was the NIU student-athletes and those who came to support them who were the stars of the show at the Second Annual Victor E. Ball.
 
"What an amazing event again this year at the Victor E. Ball," said NIU Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier.  "We wanted to bring this on campus, to the Kenneth and Ellen Chessick Practice Center which has been a transformational facility for our department.  We overcame some adversity with the weather and a few technical issues, and I came away fired up by the support I saw for NIU and NIU Athletics and by our student-athletes, who inspire me every day."
 
At the conclusion of the evening, Frazier presented the first Core Values Awards to four student-athletes who, throughout their careers, represented NIU at the highest levels in the classroom, in competition and in the community, exemplifying NIU Athletics Core Values of F.A.M.I.L.Y.  The first Core Values Awards went to Ally Lehman of women's basketball, Shawn Scott of wrestling, football's William Lee and Hope Schmelzle of cross country.
 
The presentation of the Core Values Awards reinforced the evening's theme of gathering donors and friends of the program to support Huskie student-athletes. More than 15 NIU student-athletes from multiple sports programs were on hand during the event as they interacted with the donors and guests.    
  
A record crowd of nearly 300 guests began the night in the Barsema Hall of Champions for the reception and conclusion of the online silent auction.  While perusing the hundreds of items available through the auction, including autographed sports, music and entertainment memorabilia, Huskie gear and autographed items and more, the crowd enjoyed appetizers from Acquaviva Winery, marveled at the custom -made Victor E. Ball ice sculpture and took pictures with Victor E. Huskie while a string quartet made up of NIU students played.
 
Dr. Kenneth Chessick, who along with his wife, Ellen, is one of the chief benefactors of the Chessick Practice Center, liked the idea of having the Victor E. Ball in the indoor practice facility.
 
"I think it's really cool," he said.  "This is a beautiful facility, it's laid out magnificently.  The whole thing is just so well done.  It's beautiful.  It's great to get the donors here and raise money for NIU Athletics." 
 
Once inside the turf field area that serves as a practice space for multiple NIU teams and is used by nearly every Huskie student-athlete at some point in their careers, guests made their way to one of the 40 elegantly set tables as the Harmelodics, NIU's all-female acapella group, performed.

Grabowski, who donated his time to host the event, as did Kill, kept the energy high and crowd smiling as he interacted with the guests and brought the program to life.  Following welcomes by Frazier and NIU President Doug Baker, a video of student-athlete alums Kimberly Moore and Rashaan Melvin played before Kill delivered his keynote address, touching on his time at NIU, his ongoing connection to the university and the importance of continuing the tradition of excellence that has been built.  
 
"Being here, seeing the people, many I've stayed in touch with, it's a family situation [here] and in the end that's what it's all about, that's where it starts.," Kill said.  "Northern Illinois is a special place.  It's unbelievable what's happened here. It's unbelievable what the new regime has done since I left this university.  I was a very, very small part of it, very small, but I wouldn't have come back if I didn't care and I didn't have passion for the university.
 
At one point, Kill brought NIU great Jordan Lynch, now an assistant coach for the Huskies, to the center of the room with him.  
 
"I've never worked my whole career because I got to be around young people, and they've kept me young," Kill said.  "When you think about giving, this is why you give money to the university.  This is why, it's all about young people. 
 
"You all have done a heckuva job getting the program where it's at, and it's respected.  This is the time to rally around the university, the president of the university, our athletic director here and step it up and take it forward.  I challenge you tonight.  Think about giving.  How could you not give to a kid like Jordan Lynch?
 
"You can do anything you want if there's a commitment."
 
Current NIU student-athletes Alex Elias of women's soccer and wrestler Trace Engelkes followed Kill at the mic to talk about their experiences and what the scholarships and support they have received has meant to them.
 
"When you invest in us, you're not just investing in NIU, in an athletic department, you're investing in an individual," Engelkes said.  "An individual who wakes up every single morning with their goals in mind and goes to bed thinking about them.  That's what makes NIU amazing, is that it's a place to succeed."  
 
"As my time at NIU comes to an end, I have two hopes for the future," said Elias.  "First, I hope you all continue to support students like myself.  Student-athletes are hard-working and determined individuals that deserve to experience the success that I have had. Second, I hope that one day I can be just like you all – successful, generous and selfless people giving back to the future Huskies of NIU."
 
Following the speeches it was time for the guests to get into the act as live auctioneer Matt Hart took the stage to auction off a series of trips and experiences, including team travel with men's and women's basketball, football and volleyball in 2017-18 to locations like the Florida Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Nebraska and San Diego, plus the 2018 College Football Playoff Championship game and more.  More donors stepped up to directly support student-athlete scholarships during a paddle raise for the Campaign to Sustain, which was presented for the first time that night.
 
In all, proceeds from the Second Annual Victor E. Ball generated nearly $200,000 in revenue for NIU Athletics, surpassing the amount raised by the inaugural event in 2015. 
 
Frazier thanked those assembled for their generosity and for making the event a success.
 
"When I think about all the hard work and determination, when I think about all the adversity, when I think about the commitment, I get choked up," he said in closing.  "I appreciate you for your unconditional support to NIU and NIU Athletics.  I've been involved in college athletics for over 25 years, the level of support in the room this evening rivals any that I've been involved with.  Thank you so much and Go Huskies."
 
The Campaign to Sustain will ensure NIU Athletics' ability to carry on the rich tradition established by previous generations of student-athletes, while lifting future Huskies to new heights and instilling NIU alumni and the entire campus community with pride. More information on the Campaign to Sustain, the most important athletics fundraising initiative of the last 10 years, is available at the link above. 

Season tickets for all six 2017 NIU home football games are on sale NOW online at NIUHuskies.com or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225). Season tickets are an even greater value in 2017 with the addition of the new $199 Family Pack featuring four tickets in sections A or G and a new, lowered $60 price for season tickets on the East Side with general admission seating.  Reserved seats in sections A, B, F and G are now just $115 for the season, a cost of less than $20 per game.

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