The John E. Evans Experiential Learning Award in the University of Iowa Sport and Recreation Management program was established in 2019 by John Evans Jr., Julie Evans, and Jane Evans through the Evans Family Foundation. The fund is named in memory of John E. Evans, an Iowa civic and business leader and 1949 University of Iowa graduate who formed his family foundation in his retirement to support causes across the United States. Since its inception, the Evans Award has helped open doors of opportunity for hundreds of students through generous funding that has removed financial barriers to UISRM’s innovative and expansive menu of experiential learning options.
Entering the summer, the UISRM program notified 25 students they had been selected to receive Evans Awards to support their experiential learning during internships or one of four summer practicum courses. In addition to funding individual awards, the Evans Fund helped reduce or eliminate the travel expenses associated with the summer practicum courses, which lessened the financial burden on 60 total students enrolled in four courses that worked on real-world projects for NASCAR, the US Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, the San Diego Padres, the John Deere Classic PGA tournament, the US Rugby Foundation and the Farmers Insurance Open PGA tournament.
One of those UISRM students receiving an individual award was Taylor Ciabatti (ex. BS 2026), a summer 2025 Junior Sales Associate with the Milwaukee Bucks, who had this to say:
My John Evans Scholarship is making it possible for me to gain as much knowledge as I can in the professional sports industry by relieving some financial burden as I will be paying for both rent in Milwaukee and Iowa City this summer.
Over the years, Evans Family Foundation support has sent students on educational and networking field trips to Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City and several other destinations; helped fund student memberships in the Women Leaders in Sports professional organization; helped send teams of UISRM students to compete in the sports business Case Cup at the National Sports Forum conference; enabled UISRM to partner with the Iowa Hawkeyes to establish a graduate student internship position on the Iowa Athletics Development staff; and provided critical funding to more than 100 students earning academic credit during internships. That critical funding has empowered UISRM students to pursue opportunities while at Iowa that have led them to careers after graduation with the Dallas Cowboys, the Chicago Park District, the Buffalo Bills, the University of Northern Iowa Athletics Department, the Minnesota Vikings, the Iowa City Area Sports Commission, the Milwaukee Brewers, and dozens of other organizations.
Many of UISRM’s student and alumni success stories could not be told without John Evans’ legacy and the ongoing partnership and generous support of his family’s foundation. Endy Pierre (ex. BS 2026), a UISRM student who received an Evans Award this summer to support his internship with the Chicago Bears, captured the appreciation of all UISRM students, faculty and staff in closing his letter of gratitude to the Foundation:
Thank you to the Evans Family Foundation for your generosity for this scholarship and your contributions to the SRM program. The impact you have left on the students at the University of Iowa, the state of Iowa and the US will not be forgotten by me and all of the people you have helped over the years. Your family is cherished and is an important factor in the development of many students at Iowa.
It’s easy to give to the UISRM program. Any amount is greatly appreciated and will go directly to supporting the unique, experience-based education the UISRM program provides its students.
Click here to visit the University of Iowa Center for Advancement to support the UISRM program.