Northwest Notes Feb. 11, 2021

Iupati donation to transform Vandal Athletics Fueling Center

MOSCOW — Former Idaho football great Mike Iupati and his wife Ashley have provided a contribution to Vandal Athletics to transform the Fueling Center, located inside the Kibbie Dome.

“I’ve been wanting to have a meaningful way to give back to my alma mater,” said Iupati, an All-American and current Seattle Seahawk. “When I was a student-athlete it would have been nice to have something like the Fueling Center in between classes and workouts.”

A portion of the gift will go toward the Ashley and Mike Iupati Athletic Nutrition Endowment that will generate funding for the Fueling Center in perpetuity. These earmarked dollars will be geared toward supporting the necessary funds to stock the shelves and coolers of the Fueling Center, the endowment provides a level playing field across all of Vandal Athletics, for student-athletes from every program.

“We’re incredibly thankful for Ashley and Mike’s contribution to our Fueling Center,” Idaho athletic director Terry Gawlik said. “The space has provided an immediate impact for our current student-athletes. Thank you Ashley and Mike!”

The remainder of the gift will provide a major upgrade to the space, which opened in the fall of 2019. The Iupati gift will significantly improve the functionality of the space for years to come, the school said.

Iupati was a standout for the Vandals from 2006 through 2009. He earned consensus All-America honors as a senior while leading the Vandals to a 2009 Humanitarian Bowl win and was drafted 17th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. Iupati has spent 11 seasons in the NFL, competing entirely in the NFC West, and was named to the Pro Bowl four times. He has spent the last two years back in the Pacific Northwest with the Seahawks.

For more information on the Fueling Center, and how you can get involved, contact Associate Athletic Director for Development Mahmood Sheikh at msheikh@uidaho.edu.