What is the “Varsity L Club”?
Lion Athletics has a rich tradition of Best in Class excellence on and off the field and a robust number of former student-athletes, totaling over 4,500 living Lion Student-Athletes. The Varsity L Club – the A&M-Commerce/ET Association of Former Student-Athletes - is an organization formed to reconnect former student-athletes to our university and Lion Athletics. Just four years ago, we had less than 300 accurate former student-athlete contact points, and that number is increasing everyday!
A fresh start provides the opportunity for former student-athletes to maintain relationships across different sports, generations, and geographical locations. As an integral part of the Lion family, the Varsity L Club is proud to be a connection after competition for all former Lion student-athletes. The Lion Athletics External Relations Unit and Lion Champions Fund manage the organization. Currently, two former Lion student-athletes – Taylor Phelps and Alex Shillow – are the contact persons for this important initiative. We hope in the near future to roll out an official Varsity L Club Board made up of former Lion student-athletes from all Lion sports.
Giving Back
As a former Lion student-athlete, you have laid groundwork for the tradition, opportunities, passion, and success that Lion student-athletes are experiencing today. In addition to your support through cheering on your Lions, we ask that each former Lion student-athlete make an annual donation to support current Lion student-athletes. If every former Lion student-athlete gave $10/month, we would generate over $540,000 annually to positively impact our student-athletes with a Best in Class experience.
Who is eligible to join the Varsity L Club?
Our Lion family is large, and many students have an impact on the success of our student-athletes and programs. Any former student-athlete, spirit squad member, full-time coach/administrator, student athletic trainer, or student assistant coach is eligible to join the Varsity L Club.
How do I Participate?
Step 1: Update your Contact Information
At a minimum, we hope to stay connected to all of our Former Lion student-athletes. To update your contact information register for FREE using the form below to ensure we can stay in touch through email, phone, and any direct mail pieces.
Step 2: Non Lion Champions Fund Donor
If you haven't or choose not to make a donation at any of the Lion Champions Fund Levels, you can still make a one-time annual Varsity L Club gift of $30 to the Lion Champions Fund to receive the benefits below. These funds will be used for student-athlete enhancement. Simply fill out the registration below and choose the gift option.
Step 3: Young Alumni (Up to five years post-graduation)
If you are within five years since your graduation date, you can make a Lion Champions Fund gift at $5/month recurring gift to be considered an LCF donor and in the Varsity L Club. Click HERE to Make a Gift.
Step 4: New or Current Lion Champions Fund Donor
You are already supporting our Varsity L Club initiative, and no additional gift is being requested! We thank you for choosing to support our Lion Student-Athletes on an annual, quarterly, or monthly basis, and hope you will continue for years to come. As a former Lion student-athlete, in addition to your LCF benefits you will receive the additional benefits in the “Benefits & Privileges” section. If you would like to make sure your contact information is up to date please fill out the FREE registration form below!
If you would like to make a Lion Champions Fund donation and receive, your Varsity L Club Benefits and Privileges please Click HERE to Make a Gift.
Exclusive Varsity L Club Benefits & Privileges
Car decal (Unique L Club Design)
Varsity L Club Annual Update and Thank You Letter
Lion Athletics Hall of Fame Voting Privileges
Monthly program newsletter from the head coach of your sport
Recognition on the Lion Athletics website
Current Student-Athlete Handwritten Letter
FAQ’s
What happened to the T-Association?
In recent communication with a number of student-athletes over the last decade, the T-Association brand had become memorialized and was not recognized. Through the Varsity L Club, we will inject new enthusiasm, communication mechanisms, and energy towards uniting the former student-athlete associations of the past and bridge the gap with our current student-athletes.
No matter what era you found yourself in Commerce, we are ALL LIONS!
