UH to unveil ‘student rewards program’

In an effort to boost student attendance at its athletic events, the University of Hawaii announced it will debut a "student rewards program."

The initiative is scheduled to begin Nov. 1, associate athletic director John McNamara said Thursday.

Winners will be selected for the months of November through April based upon attendance and receive prize packages. Prizes will come from donations provided by members of UH’s Corporate Partner Program and others, UH said.

UH Manoa identification cards will be scanned upon entry at school events and the winners will be determined by a check of the student database by the UH ticket office at the end of each month.

The number of prizes awarded will be dependent on donations. "We want to reward as many students as we possible can," McNamara said.

In exchange for a $50 per semester athletic fee, students receive admission to UH athletic events. McNamara said student attendance has been up this season at both football and Rainbow Wahine volleyball. Football is averaging 1,490 students per game, up an average of 443 per game from 2011 while volleyball has attracted an average of 335 per match, up 173.

Ticketed UH sports include football, women’s volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s volleyball and baseball.