Kearney, Neb. – The 15th Annual Loper Football Backers dinner and scholarship fundraiser held on Thursday night (April 24) at the Younes Conference Center North continues the momentum for the Nebraska Kearney program.
 
"Wow! The Kearney Community really came together for us tonight. It just shows how much people care about our student-athletes," said head coach Ryan Held.  

Nearly 700 fans and community members, encompassing 69 tables, got a chance to bid on live, super silent and silent auction times as well as taking part in several raffles. Once again, there was strong individual ticket and corporate table sales with $275,500 raised over four hours. Former head wrestling coach and assistant football coach Major General Jack Ramey was honored with several dignitaries in attendance including Dr. Neal Schnoor, the UNK chancellor priority candidate.
 
"This gives us a really good foundation to be able to get the right student-athletes and to make sure they are taken care of," said Held.

Since it was first hosted in 2010, the event has now garnered over $2.90 million dollars for scholarships and other program needs. The Loper Football Backers is a community-led volunteer organization whose mission is to raise scholarship dollars for the UNK Football program.
  
Continuing a recent tradition, players received scholarship money for the upcoming season and this year's honorees are redshirt junior wide receiver Isaac Herbek (G.I. Central Catholic) and defensive lineman Caleb Kinkaid (North Platte). They'll both take part in the "Spring Game" this Saturday at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium; the roughly two hour event starts at 1 p.m. and can be heard live on KLPR 91.1 FM.