Indiana University Athletics
Somers Strengthens Swimming and Diving Endowment Campaign
9/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Varsity Club
Sept. 14, 2005
Dr. Alan Somers is one of Indiana swimming's most decorated athletes and one of the program's most generous supporters. Somers and other former swimmers and divers have embarked on a campaign to raise $5 million to fully endow the 9.9 scholarships awarded in men's swimming and diving to ensure the growth and future success of the nationally adorned programs.
Somers began his illustrious career at Indiana in the early 1960s, and his legacy of greatness lives on today. While at Indiana, Somers was a Big Ten Champion in 1961 and 1962 in the 1500-meter freestyle and again in 1963 in the 1650-meter freestyle. Somers, who excelled in almost every freestyle event while at Indiana, was an eight-time All-American.
In addition to an impressive career as a Hoosier swimmer, Somers also participated in IU's Little 500 on the Phi Kappa Psi team. Somers, who is a neurologist in Bloomington, holds two prestigious degrees from the University.
As the need arose to endow almost 10 men's swimming and diving scholarships, Somers and his wife, fellow Indiana graduate Kitch, recently established a named scholarship in honor of Marge Counsilman, the matriarch of Indiana swimming.
"Marge and Doc were a team and as time progresses, I fear her memory and contributions may be forgotten," Somers said. "She managed many of the financial affairs, organized the swim camps and was Doc's chief editor of his publications. Her home was open to all. She was totally accepting and supportive of Doc and without her, his accomplishments would not have been as great as they were."
Through the "Matching the promise" campaign on the IU Bloomington campus, the Somers were able to double the impact of their gift.
Endowment gifts of $50,000 or more may qualify for 1:1 matching funds on income in perpetuity.
"In Indiana's history, this sort of permanent match is unprecedented and this is the first time that IU Athletics has been included in such a program," Varsity Club Director Scott Dolson.
Additionally, Somers serves on the steering committee of the swimming endowment and is key in the fundraising efforts for his former collegiate program.
Giving back to a program that has provided so many of Indiana's student-athletes with life-time memories and friendships is Somers' motivation.
"It provided me with many of the most important and long lasting friendships," Somers said. "A sense of diligence, loyalty, discipline, intellectual rigor and the importance of long-term goals were deeply imbedded in the four years spent at Indiana University. These are things that I have carried with me to this day"
"Without generous and loyal support, the program may not survive because of the pressures of federal mandates," added Somers. "If the program dies, the memory of the great accomplishments will fade away."
For more information on supporting the swimming and diving campaign or on establishing a named or endowed scholarship in IU Athletics, please contact Kelly Bomba in the Indiana Varsity Club at (812) 855-0319 or kbomba@indiana.edu.
