March Madness was not to be missed this year as two of our teams of student-athletes came away with NCAA Division II National Championships.

Our women’s swimming team brought home its third title, and it was a nailbiter of a finish for the three-peat. Trailing in the standings by two points, the 400 free relay team of Zsofia Kurdi, Emilia Ronningdal, Maria Goncalves, and Maya Esparza were in a must-win situation for the last race of the meet. They were not only victorious, but they also set a new NSU and Sunshine State Conference record with their time of 3:19.09. Fins Up!

The men’s basketball team won its second NCAA championship game, reclaiming the title after a loss at the buzzer in last year’s final. In this season of redemption, the Sharks tied the program record for wins in a season (36), finishing the run to the championship with a 23-game winning streak. Coach Jim Crutchfield was also named the 2025 National Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Congratulations!

The university continues to garner accolades on all fronts.

Did You Know?

• NSU is the first university in South Florida to bring Starship Technologies robots to campus to deliver food and drinks to students and to faculty and staff members. The bots are a testament to NSU’s commitment to innovation.
• The physics and chemistry labs at the Parker Science Annex were refurbished thanks to a generous donation from the Hollyjolly Foundation.
• NSU’s H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship selected Cherilyn G. Murer, J.D., CRA, founder, president, and chief executive officer of the Murer Group, as the new chair of the college’s Board of Governors.
• Chad Perlyn, M.D., NSU’s chief medical officer, executive vice president, and executive medical director for NSU Health, has been named dean of the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine.
• NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale received a generous donation from the Spirit Charitable Foundation to enhance exhibition and educational programming and expand year-round free Museum admission for all veterans and their dependents.
• The NSU Women’s Golf Team won its seventh Sunshine State Conference championship this month. Next up is the NCAA South Regional Tournament in early May.

In this issue of  Donor Connection, we feature our partnership with Rock the Ocean and the Tortuga Music Festival, spotlight a program that encourages students to use technology to create interactive art, and highlight a scholarship awarded to students who have overcome an injury. We also want to invite you to join us in celebrating our graduates in this year’s commencement festivities.

The end of the academic year is always a good time to thank you, our donors and alumni, for your continued support. From student scholarships and research initiatives to updated facilities and representation in numerous career fields, we appreciate every gift that has contributed to NSU’s journey to a position of preeminence.

Thank you,

Terry J. Mularkey, M.A.S., CFRE
Vice President for Advancement and Community Relations