Jeff Schuette is a Panther Club volunteer in the capacity of Executive Board Member, Outreach Committee Chair, and donor. He is pictured at right with his wife, Sonya, and two children, Sam and Olivia.

What does the Panther Club mean to you?
The Panther Club is a dedicated group of volunteers that is driven to provide the best collegiate experience possible for the student-athletes of Eastern Illinois University.

Why the Panther Club?
The reason I volunteer is simple – I am so grateful for the time I spent at EIU as a student-athlete. I know that my time in Charleston and the growth I experienced both personally and professionally is what has allowed me to have the opportunities I have been blessed with.

One of the most enjoyable parts of being a Panther Club member is sharing Panther passions ... for some it is passionate memories and for others it is passionate dreams.

My Passionate Panther Memory ...
The 2001 Men's OVC Basketball Championship game is one of my most exciting memories. Eastern came back from 21 points down midway through the second half to score on its final 15 possessions to win 84-83 at the buzzer in Nashville ... I'm sure Mike Bradd can help with some more details, but it was amazing. We then followed the Panthers to Kansas City where they played Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament – a fun two weeks.

My Passionate Panther Dreams ...
While I am huge fan at any EIU athletic event I can attend, I am a big fan of (Director of Athletics) Barbara Burke; the changes and new ideas that have been implemented in less than a year are really impressive. I want Eastern to be the first choice of the best student-athletes in the Midwest where they can be successful in great facilities in front of enthusiastic crowds... I think that Barbara and her staff are going to make some great things happen!