CEDAR FALLS -- Most everyone knows the McLeod Center was built using nothing but private donations.

The volunteers who helped raise money for the project were heralded for their dedication to University of Northern Iowa athletics and the athletes who would eventually use the building.

But, very few hear about the work done by volunteers for the university's Panther Scholarship Club. Since 1963, the club has secured donations that fund scholarships for student athletes at the school. In 2007-08 student athletes from all sports will receive more than $2 million in scholarship dollars. More than half of the university's 400-plus athletes receive some scholarship money each year.

Kelly Destival, director of the Panther Scholarship Club, said the program -- which boasts 2,100 members -- wouldn't succeed without the help of a core of active volunteers. Leading that push for more than 20 years is Noreen Hermansen, who just this year reached an previously unheard of milestone for the club. In her time volunteering she has secured more than $1 million in donations.

"She is one of our best ambassadors," Destival said. "She's always out at all the games, talking to everybody and keeping us in the forefront."

Hermansen said the work is easy when you feel passionate about the cause.

"I've never understood why, when you have an opportunity to raise money for scholarships, you wouldn't do that," Hermansen said. "We need an educated society and this is just something I felt strongly about."

When Hermansen first started soliciting community members for donations she said the Cedar Valley was largely "an untapped resource." Now, area residents are asked to donate money to scholarship funds, building drives, community art events and regular nonprofit organizations.

Yet she still manages to keep her solid core of members and even find new ones each year.

Now, the focus needs to be on the younger generation, many of whom are just getting to the point where they feel comfortable enough financially to give back. Hermansen said that many of the PSC members live in the Cedar Valley, but some former athletes who have moved away, are giving back to the foundation that helped them.

Head volleyball coach Bobbi Petersen and Athletic Director Rick Hartzell agree that Hermansen's loyalty to the program has gone above and beyond that of many volunteers.

"Noreen is one of those people who does this without expecting anything back," Hartzell said. "To find somebody like that is really unique and, really, almost all our volunteers are like that. We could not have this athletic program with all the success its had without those people helping us. We don't have the manpower to get it done. To raise over a million dollars in the name of college athletics is so important."

Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1520 or emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.