YPSILANTI, MI—GameAbove is celebrating a landmark 2024–25 academic year at Eastern Michigan University (EMU), where its philanthropic investments fueled breakthroughs in athletics, research, student development, and community engagement. From championship-level performances to innovations with global potential, GameAbove’s commitment is reshaping the EMU experience.

Standout achievements from the 2024–25 academic year include:

• Athletics on Fire: EMU Women’s Golf shattered multiple school records, led by Savannah De Bock, the first in program history to compete in an NCAA Regional. The Men’s Golf team stormed back to the MAC podium with a top-three finish and record individual performances, signaling EMU’s resurgence.
• Innovation That Matters: Faculty advanced projects in drone safety, AI-driven gunshot detection systems, and flexible sensor technology — research with real potential to improve lives and enhance security.
• Students Breaking Barriers: The Mentoring for Success initiative expanded to support both undergraduate and graduate students, helping them secure placements in top graduate schools, present at national conferences, and launch professional careers.
• Community at Scale: In partnership with Engage @ EMU and the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority, 2,000 $10 gift cards were distributed through the Explore Ypsi program, encouraging students, faculty, and staff to support local businesses. Meanwhile, more than 500 middle and high school students from across Michigan participated in hands-on STEM learning at EMU’s high-energy Digital Divas events.

“GameAbove’s support is igniting success stories across our University,” said EMU President James M. Smith, Ph.D. “The progress we’re seeing in classrooms, labs, athletic arenas, and our community shows just how powerful this partnership is, and the momentum is only growing.”

“GameAbove was created to elevate opportunities where they can have the greatest impact,” said Chao Sun, Vice President of Investments and Giving at GameAbove. “The results at Eastern Michigan University this year prove that when you combine bold vision with real investment, you can transform lives, strengthen communities, and inspire the next generation to achieve beyond expectations.”

Faculty echoed that impact firsthand. “Funding from GameAbove made my national conference presentation possible,” said Julia Burkhardt, MS PA-C, Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies. “It sharpened my teaching and clinical skills while keeping me at the forefront of my field. That opportunity will ripple to every student I teach.”

GameAbove’s commitment is redefining what’s possible at EMU—transforming ambition into achievement and positioning the University as a hub of innovation, competition, and community leadership. With new initiatives already underway, the year ahead promises even bigger breakthroughs—on campus, in research, and across the communities GameAbove serves.