UTPA ATHLETICS, IBC AGREE TO EXTEND $25,000 SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American's athletic department and the International Bank of Commerce (IBC) have extended their relationship for the 2003-2004 academic year. The new agreement brings $25,000 in revenue to Texas-Pan American athletics while providing ongoing marketing services for the bank and its services, UTPA Director of Athletics William J. Weidner announced. The funds will support general operating needs for the athletic department and will reach all of UTPA's 12 athletic programs. The 2003-2004 academic year marks the fifth consecutive year IBC has supported the athletic department.

"My company and I have always been very interested in supporting endeavors at The University of Texas-Pan American," said IBC President David Guerra. "We want the best in terms of educational opportunities for the students of south Texas, and we see UTPA as being the best place to give them the best opportunity to be successful in life. Our support of higher education has always been very important to us, and our relationship with UTPA and higher education has always been a priority. We're very proud of the job that Bill and his staff have done here with the athletic program, and we're proud to support them."

"It's wonderful to be able to work with UTPA," said IBC Vice President for Marketing Dora Brown. "We like to see people who are successful as students as well as athletes. If they don't play professional sports, they need to have their education to fall back on. We like to see as many student-athletes as possible earn their degrees. UTPA has done very well, and we are glad to support them."
"On behalf of The University of Texas-Pan American and our entire athletic program, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to David Guerra, Dora Brown and the International Bank of Commerce for their continued support of UTPA athletics," said Weidner. "IBC has long been a strong advocate of striving for excellence in the classroom. Their support is critical in our athletic program's efforts to insure that the academic achievement remains a top priority."

"UTPA athletics has established one of the top student-athlete grade-point averages in the country at 2.92, with 51 per cent of our student-athletes having earned a cumulative GPA above 3.00," Weidner added. "IBC's continued support has played a significant role in enabling our athletic program to successfully attain these impressive academic achievements. We look forward to fostering our established relationship with IBC as our program continues to strive for excellence in both the academic and athletic arenas."