Duane Shaw likes to say he was "born an Aggie."
Growing up just below the Utah State University campus in Logan, Duane could stand outside and see the A on the hillside. His father was a devoted Aggie fan, and Duane started attending football games when he was 5 years old. All six children in his family would eventually attend and graduate from Utah State.
That lifelong connection to Utah State — and especially
Aggie Athletics — is now at the heart of a $4.5 million commitment from Duane and Marci Shaw and their nephew and niece, Brian and Natalie Broadbent.
The joint gift will support student-athlete scholarships, as well as the areas of greatest need within Utah State Athletics, with an emphasis on helping football and men's basketball remain competitive. The Shaws are adding to an existing Athletics endowment, while the Broadbents are establishing a new endowment to support student-athletes.
The families see the combined gift as an investment not only in Athletics, but in students and in the future of Utah State as the university begins a new chapter in the Pac-12.
"We want to help the students, and we want Utah State to be competitive," Duane said. "We've given the Athletics Department flexibility to use the gift where it's needed and where it can make a difference."
Family of Aggies
For the Shaws and Broadbents, the gift is the latest chapter in a family connection to Cache Valley and Utah State that stretches across generations, with family ties to the valley dating back to the 1800s.
Duane earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Utah State in 1973 and has supported the university for decades through scholarships, Athletics and the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, including helping finance the construction of Huntsman Hall.
Brian earned a bachelor's degree in finance from USU in 1993, while Natalie earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education that same year. In addition to the Broadbents' established scholarships at the university, Brian has served on the USU Foundation Investment Committee and the Huntsman School's National Advisory Board.
The relationship between uncle and nephew extends well beyond their shared alma mater. Duane remembers teaching Brian how to ride a bike, swim, water ski and snow ski, and, as adults, the two served together for 10 years on the Huntsman School advisory board.
Still, neither knew the other was thinking about making a significant gift to Athletics until a pivotal conversation at the Mountain West basketball tournament in Las Vegas last spring.
"I told him I thought it was a great time to invest in Aggie Athletics as they move into the new conference, and he laughed and said he had been thinking about the same thing," Duane said. "We had basically the same idea. So, we said, 'Why don't we do this together?'"
Investing in a New Era
Utah State's move to the
Pac-12 represents a new era for Aggie Athletics, bringing new opportunities, new competition, and new expectations. For the Shaws and Broadbents, it is a moment when private support can help Utah State build momentum and position its programs for long-term success.
Brian said he is encouraged by the direction of the university and Athletics and believes Utah State has an opportunity to build something special.
"I think we're in a really good spot at this point," Duane said. "We've always focused our giving on students, and we wanted to continue that. We hope this helps Utah State become more competitive in all of the sports that USU participates in and gives student-athletes opportunities to compete, get an education, and have the best possible outcome."
For the families, that student focus is central to the gift. The Shaws have long favored investments that directly benefit students, including scholarships, and wanted this commitment to continue that tradition.
At the same time, providing unrestricted support gives Athletics leaders the ability to respond to the rapidly changing landscape of college sports and invest where resources can have the greatest impact.
"Duane and Marci and Brian and Natalie understand both where Utah State Athletics has been and where we have the opportunity to go," said USU Vice President and Director of Athletics
Cameron Walker. "Their investment gives us the flexibility to be responsive while keeping student-athletes at the center of what we do. As we compete in the Pac-12, this kind of commitment sends a powerful message about what our Aggies believe is possible."
More Than Wins and Losses
Both the Shaws and Broadbents believe successful athletics programs can have an impact far beyond the field or court.
Brian saw that firsthand while living and working in New York.
In 2011, Utah State traveled to Auburn to face the defending national champions. The Aggies led 38-28 with less than four minutes remaining before Auburn rallied for a 42-38 victory.
When Brian returned to work in New York the following Monday, people kept approaching him for days afterward about Utah State.
"You would not believe how many people in New York approached me," Brian said. "That was the first time it truly hit me what a successful athletics program could do. I don't think there was anything we could have done that would have gotten our name out there like being on national television on a Saturday and showing that we could compete with a team like Auburn. We didn't win, but we went toe-to-toe with the defending national champions, and people noticed."
The experience showed him the power Athletics can have in building awareness of a university far beyond its traditional geographic reach.
"A successful program can build a national name and reputation," Brian said. "I would love to see Utah State competitive in the national spotlight."
Duane sees another benefit: connection.
Even though he no longer lives in Logan and cannot attend very many games, he remains closely connected to Aggie Athletics. He watches games on television, follows the teams, and keeps up with programs across the department.
"I think a successful athletics program encourages alumni to be Aggies all their lives," Duane said. "It keeps you connected to the school."
That connection can ripple across the entire university, strengthening alumni engagement, increasing visibility, and introducing new audiences to Utah State.
"Athletics has an extraordinary ability to bring people together around Utah State," said USU Vice President for Advancement Matt White. "Duane and Marci and Brian and Natalie are investing in that connection, but, more importantly, they are investing in students. Their generosity will create opportunities for student-athletes today while helping position Utah State for success for generations to come."
Every Gift Can Make an Impact
For the Broadbents, the focus on scholarships is personal.
Brian and Natalie married between their junior and senior years at Utah State. Both worked 20 to 30 hours a week while attending school, and both benefited from scholarships.
"At that point, literally $20 would have made a difference," Brian said. "The scholarships took some of the pressure off and helped us. So, when we were in a position to give back, that was something we wanted to do."
That experience also shapes the message he hopes others take from this gift: making an impact at Utah State is not limited to those who can make a multimillion-dollar commitment.
"All gifts are helpful," Brian said. "Every bit helps."
This is the first time the Broadbents have publicly announced a gift. They have generally preferred to keep their philanthropy private, but after conversations with Athletics leadership, they saw an opportunity for their story to encourage others to get involved.
That is also one reason the Shaws and Broadbents chose to make their commitments together.
They hope their combined investment creates momentum as Utah State enters the Pac-12 and inspires other Aggies to consider how they, too, can support the university and its student-athletes.
For Duane, the invitation is simple.
"Get on board and help us out," Duane said. "Help us build a program we can all be proud of."
Support for Utah State Athletics to the Big Blue Club creates opportunities for student-athletes to pursue their education, compete at the highest level, and represent USU on a national stage. Whether through scholarships or support for Athletics' greatest needs, every gift can help strengthen the Aggie experience and build momentum for the future.
