Florida Tech this week announced a new mobile app that will reward students for engaging with the school's sporting events.
The Panther Rewards app is available for student-athletes to download on the Apple App Store and Google Play. The free app allows students the opportunity to win prizes just by attending games.
With the app, students can win various Florida Tech prizes, such as 20 oz tumblers, lanyards, sunglasses, bracelets, signed team balls, belt bags, Panther pennants, drawstring bags and koozies.
Christina Hardman, associate athletic director for external operations, played a large role in the process of developing the app. She wanted to find a way to encourage students to get more involved with athletics.
“We were looking for a way to engage and reward our fans,” Hardman said. “We especially wanted to encourage athletes supporting other athletes. This app was a great way to get team schedules out and increase our fan base for students and the community.”
Along with the Panther Rewards app, the athletic department has added concessions at games and promotional signs around campus. They have also been increasing their social media presence, and on Instagram they have already gained a substantial number of new followers this fall.
“We had teams’ schedules on the big LED board outside the SUB and worked with Cat Nanney on that in previous years,” Hardman said. “We wanted to increase the visibility of schedules and increase student awareness of gamedays, so we started with putting posters up around campus of the team’s fall schedules. Then, we got the gameday signs because everyone walks around campus and will see them.”
The athletics department has been working to maintain student engagement at sporting events around campus, and Hardman says the app appears to be working.
“I think the app will continue benefiting the school, students and community by promoting events helping students get engaged at sports games,” Krey said. “It’s for local fans as well, not just students at Florida Tech, so there is opportunity for everyone to enjoy the rewards.”
