Commitment includes new endowment providing lasting support for student-athletes and program’s competitive excellence

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Longtime Oregon State supporters Wayne and Marta von Borstel have completed a $3 million commitment to support Oregon State women’s basketball, combining sustained program support with a permanent investment in the program’s future. The investment strengthens the ability of Head Coach Scott Rueck and Oregon State to recruit, retain and develop student-athletes as the Beavers prepare to re-enter the Pac-12 in 2026-27.

The von Borstels’ multi-year commitment through the OSU Foundation includes $2 million that has supported the women’s basketball program in recent years, along with an additional $1 million capstone gift to establish the von Borstel Women’s Basketball Endowment Fund. The endowment will generate flexible, high-impact resources to support student-athlete development, competitive enhancements, program operations, student-athlete benefits and team priorities for years to come.

“We are enormously grateful to Marta and Wayne for this gift. Investments like this provide the foundational financial framework necessary to sustain excellence in our women’s basketball program and support the holistic development of our student-athletes at the highest level,” said OSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Barnes. “The impact of this endowment will be felt not only by the student-athletes who represent Oregon State today, but by those who will wear the Beaver uniform for decades to come.” 

“We created this endowment because Coach Rueck represents what coaching should be about — integrity, commitment and doing things the right way,” said Wayne von Borstel. “He has built an incredible staff, developed players who carry themselves with pride, and created a program that represents Oregon State at the highest level.

“The landscape of college sports has changed, but Coach Rueck hasn’t. He remains true to his values and continues working to do the best for his players in a new environment. This investment is our way of honoring him — his achievements, the program he built, and the family that surrounds him both on and off the court.”

Wayne von Borstel is the president and founder of von Borstel & Associates, Inc., an independent financial planning firm serving clients across the country from offices in Portland and The Dalles, Oregon. Marta von Bostel is the firm’s operations manager. 

“We are incredibly thankful for Wayne and Marta’s long-term support of our program, and this gift is yet another example of their generosity toward women’s basketball at Oregon State,” Head Coach Scott Rueck said. “The von Borstels’ exceptional generosity along with their vision to create a permanent endowed fund for our program positions us for continued success in recruiting, retention and development of our student-athletes.”  

The von Borstels are parents of Oregon State alumni and longtime season-ticket holders for Oregon State women’s basketball. The von Borstels’ gift builds on the program’s momentum and follows a similar $3 million gift announced in the fall of 2024 from Oregon State alumnus Joth Ricci, his wife Robin and family, which created endowed funds to support the university’s men’s and women’s basketball programs.

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 Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).