Lacey, WA – On the heels of men's basketball securing the university's first-ever #1 national ranking last week, the Saint Martin's University athletic department established a dynamic new partnership with the well-known, highly esteemed (and tasty) national brand, Chick-fil-A. 

The official launch of this exciting collaboration is set to take place on Saturday, February 3rd, coinciding with the Saints' Military Appreciation Day. Saturday's double-header will be proudly presented by Chick-fil-A, as the Saint Martin's women host Western Oregon and the men play host to Simon Fraser University. 

"It has long been our goal to engage the community through Saint Martin's intercollegiate athletics program," said Director of Athletics, Steve O'Brien, "Partnering with a local franchisee (Justin Mears) of a nationally respected brand like Chick-fil-A will amplify our ability to do that, especially when our respective brands have so much in common. Justin and I both worked for the Naval Academy Athletic Association at the United States Naval Academy, where mission alignment, shared vision, and common values enabled our student-athletes to thrive and our intercollegiate athletic programs to be competitive on a national level. This past week, we celebrated our men's basketball program receiving Saint Martin's first #1 national ranking in school history. With our Chick-fil-A partnership, we move one step closer to being able to replicate that level of competitive success across all 15 of our intercollegiate athletic programs." 

Recognizing the strong alignment in their brands and values, Saint Martin's and Chick-fil-A are excited to not only partner on the food front, but in areas of community engagement as well. On Saturday, February 10th, Chick-fil-A will be helping us to celebrate our National Girls & Women in Sports Day and Title IX Anniversary game with an on-site activation, empowering individuals and communities through sports and service.  

The Saints are eager to embark on this partnership, confident that Chick-fil-A's commitment to excellence and community engagement will enhance the overall experience for fans, athletes, and the entire Saint Martin's University community.