Be a world of good
Michael Kneip first donned football pads in second grade as a member of the Bellevue Junior Wolverines. As a teenager, he was an offensive lineman on four state championship teams at Bellevue High School. The son of an All-American UW track star and grandson of a UW football player, he has Husky athletics in his DNA, so once he made the Husky football team, one of his greatest dreams seemed to have come true. But one big question remained: How would he be able to make attending the UW happen financially?
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Helping turn his childhood dream into a reality was the Chase Anderson Endowed Scholarship, which went toward tuition and additional educational expenses that exceeded his financial aid package 鈥� and inspired him to continue helping others. 鈥淭his is where I dreamed of playing as a kid, but if I want to play football, I don鈥檛 have any time to work,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his scholarship opened up an amazing door for me.鈥�
Now a senior majoring in communication and an offensive lineman on the football team, Kneip is committed to leaving behind a legacy of his own 鈥� on the football field and in the community. During the school year, his days are long. Grueling football workouts typically run from 7 to 11 a.m. Then, it鈥檚 on to the day鈥檚 classes, tutoring and, finally, meetings or film study. But despite this ever-packed schedule, Kneip still finds time to fuel his other passion: philanthropy.
It started in 2008. The recession hit Kneip鈥檚 parents, a handyman and a real estate agent, especially hard. But as their financial difficulties compounded, the Kneip family banded together to help others. 鈥淓ven though we didn鈥檛 have much money,鈥� he says, 鈥渨e knew we could definitely help people in situations like ours.鈥�
In addition to starting a Thanksgiving food drive, Kneip鈥檚 mother began making and delivering sandwiches to the in downtown Seattle. Soon, Kneip became involved, learning lessons that shaped the person he is today. 鈥淕iving puts life in perspective for you,鈥� he says. 鈥淓very time I volunteered, I鈥檇 meet someone different. You can鈥檛 generalize people based on their financial background. It鈥檚 more about the person and the spirit behind them.鈥�
Today, along with a rotating cast of his friends and fellow athletes, Kneip makes over a hundred sandwiches every week for the Union Gospel Mission. 鈥淓veryone loves doing it. There are never enough donations there, so we challenge ourselves to make more and more,鈥� he says.
Kneip has also broadened his philanthropic scope, especially through his ties to the UW football team. Some of his favorite memories involve visiting local elementary schools and with his teammates, and he鈥檚 recently co-founded the , a national nonprofit that raises money for rare diseases. This season, through like touchdown drives, Kneip looks forward to rallying his teammates to raise money for pediatric multiple sclerosis.
鈥淭here are so many people who watch Husky football, and we鈥檙e using it as a platform,鈥� he says. 鈥淭o be part of the program here and to have the opportunity to help others by playing the sport we love is really special to us.鈥�
Kneip has two seasons left with the Huskies, and he鈥檚 hard at work making sure he finishes strong. But sometimes, he points out, it鈥檚 not necessarily about finishing something by yourself 鈥� it鈥檚 about laying the groundwork and leaving behind a legacy that will give others the tools, and inspiration, to carry on.
Chase Anderson Endowed Scholarship
The Chase Anderson Endowed Scholarship honors the life of UW student and Bellevue High School graduate Chase Anderson, who died suddenly in 2008. In response to this unexpected tragedy, family and friends of Anderson came together in a touching show of support, donating generously and establishing a fund that honors his name.
Part of the UW鈥檚 , the Chase Anderson Endowed Scholarship provides funding beyond what is covered by state and federal funds, closing the financial gap for students of great need.
Michael Kneip is grateful for the scholarship because it makes living his childhood dream a reality. But for him, it鈥檚 a little more personal. His older sisters were friends with Anderson, and Kneip always held him in high esteem as an inspiring role model.
鈥淐hase had this awesome spirit about him,鈥� says Kneip. 鈥淚 always looked up to him as a kid, and I always wanted to carry myself like him when I was older.鈥�