The Bobby Maessen Basketball Festival had had every sort of basketball contest -- 3-on-3, free-throw, three-point, and even a slam dunk contest. But it wasn't variety that made it a memorable event. Held on the Saturday of homecoming weekend, it was the purpose and spirit of the festival that won the day. The festival was named after Robert Maessen, a December 2006 graduate of Concordia who died in February during a pick-up game of basketball.
"The vision for the festival grew out of individuals' desires to use something Bobby loved so much (basketball) to honor who God was in Bobby's life,” Kelsey Lambrecht said. “The purpose of the festival is not supposed to be about Bobby. Rather, it's to focus on who God was inside of Bobby.”
Concordia's Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter sponsored the event. Money raised at the tournament will go toward the Bobby Maessen Scholarship Endowment Fund.
Funds raised by the tournament will go towards an endowment fund for an annual scholarship to be given in Maessen's name to a student with great financial need. Festival organizers need to reach the amount of $25,000 to satisfy the endowment qualifications.