Please consider investing in Black Bear CHAMPIONS!
CLAIM YOUR CROWN FUND
to provide financial support for the purchase of athletic team championship mementos
L-R: Rick A. Bernardo ‘86 and Mary Jo (Murphy) Bernardo ‘86, Kirsten and Nicholas P. Bernardo ‘14, Briana and Garrett M. Bernardo ‘15 and Seth Woodcock ’99
The NOVUS ‘Claim Your Crown’ Fund was established at the University of Maine in 2021 with a gift from NOVUS Clothing Company, Inc. founded by brothers Nicholas P. Bernardo’14 and Garrett M. Bernardo ’15 while students on campus. As student-athletes on the University of Maine Baseball Team, Nick and Garrett Bernardo started a side hobby of selling tank tops and crewneck sweatshirts to their teammates around the locker room. During their time on campus, the brothers were always looking for a way to serve or use their platform to make an impact for a greater purpose. Whether it was on the athletic field or not, their belief in living a life of passion, conviction, and perseverance, was what ultimately drove them to chase their dreams each and every day. It was through this belief that their company mantra “Claim Your Crown” was born.
NOVUS, a former side hustle in college has now become a dynamic custom apparel company that has gone on to outfit athletic teams, corporate organizations, and professional athletes nationwide. As the brothers continue to chase their dreams and claim their crown, they hope to inspire the next generation of UMaine student athletes to be great both on and off the field. That is what Champions are made of.
Go Black Bears and “Claim Your Crown”!
You can join the NOVUS Team by making a gift to support the Claim Your Crown fund. UMaine teams have never had this type of endorsement for their hard work and we expect to provide many championship “crowns” to deserving UMaine teams.
Your gift also help us to meet our annual fundraising goals, unlocking further support from the Harold Alfond Foundation.
The first team to benefit from the CLAIM YOUR CROWN FUND was the 2021 field hockey team–2021 America East Champions!
In front of a raucous crowd in Orono, the Black Bear duo of Julia Ross and Chloe Walton converted on their shootout attempts and America East Goalkeeper of the Year Mia Borley stopped five of six UAlbany attempts to seal the win.