CAMPAIGN PROGRESS

Track and field is one of the most socioeconomically and racially diverse sports in the world. In a society that’s actively pushing us away from “the other,” it is a worthy cause to support a program that brings diverse people together. Whether you run, jump, or throw, there’s a place for every type of athlete to explore what it means to push yourself to your limits – and then enjoy the view with your team.

EMU’s track and field community changed the direction and the course of my life. The coaches and athletic trainers nurtured my leadership ability to greatness. I’m now a leader in my profession whose job is to train leaders because of that impact.

As an athlete, I learned how to support teammates through success and failure, how to set goals for myself, and how to face challenges with courage and faith. These are skills that I applied daily as a medical student and will continue to rely upon as a doctor.

Track and field offers the most unique experience of a team in all of athletics, blending a diverse group of people, skills, and ability levels into a supportive team. With a range of events and no participation limits, athletes of all ability levels can enjoy the benefits of individual and team achievements. This new track complex will have the greatest impact on the most number of people of any investment the university could make.

My coaches and teammates helped me to practice collective leadership, to find meaningful ways of nurturing a community, and to appreciate how everyone contributes to that community in big and small ways. I share that graceful spirit of mentorship through my work creating experiential learning programs for youth in Sierra Leone and Kenya to become leaders and problem-solvers in their communities.

We have watched our children and grandchildren compete at all levels of track and field, and gained both admiration and a deep appreciation for the athletes and their shared spirit of competition. We invite others to join us in supporting this urgent and worthy effort. The new complex will serve the students, the university, and the community for many years to come.