Although Ivy League sports are on pause this fall, Quaker student-athletes are hardly slowing down. There is rigorous virtual coursework to attend to, self-directed workouts developed by coaches and athletic performance staff, and mental health fitness that is vitally important.
To that end, Penn Athletics is kicking off a new year-long call to action, Set The Future In Motion: The Final Year of the Game Onward Campaign.
“Our student-athletes go on to change the world,” said M. Grace Calhoun, the T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W’69 Director of Athletics and Recreation. “We will ‘win the wait’ by continuing to invest in our 1,000 student-athletes by positioning them to compete for championships, while preparing them to be leaders in their communities when they graduate.”
Set The Future In Motion focuses on three areas of support: enhancements to competitive excellence at the national level; the student-athlete experience—with programming like the Penn Athletics Wharton Leadership Academy and other mental, physical, spiritual and social skills; and campus engagement through innovative partnerships with Penn Medicine and other recreational offerings. With donor support, Penn Athletics aims to fully fund programs in leadership, wellness, and sports performance in order to stay competitive in the NCAA.
After looking at the landscape of collegiate athletics, even before COVID-19, it was obvious that prioritizing long-term financial health is the only path to future decades of competition. I’m a believer in the power of community and togetherness that starts in the locker room and extends into life after Penn.”Robert Fallon, W’05, former Quaker football player
Women’s lacrosse senior captains Olivia Smith, Abby Bosco, and Zoe Belodeau are sticking together this fall. Between carrying out team Zoom workouts, serving as mentors for younger players, volunteering with the virtual Young Quakers, and attending the Penn Athletics Wharton Leadership Academy, the days are flying by. “Our captains have a lot on their plates, especially during COVID-19, but they’re up to the challenge” said Karin Corbett, Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach. “I hold them accountable to keep players healthy, follow the Student Campus Compact, and to speak up when people don’t have masks on—that’s a tough job for 21-year-olds.”
To ensure the future success of Quakers from the box to the boardroom and everywhere in between, click here to contribute to Set The Future In Motion today. Supporting students through expanded opportunities to transform lives is embodied by the University’s overall The Power of Penn Campaign.
