About the Campaign
Over the past five years, the Big 12 Champions for Life campaign has featured the life-changing stories of over 300 student-athletes and university alumni. The young women and men given the opportunity to earn a scholarship and compete in their chosen sport embody the defining characteristics of a champion: leadership, perseverance, community service, and discipline. These leaders have used their platforms and voices to stand up for what they believe in, inspiring their teammates and communities – and creating change. The stories and updates from current and former student-athletes representing each of the conference’s ten universities will be shared throughout the 2020-21 academic year. Serving as a role model in their time while on campus and beyond graduation, each of the student-athletes selected in the campaign truly encapsulates what being a champion for life is all about.
STUDENT-ATHLETES
@Big12CFL
51 minutes ago
Since graduating, 2-time NCAA shot put champion, 7-time All-American and 3-time Big 12 Champion Tina Hillman, a @CycloneTrackXC alum, has counseled adolescents at a nonprofit and utilized technical and programming skills at a video marketing company.
📹: https://t.co/2afYTzL9kb https://t.co/Y1stswXjzt
Since graduating, 2-time NCAA shot put champion, 7-time All-American and 3-time Big 12 Champion Tina Hillman, a @CycloneTrackXC alum, has counseled adolescents at a nonprofit and utilized technical and programming skills at a video marketing company.
📹: https://t.co/2afYTzL9kb https://t.co/Y1stswXjzt
24 hours ago
“Do not be afraid of your goals and dreams. Big goals are great, so set them and give it all you got and be the best you can be in order to achieve them.” - Nina Khmelnitckaia, @KansasTennis alum
📹: https://t.co/JcHzMNw0Nv https://t.co/gn7VaRqSzT
“Do not be afraid of your goals and dreams. Big goals are great, so set them and give it all you got and be the best you can be in order to achieve them.” - Nina Khmelnitckaia, @KansasTennis alum
📹: https://t.co/JcHzMNw0Nv https://t.co/gn7VaRqSzT
2 days ago
“You must work extra to get where you want to be.”
Former @CowgirlTennis team captain @LushkovaViki graduated with honors with a degree in International Business. She has pursued a career in financial sales and trading of commodities.
📹: https://t.co/684gQmaSBz https://t.co/9QXYIR1BHg
“You must work extra to get where you want to be.”
Former @CowgirlTennis team captain @LushkovaViki graduated with honors with a degree in International Business. She has pursued a career in financial sales and trading of commodities.
📹: https://t.co/684gQmaSBz https://t.co/9QXYIR1BHg
5 days ago
“My goals are to finish school, become a dietitian and become an Olympian.”
@KStateTFXC alum Janee’ Kassanavoid has competed for Team USA and was ranked in the top 20 in the world for women’s hammer throw.
#ChampionsForLife
📹: https://t.co/Qv61hkTXZX https://t.co/xZ0CztVLkX
“My goals are to finish school, become a dietitian and become an Olympian.”
@KStateTFXC alum Janee’ Kassanavoid has competed for Team USA and was ranked in the top 20 in the world for women’s hammer throw.
#ChampionsForLife
📹: https://t.co/Qv61hkTXZX https://t.co/xZ0CztVLkX
6 days ago
"I want to create a company that educates and equips youth with the technical skills for operating computer systems and technological devices."
Amid chasing his career dreams, @KStateTFXC alum @ifeanyi_otuonye has earned his MBA and is still competing in the sport he loves. https://t.co/CFfsWTSht8
"I want to create a company that educates and equips youth with the technical skills for operating computer systems and technological devices."
Amid chasing his career dreams, @KStateTFXC alum @ifeanyi_otuonye has earned his MBA and is still competing in the sport he loves. https://t.co/CFfsWTSht8
7 days ago
"You can accomplish so much more than you think if you're willing to put in work and say no to things that don’t serve your purpose."
@TexasTechTF alum Kelly McQuaid Gotcher is pursuing her dreams of bodybuilding and furthering her medical education: https://t.co/a7el9wIr1K https://t.co/YFzuDFfBrl
"You can accomplish so much more than you think if you're willing to put in work and say no to things that don’t serve your purpose."
@TexasTechTF alum Kelly McQuaid Gotcher is pursuing her dreams of bodybuilding and furthering her medical education: https://t.co/a7el9wIr1K https://t.co/YFzuDFfBrl
1 week ago
. @TexasTFXC alum Teahna Daniels became the fastest freshman woman in NCAA history and the #5 NCAA performer of all time.
Now a @Nike athlete, she won her first national title at the 2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 100 m.
📹: https://t.co/yx6Vz2GLsa https://t.co/ifej6F1pcs
. @TexasTFXC alum Teahna Daniels became the fastest freshman woman in NCAA history and the #5 NCAA performer of all time.
Now a @Nike athlete, she won her first national title at the 2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 100 m.
📹: https://t.co/yx6Vz2GLsa https://t.co/ifej6F1pcs
2 weeks ago
🗣️ @WVUSports' @EtiennePapineau, @Em_Skelley and Faith Penny share their advice!
#HailWV | #ChampionsForLife https://t.co/WKp0lBc5pg
🗣️ @WVUSports' @EtiennePapineau, @Em_Skelley and Faith Penny share their advice!
#HailWV | #ChampionsForLife https://t.co/WKp0lBc5pg
2 weeks ago
“One of the most important things is to have goals. If you don’t have goals you’re probably not going to accomplish much.” - Jerry West, @WVUhoops
#HailWV | #ChampionsForLife https://t.co/NAxttx1VsR
“One of the most important things is to have goals. If you don’t have goals you’re probably not going to accomplish much.” - Jerry West, @WVUhoops
#HailWV | #ChampionsForLife https://t.co/NAxttx1VsR
2 weeks ago
. @BaylorWBB alum @real_alexisj was selected in the first round of the WNBA draft. The first in her family to earn a college degree, Jones helped the Minnesota Lynx earn the WNBA title in 2017.
📹: https://t.co/xIDr1iAPQi https://t.co/VsvY91xIQB
. @BaylorWBB alum @real_alexisj was selected in the first round of the WNBA draft. The first in her family to earn a college degree, Jones helped the Minnesota Lynx earn the WNBA title in 2017.
📹: https://t.co/xIDr1iAPQi https://t.co/VsvY91xIQB
3 weeks ago
“I practiced like I had never lost and competed like I had never won.”
A biochemistry grad, @TCUWEquestrian's @karkarlynne went to vet school at UC-Davis on an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and will graduate as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
📹: https://t.co/aximtCc90i https://t.co/zvHg4OpMGl
“I practiced like I had never lost and competed like I had never won.”
A biochemistry grad, @TCUWEquestrian's @karkarlynne went to vet school at UC-Davis on an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and will graduate as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
📹: https://t.co/aximtCc90i https://t.co/zvHg4OpMGl
3 weeks ago
"I want to work with athletes at all levels, especially those transitioning from college sports to general life.”
@ShaelynMartin50 finished her @KStateWBB career 5th on the all-time assists list & is working on her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy.
📹: https://t.co/W647sSLBom https://t.co/SnKrnjYgre
"I want to work with athletes at all levels, especially those transitioning from college sports to general life.”
@ShaelynMartin50 finished her @KStateWBB career 5th on the all-time assists list & is working on her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy.
📹: https://t.co/W647sSLBom https://t.co/SnKrnjYgre
3 weeks ago
“Remember there is life outside of your sport. You never know what can happen in life.”
@PElliz, who finished his @KUHoops career on the top 10 all-time scoring chart with 1,798 pts, has played professionally overseas and spent time on the KU staff.
📹: https://t.co/I8P1Keccg2 https://t.co/UexTYw1MOt
“Remember there is life outside of your sport. You never know what can happen in life.”
@PElliz, who finished his @KUHoops career on the top 10 all-time scoring chart with 1,798 pts, has played professionally overseas and spent time on the KU staff.
📹: https://t.co/I8P1Keccg2 https://t.co/UexTYw1MOt
4 weeks ago
. @KStateWBB's @chrissycarr4 is a vocal leader in the community who has goals of playing professionally and eventually getting into public speaking and politics.
#ChampionsForLife | #KStateWBB https://t.co/RA68Qyr7z0
. @KStateWBB's @chrissycarr4 is a vocal leader in the community who has goals of playing professionally and eventually getting into public speaking and politics.
#ChampionsForLife | #KStateWBB https://t.co/RA68Qyr7z0
4 weeks ago
After a standout career with @BaylorMBB, @Wainright24 went on to play professionally overseas and also represent Uganda in the FIBA AfroBasket.
His ultimate goal is to one day be a head coach.
📹: https://t.co/Iorirva3It https://t.co/KUmf1eeNG0
After a standout career with @BaylorMBB, @Wainright24 went on to play professionally overseas and also represent Uganda in the FIBA AfroBasket.
His ultimate goal is to one day be a head coach.
📹: https://t.co/Iorirva3It https://t.co/KUmf1eeNG0
4 weeks ago
“Just be confident, believe in yourself and work hard every day.”
@KUHoops alum @Sviat_10, who set a school record for 3–pointers made in a season, has gone on to a successful professional career in the NBA.
📹: https://t.co/PD6yiddaS3
#ChampionsForLife | #RockChalk https://t.co/oPgMEYy4SZ
“Just be confident, believe in yourself and work hard every day.”
@KUHoops alum @Sviat_10, who set a school record for 3–pointers made in a season, has gone on to a successful professional career in the NBA.
📹: https://t.co/PD6yiddaS3
#ChampionsForLife | #RockChalk https://t.co/oPgMEYy4SZ
4 weeks ago
“Playing collegiately prepped me so well for the rigors of med school."
@KStateWBB alum Kelly Thomson, a three-time Academic All-Big 12 recipient, is on her way to becoming a family medicine physician.
📹: https://t.co/U2FKecjuvB https://t.co/pzrhUd0xu0
“Playing collegiately prepped me so well for the rigors of med school."
@KStateWBB alum Kelly Thomson, a three-time Academic All-Big 12 recipient, is on her way to becoming a family medicine physician.
📹: https://t.co/U2FKecjuvB https://t.co/pzrhUd0xu0
1 month ago
Named First Team Academic All-Big 12 last season, @WVUhoops' Emmitt Matthews Jr. is navigating the challenges of being a student-athlete by putting in the extra work now for future successes.
#HailWV | #ChampionsForLife https://t.co/se56IzL8a8
Named First Team Academic All-Big 12 last season, @WVUhoops' Emmitt Matthews Jr. is navigating the challenges of being a student-athlete by putting in the extra work now for future successes.
#HailWV | #ChampionsForLife https://t.co/se56IzL8a8