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
3 days ago
“I was actually drafted after my junior year and I decided to come back for my senior year because you only get one chance to be a senior at the University of Texas.” - @TexasBaseball alum Seth Johnston
Watch: https://t.co/02crLb0bX9 https://t.co/RC0zqvcW3D
“I was actually drafted after my junior year and I decided to come back for my senior year because you only get one chance to be a senior at the University of Texas.” - @TexasBaseball alum Seth Johnston
Watch: https://t.co/02crLb0bX9 https://t.co/RC0zqvcW3D
4 days ago
"I was blessed to have plenty of success in college athletics, but I also learned how to lose the right way.”
@TexasTechTF alum @tculver7, an @adidas athlete, took the 2021 world lead in the high jump earlier this year by clearing 7 feet, 7 3/4 in.
📹: https://t.co/V54bZARSgO https://t.co/7nA4gSjWjp
"I was blessed to have plenty of success in college athletics, but I also learned how to lose the right way.”
@TexasTechTF alum @tculver7, an @adidas athlete, took the 2021 world lead in the high jump earlier this year by clearing 7 feet, 7 3/4 in.
📹: https://t.co/V54bZARSgO https://t.co/7nA4gSjWjp
5 days ago
“Show up every single day – good or bad – and put in the work.”
@KU_Rowing alum Tessa Scott used that mentality to help her team win a @Big12Conference Championship and has continued to work hard to achieve her goal of becoming a college professor.
📹: https://t.co/JQSIL0lTuq https://t.co/ZeGNJLC4ow
“Show up every single day – good or bad – and put in the work.”
@KU_Rowing alum Tessa Scott used that mentality to help her team win a @Big12Conference Championship and has continued to work hard to achieve her goal of becoming a college professor.
📹: https://t.co/JQSIL0lTuq https://t.co/ZeGNJLC4ow
1 week ago
“I’m going to get an amazing education and I’m going to realize my dream of running track at the college level.”
Olympic gold medalist @MJGold reflects on his time with @BaylorTrack.
#sicem | @BaylorAthletics https://t.co/oGLbV1teGY
“I’m going to get an amazing education and I’m going to realize my dream of running track at the college level.”
Olympic gold medalist @MJGold reflects on his time with @BaylorTrack.
#sicem | @BaylorAthletics https://t.co/oGLbV1teGY
2 weeks ago
An accomplished golfer and coach, @TexasTechMGolf alum @cmccormickgolf is shaping the next generation of the sport.
📹: https://t.co/04p1XNrjun https://t.co/F1FuGqlshk
An accomplished golfer and coach, @TexasTechMGolf alum @cmccormickgolf is shaping the next generation of the sport.
📹: https://t.co/04p1XNrjun https://t.co/F1FuGqlshk
2 weeks ago
. @OU_Athletics alumni Jessica Woodard ( @OU_Track), Brad Johnson ( @OU_Wrestling), CJ Cole ( @OU_Baseball) and Andrew Harris ( @OU_MTennis) share their best advice for current student-athletes.
#ChampionsForLife | #Sooners https://t.co/w3CfzoSz8u
. @OU_Athletics alumni Jessica Woodard ( @OU_Track), Brad Johnson ( @OU_Wrestling), CJ Cole ( @OU_Baseball) and Andrew Harris ( @OU_MTennis) share their best advice for current student-athletes.
#ChampionsForLife | #Sooners https://t.co/w3CfzoSz8u
2 weeks ago
“Savor the four years of being a student-athlete. The bond I made with my teammates and coaches is irreplaceable and will carry on for the rest of my life.” - @jurencemendoza, @CowboyTennis alum
📹: https://t.co/xgXfphZcpj https://t.co/hZDxJD3hXR
“Savor the four years of being a student-athlete. The bond I made with my teammates and coaches is irreplaceable and will carry on for the rest of my life.” - @jurencemendoza, @CowboyTennis alum
📹: https://t.co/xgXfphZcpj https://t.co/hZDxJD3hXR
3 weeks 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
3 weeks 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
3 weeks 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
3 weeks 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
3 weeks 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
4 weeks 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
4 weeks 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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