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
. @maileanakanewa was a member of two NCAA Championship teams with @OU_WGymnastics and was named #Big12GYM vault champion two years in a row.
Now an assistant coach at Michigan, she helped lead the Wolverines to a Big Ten Championship.
📹: https://t.co/Rw5ZzlV5Ow https://t.co/svAf50OtBQ

. @TCUBasketball alum @williamskenrich became the only player in school history with over 400 points (421), 300 rebounds (359) and 100 assists (101) in a single season.
Williams signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in late 2020.
📹: https://t.co/TtqTGQZ7AD https://t.co/jlFIYjEdoX

. @TexasMSD alum @GWeberGale was an 18-time All-American at Texas, earning two NCAA titles.
He is a two-time @Olympics gold medalist, helping set the world record in the 4x100 freestyle relay.
📹: https://t.co/09s2E4f9hh
#ChampionsForLife | #hookem https://t.co/ApZb4CKB5g

. @kstatesports alumni @LeviMaVorhis, @_CoachRy, @Corbss4, @IamEricaYoung, @itssupersara, Connie Jaffrey and Katherine Gravel-Coursol shared their favorite team memories from their time in Manhattan.
#ChampionsForLife https://t.co/uyQNXff3VY
As the starting guard of the 2005 Championship team, Chelsea Whitaker had a storied career with @BaylorWBB.
Her 457 career assists (2002-2005) ranks 5th on the BU all-time chart. Chelsea has been a detective with the Dallas Police Department since 2007.
#SicEm #ChampionsForLife https://t.co/qhnEsUBRCG
Congratulations Kenneth Sims on your selection to the 2021 @NFFNetwork College Football Hall of Fame Class!🤘 https://t.co/e65QDPHmr8

Congrats to legendary @OU_Football coach Bob Stoops ( @CoachBobStoops) on being named to the 2021 @cfbhall Class!
📰 Full story: https://t.co/yeeC2XG2b8 https://t.co/Nh9iMtJonp

Congrats to legendary @KStateFB RB Darren Sproles ( @DarrenSproles) on being named to the 2021 @cfbhall Class!
📰 Full story: https://t.co/yeeC2XG2b8 https://t.co/H3U8uHoiUW

Best In The Nation!
Congratulations to @TheReal_Tre7 on winning the @jimthorpeaward.😈🐸🏆 #GoFrogs https://t.co/3C2DgPrLhJ

. @TMan_Ricky followed a successful @TexasFootball playing career with time spent in the NFL before embarking on a career in business.
In 2016, Brown returned to campus, taking on the role of Assistant Athletics Director of the @txtassociation.
📹: https://t.co/qeA0nZAfiL https://t.co/ukNWWVFStX

. @TCUFootball's @_UniquelyGifted is using his platform to amplify and normalize mental health.
Barber, who says the past year has taught him to take things day by day, has adopted the mindset of accepting the challenges life presents and remembering that “tomorrow is a new day.” https://t.co/DJMJfVtHzL

Just as impressive off the field as he is on. Character is the foundation of all worthwhile success. Proud to have him as one of our leaders with #DaBlock @TheJBnard https://t.co/OPo3cKjHCf
. @TexasFootball alum Octavious Bishop was a three-year starter at LT, part of a team that won the first-ever Big 12 Championship in 1996.
He is now an Adjunct Psychology Professor at Austin Community College and a pastor at the LifeAustin church.
📹: https://t.co/TjxlPEhRO4 https://t.co/VxdSu4gv52

The NFF Scholar-Athlete of the Day, presented by @Fidelity, is @CowboyFB CW and nutritional sciences graduate @LoganCarter87
#GoPokes #FutureForFootball https://t.co/47onVBzB08

. @TexasTechFB great Zach Thomas was a unanimous All-American who went on to play 13 seasons in the NFL.
A 7-time Pro Bowler, Thomas recorded over 1,700 combined tackles in his career. In 2015, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
📹: https://t.co/49eRvpu1pi https://t.co/jV5OqXo3Mu

. @TCUFootball's @TheReal_Tre7 says that building lasting relationships with his teammates has been one of the most important things to him at TCU.
Moerhig, who has been inspired by the changes he's seen this year, says his goals are to earn his degree and play in the NFL. https://t.co/kPkq23D2IL

In his CFL feature, @KU_Football alum @KeonStowers98 shared the challenges he faced growing up and how football helped him achieve his goals.
He now works as the lead Development Officer for the KU Alumni Association. #ChampionsForLife
📹: https://t.co/WZ6jmmYkm9 https://t.co/BdLpbgLhTd
