The United States Olympic Committee today announced the 29 student leaders from colleges and universities across the country who were selected to participate in the 23rd annual FLAME (Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere) Program. The 2016 program will be held June 5-12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
FLAME is designed to inspire undergraduate and graduate students of color to pursue careers within the Olympic and Paralympic movements. Selected participants have demonstrated a pursuit of excellence within their own communities and will have the opportunity to further their personal and professional growth by connecting with U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes, USOC and National Governing Body leaders, and others who have achieved success in the sports industry.
The program provides students with an in-depth look at the Olympic and Paralympic movements, and personal exploration of the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. The program also offers a pathway for talented youth to become further involved in the Olympic and Paralympic movements, either through the USOC’s internship program, or other sports-related career and volunteer opportunities.
Participants in this year’s program represent 16 states from across the nation. During the eight-day program, FLAME participants will reside at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and spend time with U.S. Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls. The program will include professional development workshops, leadership seminars and networking sessions.
The 2016 speaker program is highlighted by several U.S. Olympians and Paralympians, including Olympian Ivan Lee (fencing, 2004); two-time Olympic medalist Elana Meyers Taylor (bobsled, 2010, 2014); Olympic hopeful Jason Pryor (fencing, 2016); and Paralympian Jermell Pennie (wheelchair basketball, 2004). Additional speakers include Paula Boggs, former executive vice president and general counsel of Starbucks; Ndidi Massay, executive director of Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality; Sandy Cross, senior director of diversity and inclusion for PGA of America; Wade Davis, former NFL player and executive director of the You Can Play Project; and several leaders from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic family.
The program will also feature Vivek Ranadivé, founder and former CEO of TIBCO and majority owner of the Sacramento Kings, as the USOC’s FLAME Invited Speaker, supported by Drs. Tej and Simran Singh.
Additional activities will include Olympic and Paralympic sport demonstrations, a golf workshop organized by the PGA of America and a hike through Garden of the Gods.
FLAME Class of 2016
Name
College
Hometown
Amalya Lewinson
Rice University
San Antonio, Texas
Anjelique Cooley
Syracuse University
Central Falls, Rhode Island
Antonio Perez
Saint Louis University
Chicago, Illinois
Ariel Atkins
University of Texas at Austin
Duncanville, Texas
Ashantaí Ellis
Colorado State University
Fort Hood, Texas
Ashley Sandoval
University of South Florida
Miami, Florida
Christopher Razo
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, Colorado
Cody Nolan
University of Tennessee
Asheville, North Carolina
Ebony Jones
University of Mississippi
Aberdeen, Mississippi
Erin Johnson
Temple University
Washington DC
George Wisniewski
Loyola University Chicago
San Francisco, California
Hilary Hoffman
Trinity University
Bryan, Texas
Horacio Pena
Texas Tech University
San Antonio, Texas
Jonique Simmons
University of Florida
Belle Glade, Florida
Karen Shu
Boston College
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Keith Smith
University of Florida
Tampa, Florida
Kendall Denson
Texas Southern University
Marion, Louisiana
Kobina Andoh
University of Georgia
Lithia Springs, Georgia
Lauren Milligan
Florida State University
New City, New York
Maryanne Kennedy-Menefee
University of Minnesota
Lansing, Michigan
Noella Anyangwe
University of Maryland, College Park
Clarksburg, Maryland
Nyree Henderson-Hayes
Colorado State University
Denver, Colorado
Olivia Hudson-Logan
Georgia State University
Long Beach, California
Rachel Hornbuckle
University of Alabama School of Law
Colleyville, Texas
Salena Powers
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sarah Colon
University of Delaware
Gambrills, Maryland
Talia Gabriel
Indian Institute of Technology
Statesville, North Carolina
Taylor Scales
Slippery Rock University
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
Verose Sanders
Texas Southern University
Arlington, Texas
For more information contact:
United States Olympic Committee
1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
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