Dear Friends of Tribe Athletics,
In the following pages you will read about what we accomplished in year one of our Excel program, which has provided the Tribe’s student-athletes with another wonderful opportunity to enhance their personal development during their college years.
Many of you have heard me say that our goal for Tribe student-athletes is for them to pursue their education while competing for championships and preparing for the rest of their lives. Our Excel program helps them achieve these goals by focusing on their overall growth as leaders and partners in their communities. We accomplish this by marshalling our campus resources and pairing them with opportunities provided by our alumni and other supporters.
W&M’s student-athletes are involved with Excel from the moment they step on campus to the day they receive their diplomas. This comprehensive program provides numerous opportunities to develop their leadership skills and to ensure they are ready to start their professional careers upon graduation. They can join behavioral assessment and social impact workshops and hear leadership lessons from W&M alums in high-profile positions and learn how to best present themselves personally and professionally. They can participate in national programs like the Black Student-Athlete Summit and the Athlete Ally Activism Summit. And they can give back to the community by partnering with places like ARC of Williamsburg, holding multiple food drives for House of Mercy, planning Holly Days for families in need and volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association.
We are grateful to several individuals for making Excel possible at W&M, including Bruce Christian '73, whose vision and support have been instrumental; longtime university supporter James R. “Jim” Golden Hon ’24, G ’24 who helped design and develop the program; and Jasmine Perkins, the Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development who helped launch Excel and who currently manages the program. We also greatly appreciate the ways in which our coaches prioritize the holistic progression of our student-athletes by supporting the Excel program throughout the year.
Excel has been a tremendous success in its inaugural year and we are working hard to ensure our curriculum and partnerships offer our student-athletes the best opportunity to reach their potential. Thank you for your support and your interest in this critical program for our more than 500 student-athletes.
Go, Tribe!
Brian D. Mann
Director of Athletics
