WSSU Athletics thanks financial backers
(pictured above: Runners Tajanel McNeil and Cruz Vargas-Sullivan address guests.)
The Winston Salem State University Department of Athletics held its 1,000 HORN$ Social on May 10 and announced that it had raised more than $93,000 for athletic scholarships and operational costs. (Since the social, more than $100,000 has been raised.)
The 1,000 HORN$ Campaign is a commitment from 1,000 alumni and friends of Winston-Salem State to make an annual contribution of $1,000 to the Department of Athletics.
More than 140 guests, including alumni, faculty, staff and fans, attended the social, where special thanks was given to 1,000 HORN$ contributors and table captains. Donors and captains included Tim Grant, Robert Weeks, Cleveland Ellison, Dr. Peggy Valentine, Charles Hunt, Carl Miller, Michael McCoy, Mae Godette, Dr. Charles Love, Harry Williams, Eugene Weeks, Herman Moye and Devaldean Penn.
The evening program began with remarks by the newly-appointed Director of Athletics Tonia Walker; women’s track and field stars Tajanel McNeil and Cruz Vargas-Sullivan also spoke.
Walker shared her vision for WSSU Athletics and the four pillars that will support the goal of “Graduating Champions” – Academic Excellence, Competitive Success, Program Self Sufficiency and Community Engagement. McNeil and Vargas-Sullivan shared their experiences as student-athletes and spoke about how they are helped by the athletic scholarships they receive. Table captains also spoke, sharing stories about what WSSU means to them.
Walker
“Our HORN$ members are the key to helping us achieve our mission to ‘Graduate Champions!’” said Walker. “These contributions directly impact the success of our student-athletes and our path to greatness begins with the investment of our HORN$. Our student-athletes invest time and energy daily to be the best, and in turn, we work diligently to identify donors, alumni and friends to invest in them annually. I encourage others to learn more about how they can support our future leaders and champions by contacting the department of Athletics.”
For more information on the 1,000 HORN$ Campaign and how you can contribute to WSSU Athletics, contact Joe Knight at 336-750-2936 or at knightjn@wssu.edu.
