More than 170 student-athletes from Team IMPACT’s Fellowship Program traveled to Boston for the sixth annual Team IMPACT Fellowship Summit at Boston University. The three-day summit, which ran from Wednesday, July 17, through Friday, July 19, offered these Fellows the opportunity to hear from inspiring speakers, attend personal and professional development sessions, network with industry professionals, and connect with other student-athletes to return to campus better equipped to continue Team IMPACT’s work.
“When you put 200 passionate, driven student-athletes in one room that are all coming together and brainstorming how to really put Team IMPACT on the map, you’re going to come up with some pretty awesome ideas,” said Cara Elmendorf, a third-year Fellow who recently finished her collegiate career with the UConn women’s soccer team. “Just the power of all of our minds together has been really cool to watch, and I can’t wait to see how big this Fellowship can grow. I think sky’s the limit.“
The Team IMPACT Fellowship Program, founded in 2018, expands in its seventh year to welcome nearly 300 student-athletes representing more than 130 colleges and universities across the country as advocates for Team IMPACT’s mission on their campuses and in their communities, bringing awareness to the life-changing program and getting more families, teams, and supporters involved. “Fellowship Summit is the only time of the year that the creative and passionate minds of all our student-athletes can come together in one place, working together to create change and further Team IMPACT’s mission,” said Alex Givens, Associate Director of Student-Athlete Development at Team IMPACT. “In addition to learning and growing, our Fellows also have fun while challenging themselves and one another.”
Day two of Summit’s skill-building, leadership, community, and speaker sessions wrapped with the opportunity for the Fellows to connect with some of Boston’s top professionals in their fields at the Summit Networking Event. Here, the Fellows hone their professional development and networking skills with mentors and industry leaders who have their own first-hand experience with Team IMPACT’s life-changing program. “This Summit is an opportunity for us to provide leadership training and other crucial experiences that will help enrich their lives,” said Joe Daniels, CEO of Team IMPACT. “With this Summit and our student-athlete work, we believe that we are shaping and launching the future leaders of this country, who are grounded in selflessness, in service, and in empathy.”
“Events like [Fellowship] Summit really bring people together,” said Stephen Michaels, a former Tufts football player who is currently attending medical school at the Medical College of Georgia. “Seeing that Team IMPACT is truly a national organization and that what you’re doing is a national cause and has national effects is just really cool.”
Michaels, who has been a Team IMPACT Fellow since 2021, is one of seven student-athleters representing Tufts at this year’s Summit. Alongside Akpevwe Akopoigbe (volleyball), Annie Aspesi (basketball and lacrosse), Emma Norman (volleyball), Mikayla Paquette (basketball), Nick Goldberg (baseball), and Sarah Crossett (basketball), the Tufts Jumbos accepted the honor of Team IMPACT’s 2023-2024 Division III Fellowship Campus of the Year.
Princeton University took home the Division I Fellowship Campus of the Year recognition, becoming the first Ivy League recipient of this award. Lead by Fellows Abby Hornberger (softball), Maddie Seltzer (swim and dive), Caroline Kane (soccer); former Fellow Grace Jackson (softball); and Assistant Manager for Athletics Advancement, Melissa Stephens, the Tigers welcomed new teammates to multiple rosters across the athletics department during the 2023-2024 school year.
Regis University received the Division II Fellowship Campus of the Year award. The passion and dedication of their Fellows, Eric Casey (cross country and track and field), Dylan Hearn (baseball), and graduated Fellow Liz Myotte directly lead to numerous community engagement opportunities and growth of Team IMPACT’s mission within the Colorado community. Jasmin Wooten, Assistant Director, Student-Athlete Development at University of Arizona, received the Team IMPACT Fellowship Administrator of the Year Award for her commitment to furthering Team IMPACT’s footprint across Wildcats Athletics and for her continued support and guidance of Arizona’s Fellows, Maki Dishpam (beach volleyball) and Avery Segura (track and field).
Every day, our Fellows are living the mission of Team IMPACT through their actions, words, and work. Because of the Fellows, dozens more teams have found their Team IMPACT teammates, and dozens more families have found their teams. By hosting Team IMPACT awareness games, raising money through Team IMPACT campaigns and initiatives, sharing stories and content from their on-campus activations, advocating for Team IMPACT in their communities, and so much more, these Fellows are bringing the power of team to the forefront and sharing it beyond the walls of their athletic facilities. The 2024 Team IMPACT Fellowship Summit stands as a testament to the power of this class of student-athletes as they return to their campuses with a fresh perspective and a stronger sense of togetherness they’re eager to share with the rest of their athletics community.
“One commonality amongst these Fellows is they have all been affected in one way or another by the magic that happens when a child facing serious illness or disability get the opportunity to join a team,” said Daniels. “These Fellows have been affected by the resilience and grit of these children, and by becoming a Fellow, they demonstrate the importance of empathy every day.”
