2006
Alumni in Action!
A cornerstone of the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy is "LIVE. LEAD. Pass it ON!". We believe that leadership is personal, not positional and the biggest challenge is just taking that FIRST step. Often, leadership is inspired by hearing a story, reading an article, and learning from other acts of leadership around us. During our week together at the JFSLA, we help our students develop a "Leadership Project" that they will initiate in their own communities. They pick the project, develop a plan of action, and then bring their project to life in their communities. Here is a sample of some leadership projects that some of our students have initiated in their communities. We are proud of their decision to CHOOSE TO MATTER! Their actions will inspire more to take that first step.
Alyssa Thompson, 2006 alumni from the Sonoma Academy, is seen in the attached pictures volunteering at the "Miracle Makeover 2006". She spent the day with her mother helping to rebuild the Bay Area Crisis Nursery in Concord, CA. It was a lot of hard work, but so worth it. Thanks Julie Foudy Leadership Academy for the headstart in "Choosing to Matter".
Dear Staff of the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy (JFSLA),
I wanted to write you to thank you for the amazing camp (JFSLA). I learned so much in a week that otherwise would have taken years. At JFSLA, we learned what it takes to be a good leader, on and off of the field, as well as standing up and doing the right thing. Most importantly, however, you taught us how to “Live, Lead, and Pass It On”. I have been able to use this in my life already, in the form of a series of free soccer clinics, which I am offering to Latino girls in my community. With the assistance of the local high school coach and the Passback program at Eurosport I have been able to start this clinic to allow Latino girls to play soccer. However, after I arrived at home from your camp, I began to realize that the clinic (called Let the Girls Play, or Que Juegan las Niñas) could also give these girls confidence in themselves, and the ability to lead not only themselves, but also others.
Thirteen girls from ages 7 to 13 participated in Que Juegan las Niñas, all of whom have never touched a soccer ball in their life. The closest that they had gotten to the sport was on the sidelines, when they would watch their fathers and uncles play, or when their brothers would kick a ball around while the local league games were held. Now, they are all smiles and shining eyes when they run around the field, participating in fun games and warm-ups, such as the Shadow Running that we did at JFSLA. Recently, all of the girls who participated have signed up for Rainbow Soccer, which is a local Rec league for younger kids. I know this is in part to the fact that many of the things we did during Que Juegan las Niñas are from your camp. For example, at the conclusion of each session, we all shouted “Que Juegan las Niñas!”, similar to the clapping and shouting of “CHOOSE TO MATTER!!!!!!” The girls just plain and simply loved it, and I have decided to offer the program for years to come.
So, all in all, I just wanted to say thank you. You have taught me a very valuable lesson, and the girls at Que Juegan las Niñas and I will keep trying to “Live, Lead, and Pass It On!” Spread the love!
Thank you so much,
Elicia Hyde-DeRuyscher, or Eli
(Team Brazil at JFSLA)
The Afghan Youth Sports Exchange is an organization led by Awista Ayub to help promising athletes in Afghanistan with donations of sports equipment. Two girls from the Afghani Women's Soccer team attended our Academy in New Jersey and greatly affected all who came to know them. Molly and Tasha (along with staff members Glenn & Erin) put together a soccer ball collection effort to send to Afghanistan. Way to go!
Julie:
I hope all is well. I have attached some pictures associated with our team's soccer ball collection drive for the Afghan Youth Sports Exchange. Two of the pictures include our team with Sabina Rogers and Awista Ayub (Director of the AYSE who spoke at St. Andrew's about two weeks ago). The image with that includes Erin Flynn and I also has two Peddie camp alumns, Tasha Belikov (standing 3rd & 4th from the left) and Molly Christian. They led the team and our school in collecting over 80 soccer balls.
All the best,
Glenn Whitman
History Department Chairman
Director: Faculty Evaluation Program
St. Andrew's Episcopal School
8804 Postoak Road
Potomac, MD 20854
