VCU Ram Report

My favorite part of my 21-year career in college athletics is providing a greater, more global perspective as part of the growth of student-athletes. I truly enjoy watching young men and women evolve into being adults. Most of our fans only see a snapshot of these young men and women and what they face, often only during games. But our job focuses on the big picture of their growth and GHYHORSPHQW9&8VWXGHQWDWKOHWHVDUHQ·WURERWV7KH\DUH imperfect like the rest of us. Our staff works hard every day to provide them with opportunities to learn within a platform for success. Part of my job as VCU Director of Athletics is to meet with UHFUXLWVRQWKHLURIÀFLDOYLVLWVDQG,UHOLVKWKDWFKDQFH, ORYHWRVHHDVWXGHQWDWKOHWH·VJURZWKIURPUHFUXLWLQJYLVLWWR freshman orientation to graduation. We challenge our VCU student-athletes athletically, academically and personally ev- ery single day but we know if we supply them with the tools to success, we can help them realize their potential. Each VCU student-athlete will experience trials during their career. In this issue of the Ram Report\RX·OOUHDGDERXW &XUWHHRQD%UHORYHDQG-XVWLQ7LOOPDQZKRHDFKH[SHUL- HQFHGGLIÀFXOWPRPHQWVDVIUHVKPHQEXWKDYHEORVVRPHG as sophomores. In addition, we give you a look inside a URDGWULSZLWKWKH9&80HQ·V%DVNHWEDOOWHDPSURYLGLQJD window into the day-to-day life of our Rams. 7KURXJKLWDOO9&8VWXGHQWDWKOHWHVDQGFRDFKHVOLYHRXU FXOWXUHDQGVXFFHHG:HZRQDVFKRROUHFRUGÀYH$WODQWLF 10 Championships in 2014-15. Moreover, our nearly 300 student-athletes posted an overall GPA of 3.03 during the 2015-16 fall semester. A third of our student-athletes earned 'HDQ·V/LVWKRQRUVDQGSHUFHQWHDUQHGDSODFHRQWKH $WKOHWLF'LUHFWRU·V+RQRU5ROO'XULQJWKHDFDGHPLF year, VCU student-athletes completed more than 2,000 hours of community service. Our coaches have recruited talented men and women who are quality people, and our Rams inspire us to help them take the next step in their lives every day. Go Rams, (G0F/DXJKOLQ Director of Athletics

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