Page 18 - Racing To Excellence-4

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Fall 2017 Convocation · Bowie State Universityall 2017 Convocation · Bowie State University

And to help in growing the endowment and providing support

for students, this week, I established a new scholarship—the

Racing to Excellence Endowed Scholarship. It is my hope

that the scholarship will inspire generations of students to

never forget that each day you have a choice to make on how

you will run the race and contribute to the betterment of their

lives and the lives of others.

This scholarship is established in honor of my father, Alex J.

Woodley, who was an educator and a track and field coach of

Olympic athletes and President and CEO of the Philadelphia

Pioneer Educational-Athletic Development Club. He passed

away suddenly in 2004 after having coached numerous

athletes from around the country and the world including over

50 champions in the NCAA, World and Olympic Games.

He greatly valued education and instilled in his family, his

students and in the community the need to maintain

excellence and high standards. Track and field was also his

platform to advance civil rights and equality around the world

including taking on issues of apartheid in South Africa when

athletes were unable to compete in their sport.

Fall 2017 Convocation · Bowie State Universityall 2017 Convocation · Bowie State University
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