2024 Big Life Series: Selma To Montgomery

For the third consecutive year, the Big Ten Conference led an unparalleled educational journey for selected student-athletes, coaches and administrators as part of the “Big Life Series: Selma to Montgomery” trip. 

The three-day event, which took place from July 12-14, was an immersive and transformational experience that allowed attendees to follow the steps of the United States civil rights movement. The University of Maryland’s student-athlete attendees included Champ Long from football, Kat Parris from women’s soccer, Jewel Ofotan from women’s track and field, and Reese Delp from field hockey, who served as one of four ambassadors on the trip. 

Head Football Coach Michael Locksley and Big Ten Diversity Fellow Lonnie Mulligan also attended the trip. All six Maryland attendees participated in trips to local Montgomery, Alabama museums, including the Rosa Parks Museum, Freedom Riders Museum, Museum of Alabama, Alabama Archives Museum, Civil Rights Memorial Center and The Legacy Museum. 

The Selma to Montgomery trip offered programming in the First Baptist Church of Selma and a march from the church across Edmund Pettus Bridge. Several keynote speakers also shared the history of the civil rights movement and their perspectives on racial, social and cultural challenges in the U.S. 

The “Big Life Series” is a cornerstone initiative led by the Big Ten’s Community and Impact team that highlights the conference’s ongoing commitment to creating world-class educational experiences for our student-athletes, coaches and administrators.

The student-athletes, Locksley and Mulligan, shared their perspective on the heartrending yet impactful weekend. 

“What an honor it was to join more than 125 student-athletes from all 18 Big Ten schools, along with other coaches and school and conference administrators. We were able to immerse ourselves in the rich history of Montgomery and Selma, and it was truly eye-opening to everyone. To be able to walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and to hear from so many thought-provoking speakers was truly a blessing. It's important that we continue putting resources into our student-athletes so they understand our history and then can take this experience back to their campuses and hopefully make a difference in the lives of their friends and teammates.”

- Michael Locksley, Head Football Coach

“Participating in the “Big Life Series: Selma to Montgomery” was an unforgettable opportunity that profoundly impacted me as a Big Ten Fellow. This weekend allowed us to retrace the pivotal steps of the United States civil rights movement and provided unparalleled educational insights. As a native of Mississippi, my southern roots deeply resonated with the historical significance of this experience. I was honored to support the student-athletes, many of whom were experiencing the South for the first time. It was incredibly inspiring and served as a powerful recharge on my journey to pursue my purpose.”

- Lonnie Mulligan, Big Ten Diversity Fellow

“My experience this year at the Big Life Series was definitely enhanced by being an ambassador. I loved connecting more deeply with the Big Ten staff at the Big Life Series. Meeting and learning from the truly amazing and kind people who led the whole experience was so exciting! I also loved connecting with my fellow student ambassadors. Preparing for and speaking on the panel with them, leading the Edmund Pettus Bridge march, helping student-athletes get situated and feel welcome, and connecting with them over shared interests, foods, and jokes was so rewarding and fun. 

I also felt I was able to connect with them on a deeper level than most of the other student-athletes I met during these past two experiences. Being able to share my experience and the impact that the Big Life Series had on me with other student-athletes to help guide them through this year’s experience was also really fulfilling. Overall, I loved being able to support and give back a little bit to the experience that I have gained so much from, as well as connect with the wonderful people that the Big Ten attracts.”

- Reese Delp, Field Hockey (Ambassador)

“The experience opened my eyes to a crucial part of history that I don’t think I could’ve gotten anywhere else. I feel that showing up in Maryland Made initiatives is growing into a personal duty. I feel the level of education I received on just this single trip could be a step closer to becoming a part of the change needed in our society to shed light on societal flaws and hopefully get the chance to turn it around to create a better future for all.”

- Champ Long, Football

“This trip definitely reminded me of how important it is to be educated on our history. We can’t know where we want to be if we haven’t come to understand where we’ve been, and all that was endured to bring us to where we are today. Taking part in this trip to Selma, I hope to take the same need of connecting and listening to people’s stories and experiences into this role as Director of DEI.”

- Kat Parris, Women's Soccer

“Being someone who is a government and politics major interested in pursuing law, advocacy, and political work, the trip to Selma was not only important to the work I will be doing in the future but crucial to all people going into any field. Operating in my desired field after experiencing Selma will allow me to always have diversity, equity, and inclusion at the forefront of everything I choose to do because, without that, no work is truly done right.”

- Jewel Ofotan, Women's Track and Field