Building A Foundation For Success

Maryland Gymnastics hosted its second-annual Inclusive Excellence educational program on Feb. 28, ahead of its Big Four Meet on March 1. The proceeding event brought together Big Ten Conference peers to celebrate Women’s History Month.

The Inclusive Excellence and Student-Athlete Development staff from the Big Four (Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois) have spent the last two months organizing an event to bring the respective universities' gymnasts together to celebrate their progress and contributions to collegiate athletics.

"Maryland Athletics is proud to host tonight's event regarding financial literacy for our four participating teams,” Colleen Sorem, Senior Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer, said. “In a time of constant change within collegiate athletics, we want to continue providing our student-athletes the education and tools to help them grow into confident, financially dependent young women.”

Gymnasts from the four schools met at Gossett Hall, where representatives from SECU presented a lesson on financial freedom and female empowerment in the workplace. The students learned everything from budgeting and banking to career readiness and transitioning from school to work. 

“It’s truly inspiring to see these student-athletes come together, not just as competitors, but as a supportive community," said Lonnie Mulligan, Gossett Center's Big Ten Diversity Fellow. “The site of women empowering each other is transformative, and events like this are a reminder of the strength we have when we uplift one another. By sharing knowledge, experiences, and resources, we are not only shaping confident, capable women in athletics but also fostering leadership, resilience and independence that extends far beyond the field. Coordinating this event was an absolute honor, and witnessing these women connect and grow together is something I will always cherish.” 

Throughout the presentation, gymnasts from all four schools conversed, interacting with the SECU representatives and each other. They connected through shared interests and goals, which helped foster connections between competitors. 

“We can all get together, and as women, we can all interact with each other and honor each other and just motivate each other,” said Maryland Gymnast Gianna Ruffing. 

The interactive presentation allowed student-athletes to learn how financial freedom impacts their lives and how they can leverage their independence throughout their lives. 

The event was organized to kick off the celebration of Women’s History Month at the University of Maryland. Celebrating women and their contributions to the world is essential to the school’s and the Big Ten’s commitment to their student-athletes.

“It highlights the Big Ten’s commitment to our student-athletes on and off the field or during competition and after competition,” said Omar Brown, Senior Vice President of Community and Impact for the Big Ten. “It’s an opportunity to really single out and say women really do improve the world.”

Creating a celebration where female student-athletes can unite to uplift and celebrate one another helps them feel empowered.

“It’s really good for us to just get to know each other [and] really support each other not just on the floor but off the floor too,” said Maryland Gymnast Logan Buckmon. 

The combination of female empowerment and financial independence prepared the student-athletes to move forward with their lives outside of college, no matter what they decide to pursue. 

“Throughout education in schools, it’s not talked about enough,” said Maryland Gymnast Taylor Rech. “Bringing women together makes it very beneficial.”

Recognizing female athletes, their contributions to the field, and their impact on the world is essential to fostering achievement and gender equality. By educating gymnastics programs about a crucial topic, financial independence, Maryland Athletics can equip its female athletes with the skills they need to pursue success and happiness. 

“Empowering young women with financial literacy isn’t just about managing money,” Resa Lovelace, Associate Athletic Director of Student-Athlete Development and Inclusive Excellence, said. “It’s about building a foundation for lifelong success. By equipping these student-athletes with the knowledge to make informed financial decisions, we’re helping them balance their passion for sports with the skills to secure their future.”