Studentathletes at Wake Forest University have full calen dars: classes, labs and study groups, plus practices, workouts and team meetings. Nonetheless, Demon Deacons find time in their schedules to reach out to their community and prepare for life after their careers at Wake Forest. CHAMPS/Life Skills CHAMPS (CHallenging Athletes’ Minds for Personal Success), implemented in 1994, was created to improve and enhance the studentathlete experience within their selected university. The program was founded at Wake Forest in 1995 and is under the guidance of Coordinator Julie Griffin. “The purpose of CHAMPS/Life Skills is to prepare student athletes for life after athletics,” says Dwight Lewis, Wake Forest’s Associate Athletic Director for StudentAthlete Services. “In doing so, they are realizing that they are more than just studentathletes. They can have a positive impact on the community and the world, if they so choose.” The CHAMPS/Life Skills program has five commitments for the establishment of a wellrounded studentathlete. Those commitments are academics, athletics, career development, personal development, and community service. It is through those five areas that the program works to develop not only quality studentathletes, but also exceptional individuals. Athletes Care Team Founded in 1991, the Athletes Care Team (ACT) became a key component of CHAMPS/Life Skills in 1995, serving as the anchor of the leadership and community service commitment of the program. The ACT has many facets, however, the main goal is for studentathletes to reach out to the youth in our area and in the process build a sense of community, selfaware ness, selfesteem, and leadership skills that cannot be duplicat ed in a classroom. Approximately three out of five studentathletes contribute time to impacting the lives of WinstonSalem youth. For 19 years, the Santa’s Helper program created by former Deacon football player Chip Rives has arranged for a visit from Santa (WFU studentathletes dressed up in a Santa suit) to under privileged children in the WinstonSalem area. For the last 15 years, studentathletes have volunteered one hour a week each semester to become a friend and a mentor to local elementary school students. Studentathletes also participate in nighttime tutoring at a local recreation center and volunteer at schools for disabled children. Several studentathletes also provide tutoring that involves an eightweek commitment to atrisk stu dents in nearby elementary schools. Another successful program is “Eat with the Deacs”. Middle school youngsters visit Wake Forest for a tour of the campus, attend a team practice in the sport of their choosing, and then have dinner with Demon Deacon studentathletes in the campus cafeteria. The CHAMPS Speakers Bureau enhances the positive impression children have of our student athletes as they spread the message of being the best they can be. The studentathletes involved with CHAMPS/Life Skills also assist with programs on campus such as Wake Forest’s Project Pumpkin, Special Olympics and the Track & Field Day for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. “Pump Up For Piccolo” raises money for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Fund Drive. This event teams current players with members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity to compete in sev eral weightlifting and strength events. The Brian Piccolo Cancer Fund drive has raised $624,000 for cancer research. 24 Demon Deacon studentathletes lend a helping hand. Wake Forest Athletics In The Community 5 Commitments of CHAMPS/ Life Skills: academics, athletics, career and personal develop ment and community service 11 Years the CHAMPS/Life Skills program has been a part of Wake Forest University athlet ics 15 Years the Athletes Care Team (ACT) has served as an anchor of leadership, reaching out to WinstonSalem youths 20 For 20 years Deacon student athletes have participated in the Santa’s Helpers program at Christmas 60 Percent of Wake Forest stu dentathletes volunteer their time to impact the lives of WinstonSalem youths 200 More than 200 Wake Forest studentathletes participate in the CHAMPS/Life Skills pro gram each year 500 Hours of tutoring children on a volunteer basis and bringing hundreds of children to vari ous events 1,100 Demon Deacon studentath letes combined to volunteer more than 1,100 hours to help literally thousands of children 25 26 Wake Forest producing winning programs across the board. Wake Forest Athletics By The Numbers 3 NCAA championships won each by the field hockey and men’s golf programs at Wake Forest 3 Former Deacons Tim Duncan, Hunter Kemper and Darius Songaila participated in the 2004 Olympic Games 4 Times Deacon field hockey coach Jennifer Averill has been named ACC Coach of the Year 5 National Players of the Year Tim Duncan, Josh Howard, Bea Bielik, Kelly Doton and Kelly Dostal 6 Wake Forest studentathletes were named first team All American during the 200506 academic year 8 NCAA national semifinal appearances by Wake Forest athletic teams since the 1999 2000 year 41 ACC championships won by Wake Forest athletic teams in all sports, including four by men’s basketball 54 The ACC is in its 54th year in 200607. Wake Forest was one of the original members of the league formed in 195354. 27 School Colors: Old Gold and Black As early as 1895, Wake Forest College was using its colors in athletic competition. The school’s lit erary magazine, “The Wake Forest Student,” described them in this manner: “At last, Wake Forest has a college badge. It is a very neat button designed by Mr. John M. Heck and contains a tiger’s head over the letters WFC. The colors are in old gold and black.” As the 20th century opened, those colors became frequently associated with the college, par ticularly its athletic and debate teams. Most histo rians believe that their adoption comes from the connection with the tiger mascot, and not, as some have proposed, from any association with the Bible. Sadly, Heck, who is credited by the magazine with the creation of the tiger/old gold and black badge, died of typhoid fever at the age of 19 just one year after making a contribution to Wake Forest history that has lasted for over 100 years. Nickname: The Demon Deacons The tiger mascot remained with the school for more than two decades. Reports indicate that by the early 1920s, the college’s nicknames were most commonly noted as the “Baptists,” or simply “The Old Gold & Black.” As Wake Forest’s teams gained more success, the nicknames were not descriptive enough of this newfound athletic spirit, school newspaper editor Mayon Parker (‘24) felt. After Wake Forest defeat ed rival Trinity (now Duke) in Garrity’s first foot ball season (1923), Parker first referred to the team as “Demon Deacons,” in recognition of what he termed their “devilish” play and fighting spirit. Wake Forest’s news director Henry Belk and Garrity liked the title and began using it extensive ly. The name has, of course, remained as one of the most unique in America. The Mascot With the “Demon Deacon” terminology has come the actual mascot. Jack Baldwin (‘43) was the original student Deacon mascot, the first of a long line of enter tainers to lead the school’s teams into action. Dressed like a deacon top hat, tails, etc. Wake Forest chose a mascot that was more dignified than other mascots. By the time Baldwin graduated, a number of interested students were willing to keep the Deacon alive. Today, tryouts are held annually to fill the Deacon’s shoes, and the competition is intense. Perhaps the most wellknown Deacon was Jeff Dobbs (‘77), a spirited and acrobatic dancer, who even has returned on occasion to inspire Wake Forest crowds with his cheering and antics. In recent years, the Deacon has become more of an entertainer than cheerleader. He steps promi nently throughout the crowd at all home contests and is the favorite of children and adults alike. One very popular Deacon of the 80s, Chris Kibler (‘84) even managed to sing the National Anthem from inside his oversized head and costume. The Deacon stands alone as a unique represen tative of Wake Forest. Easily recognizable, always distinctive, he adds a special dimension to Wake Forest Athletics. 28 Rendering of Donor YOUR Deacon Club Plaza -- scheduled to begin construction contribution and support in December. goes toward the funding of our Wake Forest stu dentathlete scholarships. Your financial gift to the Deacon Club does more than simply sup port Wake Forest Athletics; you are enabling a studentathlete to obtain an education from one of the best universities in the nation. It Is Our Goal… to win NCAA Championships, to attend annual bowl games in foot ball, to consistently fill our athletic venues, to be competitive on a national level in all of our sports and to prepare our studentath letes to have a positive impact on society. With your support, these remarkable young men and women, along with their skilled coaches, have achieved tremen dous victories for this university. Because of your support, you were Friends Of The Program (list current through June 30, 2006) there with them for every pass, We are pleased to recognize the contributions Larry Coker, Wauchula, FL Bruce A. McDonnell, Brigantine, NJ run, dunk, goal, sack, swing, hur to the “Friends Of” Program at Wake Forest David and Ellen Cordo, Norfolk, MA Michael L. McGlamry, Atlanta, GA dle, shot, lap, pitch and point. We during the 2005-06 fiscal year. Donors to the David F. Couch, High Point, NC Stephen and Nancy McLane, Beverly, MA will achieve that goal by continu “Friends Of” Program include Deacon Club Samuel P. Cox, Roanoke, VA Jeff Milberg, Wilmington, NC ing to employ coaches and admin members, former players, parents of current Angelo A.