Eight-time Boston Marathon winner Jean Driscoll will be on campus March 5 to encourage people to "Dream Big, Work Hard, Achieve Extraordinary Results."
Driscoll, a 35-year-old Milwaukee native, has spina bifida, and has been in a wheelchair since she was 14, but that hasn’t slowed her down.
She is a two-time Olympic Silver Medalist, a three time Paralympic Medalist, and in 1991 was named the Amateur Sportswoman of the Year. Sports Illustrated For Women voted her number 25 of the top 100 female athletes of the century.
The world-class athlete will speak at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Cultural Center. A donation of $2.50 per person is being requested.
Fitness Center Director Tony Ruda said, "We are excited to have Jean Driscoll help us celebrate National Women’s History Month with a motivational message that will help students of all ages to believe in the power dreams have in tackling all obstacles."
Her appearance is being co-sponsored by the Fitness Center, the Diversity Committee and the SGA.
Ruda said students in area junior high schools are being invited to hear the now retired champion who currently devotes her time to speaking appearances and to writing.
Ruda said Driscoll delivers a powerful message that "disability is a characteristic, not a defining principle."
Driscoll holds an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Rhode Island, an M.S. in Rehabilitation Administration and a B.A. in Speech Communication from the U of I.
Additional information is available from Ruda at 224-0333.