AN APPEAL TO AMERICAN SAILORS
In 1995 Hampton University became the first and is still the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to field a competitive sailing team. The 144 year-old institution sits on the shores of Hampton, Virginia; providing a perfect venue for college sailing. The team was in large part the brain child of world renowned sailor and current President of US Sailing, Mr. Gary Jobson. Jobson recruited HU's first sailing coach, Gary Bodie, who after 3 years at the University, went on to coach the US Olympic Team in Australia, Greece and China.
HU's team has overcome the challenge of building a team out a student body comprised of few individuals that had ever set foot on a sailboat before coming to college. Through dedication and hard work, the HU team has qualified for nearly every conference championship since 1996. HU's sailors have also found success after graduation. For example, Devin Walker, the team's first captain went on to be the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in physics from Harvard, and who is now a professor at Stanford.
Hampton University has joined with perennial sailing power and close neighbor, Old Dominion University, to host the 2013 ICSA National Championship Semifinals, next spring. In order to host this event, HU is responsible for purchasing 18 of the 36 new FJ boats needed for this competition. HU and its partner, ODU, will host the top 36 teams from around the country and is in the process of trying to raise $50,000.00 dollars to put toward the purchase of these boats.
Read on and donate here:
Scuttlebutt News: Hampton University - An Appeal to American Sailors
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