Graduating champions

In the fall of 2022, the Athletics Department welcomed its new leader and athletic director Travis Whipple. With more than 15 years of experience within NCAA divisions I and II, Whipple plans to grow Skyhawks Athletics into a premier program of excellence with the student-athlete experience at the center.

“Our department takes to heart the idea of graduating champions,” Whipple said. “For us, that means competing at the highest level possible while preparing student-athletes for life.”

This commitment to student-athletes includes the addition of two key support roles. Brenna Anderson will serve as the first-ever dedicated athletic academic advisor for Skyhawk athletes. She joins Regina Curry, FLC's athletic wellness coach. Curry brings nearly 20 years of experience as a counselor and sports psychologist and most recently worked at FLC’s Counseling Center.

“When I was in the Counseling Center, very few athletes came in for counseling support,” Curry said. “As a former student-athlete, I wondered, where are they? I know they need support. That's when I started reaching out to teams and inviting them to talk. Within a month or two, my entire caseload consisted of athletes. They wanted to talk; they simply needed an invitation from someone they felt they could trust and who understood their experiences.”

Anderson and Curry’s positions were created as part of the NCAA Life Skills initiative, which launched in 2016 and focuses on helping student-athletes balance academic achievements, athletic success, and personal well-being.

"The drive and passion student-athletes bring to life is inspiring,” Curry said. “They are truly extraordinary regarding the academic, social, societal, and athletic schedules they manage, and yet they are humans. They experience the struggles, hurt, hope, triumphs, and failures we all do. They need help, too. That's why I'm here: to witness their experiences, celebrate their achievements, help carry their emotional loads, and set goals to do better. It is one of the greatest honors of my life to hear their stories."

“Athletics has an opportunity to help serve as the front porch for Fort Lewis College,” Whipple said. “We aim to be a point of pride for our students, community, and alumni. Athletics is striving to create a vibrant campus life, serve as role models, and continue to develop traditions that unite all involved.”