The United States Olympic Committee today announced the 53 minority student leaders from high schools, colleges and universities across the country who were selected to participate in the 21st annual FLAME (Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere) Program. The 2014 collegiate program will be held July 8-18, followed by the high school program from July 20-24 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
FLAME is designed to inspire minority high school and college students to pursue careers within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movements. Those chosen to participate have already demonstrated a pursuit of excellence within their own communities and will have the opportunity to further their personal and professional growth by connecting with Olympic and Paralympic athletes, USOC and National Governing Body leaders.
The program provides students with an in-depth look at the Olympic and Paralympic movements and personal exploration of the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. The program also offers a pathway for talented youth to become further involved in the Olympic and Paralympic movements, either through the USOC’s internship program, or other career and volunteer opportunities.
Participants in this year’s program represent two countries and 22 states across the United States. During the 17-day program, FLAME participants will reside and eat alongside U.S. Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls at the OTC. The program will include motivational presentations, leadership seminars, and networking and financial-literacy workshops.
Speakers at the 2014 program include two-time Olympic medalist Mark Crear (track & field; 1996, 2000); three-time Olympian Katrina McClain (basketball; 1998, 1992, 1996); John Register, U.S. Paralympics associate director of community and military programs and Paralympic silver medalist (track & field, 2000); Paralympian Ralph Green (alpine skiing; 2006, 2010, 2014); Olympian Cindy Stinger (team handball, 1984, 1988, 1992); Wade Davis, former NFL player and executive director of the You Can Play Project; and USOC CEO Scott Blackmun.
In addition, the program will host two banquets featuring two-time Olympic medalist Derek Parra (speedskating, 2002) and Olympic gold-medalist Dan O’Brien (decathlon; 1996) as the keynote speakers for the high school and college programs. Also, thanks to support from Drs. Tej and Simran Singh, the 2014 program will feature an address from Rosa Gatti, former Sr. vice president of communications counsel and corporate outreach at ESPN, as the first FLAME Invited Speaker Award recipient.
Additional activities will include a sport demonstration from 2004 Olympic fencer and FLAME program alumni Ivan Lee, a Paralympic sport experience, a trip up the Pikes Peak Cog Railway and a hike through Garden of the Gods.
FLAME College Class of 2014
Name | University/College | Hometown |
Brittany Larkin | University of Connecticut | South Amboy, N.J. |
Burtland Dixon | Moreno Valley, Calif. | |
Chandler Richardson | Temple University | Burlington Township, N.J. |
Chermaine Cole | Georgia State University | |
Clyde Dean | University of Kentucky | Radcliff, Ky. |
Darron Sherrill | University of Wisconsin-River Falls | Milwaukee, Wis. |
Desirae Bass | Georgia State University | Columbus, Ga. |
Eboni Sutherland | Rice University | Corona, Calif. |
Gerale Middleton | Towson University | Valley Stream, N.Y. |
Jaclyn Lam | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | |
Jared Romance | Florida Atlantic University | New Orleans, La. |
Jessica Clark | California State University Sacramento | Suisun City, Calif. |
Jose Garcia | University of Houston | San Antonio, Texas |
Kadeem Haugabook | Morehouse College | Detroit, Mich. |
Kallie McBride | University of Minnesota | Warroad, Minn. |
Kayla Henderson | University of Wyoming | Marietta, Ga. |
Keara Bynum | Syracuse University | Flushing, N.Y. |
Kendra Berry | University of Tennessee | Albany, Ga. |
Lindsay Pinckney | Towson University | Silver Spring, Md. |
Margaret Olvera | Trinity University | Dallas, Texas |
Mark Minken | Temple University | Manalapan, N.J. |
FLAME High School Class of 2014
Name | High School/Preparatory School | Hometown |
Albert Hopkins | KIPP University High School | San Antonio, Texas |
Allan Gomez | Rancho Cotate High School | Rohnert Park, Calif. |
Bianca Carrizal | YES Prep Public School | Houston, Texas |
Brij Singh | Bellarmine College Preparatory | San Jose, Calif. |
Courtland Crenshaw | Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School | Indianapolis, Ind. |
Crystal Perez | York International | Thornton, Colo. |
Gabriela Pineda | Piner High School | Santa Rosa, Calif. |
Jeffrey Gomez | Rancho Cotate High School | Rohnert Park, Calif. |
Jonathon LeDon | The Preuss School of UCSD | San Diego, Calif. |
Jose Amador | Rancho Cotate High School | Rohnert Park, Calif. |
Joshua Mora | Vallivue High School | Caldwell, Idaho |
Mai Foringer | Germantown Friends School | Philadelphia, Pa. |
Marco Perez | Pueblo East High School | Pueblo, Colo. |
Mariah Lassek | Westminster High School | Westminster, Colo. |
Mekayla Winchester | West Anchorage High School | Anchorage, Alaska |
Monica Paredes | KIPP King Collegiate High School | San Lorenzo, Calif. |
Nyaradzo Bere | Littleton High School | Littleton, Colo. |
Stephanie Silvar | The Preuss School of UCSD | San Diego, Calif. |
Tiera Chambers | Miami Central Senior High School | Miami, Fla. |
Yeng Xiong | Sunnyside High School | Fresno, Calif. |
Zhianna Flores | Piedra Vista High School | Farmington, N.M. |
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