Princeton Athletics Community Stays Connected, Gets Inspired Through Mitch Henderson Speaker Series
10/20/2020
PRINCETON, N.J. – With the Tigers spread out across the globe these past few months, members of the Princeton Athletics community have remained connected through the “Mitch Henderson Speaker Series,” a program of digital conversations featuring distinguished guests hosted by Franklin C. Cappon-Edward C. Green '40 Head Coach Mitch Henderson ‘98.
“This idea was born when our Princeton University community found ourselves abruptly away from one another. We not only needed to connect from afar but we felt the need to positively impact our local communities,” said Henderson. “We learn and interact together with leaders from around the country where sports and teamwork have directly impacted their lives. The benefit to our student-athletes is they can then take this and implement lessons learned where they are right now. I believe these discussions have been invaluable not only for our student-athletes but for the Princeton community at large.”
Thank You, Steve!
— Princeton Tigers (@PUTIGERS) June 17, 2020
We were fortunate to have @SteveKerr join Princeton Athletics today to speak about the importance of championing social justice reform, ways to impact our communities and team-building inside an organization. pic.twitter.com/dfUtMF8WDO
Topics of discussion have included fighting systemic racism, impactful ways to serve one’s own community, keys to growth as an individual and group, and identifying ways to best perform in all facets of life.
A HUGE thank you to @TheJetOnTNT for spending time with our Princeton community today. We are so grateful. His insights, openness and leadership made for an incredible conversation. pic.twitter.com/6JnJaQbuEp
— Mitch Henderson (@M_Henderson98) July 2, 2020
The guest list includes leaders in sport and society, people who have used their platform to champion equal rights and speak to the impact inspired leadership has on a team or community.
Included among the first guests are Golden State Warriors head coach and eight-time NBA champion Steve Kerr, two-time NBA champion and current NBA/NCAA basketball broadcaster Kenny “The Jet” Smith, Seattle Storm point guard Sue Bird – who joined from the WNBA’s “Wubble” in Florida en route to her fourth WNBA championship with the Storm, and most recently United States Senator Cory Booker who represents the state of New Jersey after serving as Mayor of Newark from 2006-13.
“Our Princeton community has always learned a lot from each other,” said Mitch Henderson. “These conversations allow us to learn from others outside of the community. To have the opportunity to connect with these important and influential figures from outside of the Princeton network; it is a connector between faculty, staff, coaches, athletic fellows, and the student-athletes. I look at these conversations as opportunities to be as close to the real thing that we can get right now. And that real thing is being a community and how much we learn from one another—by listening to the questions that we ask.”
“Being on a team, to be aware, to be able to be yourself, you want what’s best for each other.” Loved this from @S10Bird.
— Mitch Henderson (@M_Henderson98) August 13, 2020
Special thanks to @Coach_Berube for setting up and joining me for this conversation. pic.twitter.com/la8qfrtRsj
While it may be happening in a virtual environment, this type of “face time” with leading minds is why Princeton student-athletes made the choice to attend our University.
“It says a lot about our program’s commitment to not only bettering us on the court and in the classroom, but in being a better citizen,” said senior Ryan Schwieger. “The opportunity to truly engage with leaders from different fields, most recently Senator Cory Booker, goes a long way in allowing student-athletes to understand and contribute to solving problems that are affecting everybody.”
A huge thank you to Senator Cory Booker for spending time with us today!
— Princeton Basketball (@PrincetonMBB) October 16, 2020
We appreciated your thoughts on how being a student-athlete shaped your life along with your passion for service to others. pic.twitter.com/xwuQKVj7Cf
In addition to current student-athletes, staff and Athletics Fellows, Princeton alumni have also been invited to participate in the series.
“The fact that Princeton is providing this forum for its community, especially its student-athletes, speaks volumes to the leadership and culture of the University,” said Craig Robinson ’83, a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year and current Executive Director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. “It has been impactful to me as an alum in that during the Q&A portion of each speaker’s remarks, I’m blown away with pride at the engagement and intelligence of our athletes. Their questions are thoughtful, pertinent and insightful and I learn something new at every event.”
The series is set to continue as Henderson aims to keep the Princeton family connected.
