Gifts in Action - Justin Harrison

MEET JUSTIN HARRISON

Justin Harrison, a footballer and fall 2004 University of Illinois sophomore, was one of the student-athletes who benefited from the Douglas C. Roberts Endowment Fund.

DOUGLAS C. ROBERTS ENDOWMENT FUND AND CHAMPS/LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM

The endowment fund is part of the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program and was established in 2003 by Mr. Douglas C. Roberts, a 1974 graduate and long-time supporter of the University.

The Challenging Athletes’ Minds for Personal Successes (CHAMPS)/Life Skills program is aimed at preparing student-athletes for life after college through personal, social and career development. It focuses on five components: academic excellence, athletic excellence, personal development, service and career development. Every semester, the program provides services, including workshops, for student-athletes. As part of its commitment to excellence, the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics became part of the program in 1999; several other NCAA institutions and conference offices are also participants.

The Douglas C. Roberts Endowment Fund is directed towards enhancing the CHAMPS/Life Skills program curricula and is also used provide fellowships to graduate students in the program. Justin Harrison is shown here with two students of the Garden Hills Elementary School at their Student of the Month Luncheon. This is an example of one of the many community outreach activities student-athletes engage in as part of the program. The funds support textbook resource development at the Irwin Academic Center as well.

Thanks to donors like Mr. Roberts, the Illini CHAMPS/Life Skills program has been very successful and also received the CHAMPS Program of Excellence Award for 2005-06 by the Division 1A Athletic Directors’ Association. The award recognizes Division 1A athletic programs that have established the student-athlete’s welfare as the cornerstone of their operating principles.