Chambana Sun

Illinois sent four student-athletes to represent the University at the Big Ten's third annual Big Life Series: Selma to Montgomery in Alabama from July 12-14.

The Big Life Series serves as an experiential learning opportunity to provide education to student-athletes beyond the classroom. This trip specifically focused on educating student-athletes on the Civil Rights Movement through museum visits, hearing from notable activists who began activism during that time, and visiting historical sites where it all occurred.

Cori Allen of Women's Basketball, Kam Garrett of Men's Track & Field, Ashley Oliver of Women's Track & Field, and Jeremiah Warren of Football attended the three-day event and participated in impactful educational opportunities throughout their time in Montgomery and Selma, Alabama.

"The trip left me feeling appreciative of the position we're in today," Allen said. "The trip reminded me to hold myself to a higher standard of who and what I represent. Being on an interracial team, my teammates and I must continuously fight and stand up for each other."

The first day of the event featured a kick-off reception before attendees watched "Eyes on the Prize," a documentary that chronicles the civil rights movement and includes the Montgomery bus boycott and the march from Selma to Montgomery.

Participants then heard from keynote speaker Sheyann Webb-Christburg, a civil rights activist known as Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Smallest Freedom Fighter" who first got involved in activism at the age of eight years old. Following the keynote address, Illini representatives took part in a student-athlete social, allowing attendees to network with student-athletes from Big Ten institutions across the country.

The following day, Big Life Series participants engaged in a service project in Selma, assembling backpacks with school supplies and sports equipment for local communities.

Highlighted by his experience at the community service project, Garrett recognized the importance of using his platform and privilege to give back to communities. "History is beyond what we learned in books," Garrett said. "It starts from the soil."

The group then visited First Baptist Church, where they heard from activist Lynda Blackmon, author of "Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom" and youngest participant in the Selma Voting Rights March of 1965.

Everyone then marched from First Baptist Church to Edmund Pettus Bridge, site of Bloody Sunday in 1965. The day continued with visits and tours of several museums including Alabama Archives Museum and Civil Rights Memorial Center where they learned about Alabama's history; Equal Justice Initiative Museum provided insights into slavery, emancipation, and incarceration history in U.S.

The final event was a closing speech by Doris Crenshaw, Rosa Parks' protege who served as vice president of NAACP Youth Council when Parks was an advisor.

Citing Crenshaw's remarks as most impactful part her experience Oliver summed up her time Alabama as "inspiring informative fun." She intends register vote more vocal with team aims emulate Crenshaw's essence discussing topics such civil rights others.

"The trip allowed us understand how develop our character gave good examples follow," Oliver said. "I also learned how network lot new people Walking into new space scary at first but end trip much more comfortable meeting new people."

Warren described experience motivational moving heartfelt left wanting become better leader educate peers what learned encourage teammates vote

"I feel though became more knowledgeable what ancestors did just so have freedom have today," Warren said unlocked new level dedication after seeing never backed down gave up"

Through hearing stories each activists throughout trip quartet felt sense awe appreciation resilience strength displayed fight future generations equal rights honor sacrifices work ancestors group aims continue educating themselves peers history nation use privilege vote upcoming election

Deeply impacted this trip group thankful Big Ten creates unique experiences student-athletes encourages peers take advantage these types opportunities future

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