Northwestern University Athletics
Positively Dr. Gragg - Vol. 3, April 2022
4/28/2022 3:38:00 PM | General
'Cats,
A few Saturdays ago, I was inside Ryan Fieldhouse as spring football practice wound down. The team gathered near midfield for final announcements and then, one-by-one, a series of 30-40 alumni introduced themselves to the team. Each man told the group when he played, when he graduated, what he did now and where. It was incredible to hear the uniqueness of each man's journey. They had come together that Saturday to serve as mentors to our current Wildcats. Some were so new to the mentoring program that they had practiced on Wilson Field! I was also fortunate enough to address the mentor program participants before heading over to Rocky and Berenice Miller Park to see our baseball team take down Penn State.
Like many of our former NU student athletes, these alumni generously share their time and expertise with the current generation of Wildcats because they know what's possible with their investment. They are living proof of what our University is capable of, and play an integral part in our commitment to our students. This is true of letterwinners from all our teams, whether it was the incredible support Rachel Lewis had in the Drysdale Field stands when she broke the program home run record, or the many former 'Cats in Ryan Fieldhouse helping lacrosse celebrate ring day for the Big Ten championship. They made Northwestern proud during the time they wore a uniform and went to class, and they continue to make us proud in the way they represent our school long after graduation. In June at our N Club induction, a new class of Wildcats will officially be welcomed into the alumni community and learn, "the 'N' never comes off," from predecessors who learned from living.
Since the day I stepped on campus last year, I've heard from so many people that choosing Northwestern is "not a four-year decision, but a forty-year decision." Listening to our football mentors, the potential of that promise was made clear over and over. The things you can learn here, the people you can meet here, and the success you can achieve here are simply unmatched. I've had the opportunity to meet purple alumni all over the country and the gratitude they have for their Northwestern experience is truly remarkable and consistent. These interactions have made me even more excited and determined as we continue to navigate an ever-changing intercollegiate athletics environment. As always, I am looking forward to the future. GO CATS!
Positively,
Dr. Gragg
READING RECOMMENDATION:
The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace (Lindsey Pollak) - Pollak combines the most recent data with original research, as well as detailed case studies from Fortune 500 companies and other top organization, to show how to adapt and win through strategies that serve all generations' needs. The result is a workplace that blends the best of each generation's ideas and practices to design a smarter, more inclusive work environment for everyone.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." -- Oscar Wilde
A few Saturdays ago, I was inside Ryan Fieldhouse as spring football practice wound down. The team gathered near midfield for final announcements and then, one-by-one, a series of 30-40 alumni introduced themselves to the team. Each man told the group when he played, when he graduated, what he did now and where. It was incredible to hear the uniqueness of each man's journey. They had come together that Saturday to serve as mentors to our current Wildcats. Some were so new to the mentoring program that they had practiced on Wilson Field! I was also fortunate enough to address the mentor program participants before heading over to Rocky and Berenice Miller Park to see our baseball team take down Penn State.
Like many of our former NU student athletes, these alumni generously share their time and expertise with the current generation of Wildcats because they know what's possible with their investment. They are living proof of what our University is capable of, and play an integral part in our commitment to our students. This is true of letterwinners from all our teams, whether it was the incredible support Rachel Lewis had in the Drysdale Field stands when she broke the program home run record, or the many former 'Cats in Ryan Fieldhouse helping lacrosse celebrate ring day for the Big Ten championship. They made Northwestern proud during the time they wore a uniform and went to class, and they continue to make us proud in the way they represent our school long after graduation. In June at our N Club induction, a new class of Wildcats will officially be welcomed into the alumni community and learn, "the 'N' never comes off," from predecessors who learned from living.
Since the day I stepped on campus last year, I've heard from so many people that choosing Northwestern is "not a four-year decision, but a forty-year decision." Listening to our football mentors, the potential of that promise was made clear over and over. The things you can learn here, the people you can meet here, and the success you can achieve here are simply unmatched. I've had the opportunity to meet purple alumni all over the country and the gratitude they have for their Northwestern experience is truly remarkable and consistent. These interactions have made me even more excited and determined as we continue to navigate an ever-changing intercollegiate athletics environment. As always, I am looking forward to the future. GO CATS!
Positively,
Dr. Gragg
READING RECOMMENDATION:
The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace (Lindsey Pollak) - Pollak combines the most recent data with original research, as well as detailed case studies from Fortune 500 companies and other top organization, to show how to adapt and win through strategies that serve all generations' needs. The result is a workplace that blends the best of each generation's ideas and practices to design a smarter, more inclusive work environment for everyone.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." -- Oscar Wilde
Baseball - 'Cats Even Series with 7-6 Victory over Rutgers (5/15/26)
Friday, May 15
Lacrosse - NCAA Quarterfinals vs Colorado Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, May 14
Lacrosse - NCAA Tournament 2nd Round vs JMU Postgame Press Conference (5/10/26)
Sunday, May 10
Baseball - 'Cats Ground Redbirds in 7-1 Midweek Victory (5/5/26)
Tuesday, May 05
