COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. - The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) announced today that 30 minority student leaders from colleges and universities across the country have been selected to attend the USOC's Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere (F.L.A.M.E.) program presented by Tyson Foods, Inc. The F.L.A.M.E. program will be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., August 1-4, 2009. Celebrating its 16th anniversary, F.L.A.M.E. has provided students an in-depth look at the Olympic Movement and personal exploration of the Olympic Ideals of persistence, commitment, vision, focus and determination. With the support of official presenting sponsor, Tyson Foods, Inc., and associate sponsor Hilton Hotels Corporation,F.L.A.M.E. focuses on mentoring students so that they can apply Olympic-oriented principles to all aspects of their lives. The program also offers a pathway for talented young people to become further involved in the Olympic Movement either through the USOC's college internship program or other career and volunteer opportunities. "F.L.A.M.E. has consistently been one of the USOC's most successful outreach programs," USOC Acting Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Streeter said. "F.L.A.M.E. program alumni have gone on to become Olympians, USOC college interns, USOC sponsor employees and leaders in companies and organizations throughout the country. We are pleased to be able to partner with our sponsors to offer this opportunity to deserving young people year after year." Participants in this year's program represent 29 colleges and universities and hail from 12 states across the nation. While at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, F.L.A.M.E. participants will live among athletes-in-training, residing in the dormitories and eating alongside U.S. Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls. The program itinerary includes presentations by USOC and National Governing Body senior staff members and one-on-one discussions with motivational speakers such as legendary Olympian Billy Mills (athletics, 1964), Paralympian John Register(athletics, 2000) and two-time Paralympian April Holmes (athletics 2004, 2008). Additional activities include sport demonstrations conducted by USOC resident athletes, a hike through the famous Garden of the Gods, and a banquet at the Antler's Hilton Hotel. Adecco, the Official Career Services Supplier of the U.S. Olympic Team, will also conduct a Networking Skills seminar. F.L.A.M.E. CLASS OF 2009 For more information, please contact the USOC Communications Division at (719) 866-4529.
Name University/College Hometown
Solomon Abdella Pasadena City College Monrovia, Calif.
Niccolas Barton Duquesne University Marietta, Ga.
Robbie Bellamy California State Univ.-Fresno Fresno, Calif.
Shardonay Blueford High Point University High Point, N.C.
Arielle Brown University of Maryland Woodbridge, Va.
Anton Burkett Augustana College Hazel Crest, Ill.
Ramiro Caldera California State Univ.-Dominguez Hills Compton, Calif.
Elmer Castillo Northeastern State University Bentonville, Ark.
Julie Cline California State Univ.-Fullerton Corona, Calif.
Siddharth Dalal University of Georgia Macon, Ga.
Christopher Davis North Carolina Central University Durham, N.C.
Ricki Dean Univ. of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Philadelphia, Pa.
Deidra Debnam Univ. of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Fayetteville, N.C.
Sherrice Fox University of Northern Colorado Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jonathan Freeman Virginia Union University Portsmouth, Va.
Alexandria Glaize Milligan College Fairburn, Ga.
Kristin Howell Temple University San Antonio, Texas
Jonathan Money Rutgers University Pennsauken, N.J.
Marissa Norman University of Rhode Island Peace Dale, R.I.
Alexandria Patterson Virginia Commonwealth University Bella Vista, Ark.
Angelica Patterson Southern Arkansas University Bella Vista, Ark.
Kristin Preble Univ. of Colorado-Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, Colo.
Stanley Quan University of California-Berkeley San Mateo, Calif.
Aseem Rastogi Old Dominion University Fairfax, Va.
Merilly Ruglas University of New Orleans Metairie, La.
Anish Shah Emory College Irving, Texas
Franklyn Simmons North Carolina State University Atlanta, Ga.
Samuel Sok Rice University Houston, Texas
Mai-Thy Vuong Drexel University Lake Forest, Calif.
Jamenda Whitehead Georgia State University College Park, Ga.