University of Richmond Athletics
President Hallock’s Address Highlights Spiders Leadership Kickoff Event
08/30/2021 | Spider Leadership
RICHMOND, Va. – Spiders Leadership formally began its programs for the 2021-22 school year on August 25 with an event at the Jepson Alumni Center for the program's rising and champion leaders to kick off the fall semester. President Kevin F. Hallock and his wife Tina were the evening's guests of honor, and Hallock provided the keynote address.
"We were thrilled to be back together in person with our student-athletes to highlight the importance and hard work it takes to lead effectively and build champions for life," said Senior Associate Athletic Director for Leadership & Student-Athlete Development Lauren Wicklund. "The energy our Spider Leaders brought was infectious and President Hallock's addressed served as the perfect catalyst for the year ahead."
President Hallock, who noted that despite having served as Richmond's President for only 11 days he is "already obsessed with Spider Athletics," reflected on the leadership role student-athletes play on campus and explained his plan to focus on six guiding principles while serving as President: Integrity, Transparency, Effort, Well-Being, Inclusion and Belonging, and Collegiality.
Hallock challenged the group to be models of integrity, and "make the same decisions regardless of whether anyone is watching." He said that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of looking out for one another and taking to care for ourselves, and spoke about the need to achieve balance, noting that "great work is always better than lots of good work." He praised Spider Athletics for its ability to create an environment of inclusion and belonging. "As members of diverse teams, you not only learn to work through your differences, you find strength in them," said Hallock. Hallock's final message to the group was a reminder that their devotion to these ideals would be tested in trying times. "Always remember that it is precisely when you face great conflict and adversity that you must remain true to your core principles," concluded Hallock.
Hallock also stressed the importance of athletics and other college experiences outside of academics to the crowd, stating his belief that "at least as much is learned outside the classroom as inside the classroom." A captain of both his soccer and baseball teams in high school, Hallock led Hopkins Academy to a state baseball championship in 1985, the first state championship for a school originally founded in 1664. During his address, he attributed his team's success to not to remarkable athleticism or skill, but superior preparation and the ability to avoid mental mistakes. Hallock stressed that his time as a student-athlete helped impress upon him that the playing arena – whether it be a field, track, court, diamond, or golf course, "is a remarkable classroom in which to learn and hone your leadership skills."
Prior to Hallock's address, the Spider student-athletes participated in a paper airplane competition to see who could create the farthest-flying paper airplane. When the event was "won" by a student-athlete who crumpled the paper into a ball and hurled it the length of the room, student-athletes were reminded that at times concern about aesthetics and "looking good" can limit a leader's ability to focus on the wants and needs of others.
To end the evening, Spiders All-American defensive tackle Kobie Turner, an accomplished musician in addition to one of the nation's top defensive linemen, stepped to the piano to sing the Bill Withers classic "Lean On Me." Turner was quickly joined by a chorus of his fellow Spiders, bringing the evening to a fitting coda.
The Spider Leadership Initiative works to build champion leaders that successfully lead themselves, their teams, and the community. Through curiosity, resilience, ownership, communication, and problem solving, our student-athletes will become engaged, global citizens with the skills and fortitude to positively transform the world.
"We were thrilled to be back together in person with our student-athletes to highlight the importance and hard work it takes to lead effectively and build champions for life," said Senior Associate Athletic Director for Leadership & Student-Athlete Development Lauren Wicklund. "The energy our Spider Leaders brought was infectious and President Hallock's addressed served as the perfect catalyst for the year ahead."
President Hallock, who noted that despite having served as Richmond's President for only 11 days he is "already obsessed with Spider Athletics," reflected on the leadership role student-athletes play on campus and explained his plan to focus on six guiding principles while serving as President: Integrity, Transparency, Effort, Well-Being, Inclusion and Belonging, and Collegiality.
Hallock challenged the group to be models of integrity, and "make the same decisions regardless of whether anyone is watching." He said that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of looking out for one another and taking to care for ourselves, and spoke about the need to achieve balance, noting that "great work is always better than lots of good work." He praised Spider Athletics for its ability to create an environment of inclusion and belonging. "As members of diverse teams, you not only learn to work through your differences, you find strength in them," said Hallock. Hallock's final message to the group was a reminder that their devotion to these ideals would be tested in trying times. "Always remember that it is precisely when you face great conflict and adversity that you must remain true to your core principles," concluded Hallock.
Hallock also stressed the importance of athletics and other college experiences outside of academics to the crowd, stating his belief that "at least as much is learned outside the classroom as inside the classroom." A captain of both his soccer and baseball teams in high school, Hallock led Hopkins Academy to a state baseball championship in 1985, the first state championship for a school originally founded in 1664. During his address, he attributed his team's success to not to remarkable athleticism or skill, but superior preparation and the ability to avoid mental mistakes. Hallock stressed that his time as a student-athlete helped impress upon him that the playing arena – whether it be a field, track, court, diamond, or golf course, "is a remarkable classroom in which to learn and hone your leadership skills."
Prior to Hallock's address, the Spider student-athletes participated in a paper airplane competition to see who could create the farthest-flying paper airplane. When the event was "won" by a student-athlete who crumpled the paper into a ball and hurled it the length of the room, student-athletes were reminded that at times concern about aesthetics and "looking good" can limit a leader's ability to focus on the wants and needs of others.
To end the evening, Spiders All-American defensive tackle Kobie Turner, an accomplished musician in addition to one of the nation's top defensive linemen, stepped to the piano to sing the Bill Withers classic "Lean On Me." Turner was quickly joined by a chorus of his fellow Spiders, bringing the evening to a fitting coda.
The Spider Leadership Initiative works to build champion leaders that successfully lead themselves, their teams, and the community. Through curiosity, resilience, ownership, communication, and problem solving, our student-athletes will become engaged, global citizens with the skills and fortitude to positively transform the world.
Players Mentioned
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