Athletes Chamique Holdsclaw and Maurice Clarett will share their inspirational stories of overcoming personal challenges during The University of Toledo’s 42nd annual Conference for Aspiring Youth on Saturday, Jan. 31.
The free, public conference is supported by signature sponsor Owens Corning and organized by Toledo Excel, a longtime scholarship incentive program that recruits and supports eighth-grade students in the region to attend UToledo.
More than 700 middle and high school students and their parents are expected to participate from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Thompson Student Union Auditorium.
Advance registration is required. To register or for more information, go to the Toledo Excel website (https://www.utoledo.edu/success/excel/) .
Chamique Holdsclaw is a former basketball superstar who led the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers to three straight NCAA national championships in the 1990s, then launched a high-profile career in the WNBA. Holdsclaw is a former basketball superstar who led the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers to three straight NCAA national championships in the 1990s, then launched a high-profile career in the WNBA.
Throughout her athletic career, Holdsclaw was navigating mental health issues later diagnosed as bipolar disorder and severe anxiety. After a long journey of learning to manage her illness, she is now dedicated to mental health and wellness activism.
Maurice Clarett became a household name as the freshman running back who led the Ohio State Buckeyes to a national championship in 2002. Meanwhile Clarett became a household name as the freshman running back who led the Ohio State Buckeyes to a national championship in 2002. Clarett’s path took a difficult turn following his collegiate success, including a prison sentence that inspired him to commit to a process of profound personal transformation.
“Over the last several years we have seen a rise in mental health challenges with students,” said David Young, director of Toledo Excel. “Chamique Holdsclaw is the perfect person to connect with young people and let them know they are not alone, it’s OK to seek help and they can overcome any challenge, while Maurice Clarett is a shining example to youth that it is never too late to pivot, turn your life around and create new pathways.”
The Conference for Aspiring Youth will also feature a musical guest in national recording artist and multimedia personality and content creator Lexi. Her YouTube channel, lexitelevision, has more than 341,000 subscribers.