Latest news with #LindenwoodUniversity
New York Post
21-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Runner who died in Brooklyn Half Marathon revealed to be former University of Minnesota football player
The runner who died during the Brooklyn Half Marathon on Saturday was revealed to be a former college football player. Charles Rogers, 31, started his college football career as a defensive back at Iowa State in 2012 and later transferred to Minnesota in 2015. After injuries cut his 2015 season short and took him out for the following year, Rogers transferred to Lindenwood University in Missouri before retiring from the sport. Advertisement 3 Charles Rogers died on Saturday after going into cardiac arrest and collapsing. Charles Rogers/Facebook 'Our hearts are broken as former Gopher Charles Rogers tragically passed over the weekend while running the Brooklyn Marathon,' the Minnesota football team wrote on Instagram. 'Our thoughts are with the Rogers family and all of his loved ones.' Lindenwood football also posted a heartfelt message for their former player. Advertisement 3 Charles Rogers played college football at various schools before becoming an avid runner. NYRR 'The Lindenwood Football family mourns the loss of Ace Rogers,' the team wrote on social media on Sunday. 'Our thoughts & prayers go out to his wife Sydney, his parents Teresa Jordan & Charles Rogers, and the rest of his family.' Rogers reportedly went into cardiac arrest and collapsed at Ocean Parkway and 18th Avenue around 8:11 a.m. Saturday, officials said. 3 Charles Rogers and his wife, Sydney Rogers. Charles Rogers/Facebook Advertisement He was around mile 8 of the course. His wife, Sydney Rogers, spoke with The Post after the tragic incident. 'Charles put everything he had into everything he did,' she said. 'While he leaves behind a wife and family that already miss him terribly, he loved being competitive and left us being 100% himself.'
Scotsman
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Leaps and strides: The refugee from a Scottish high-rise tower block turned athlete inspiring others
The triple-jumper from Glasgow is hoping to inspire others from a similar background Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... From the 17th floor of a high-rise in the west of Glasgow, Miraji Ahmed grew up dreaming beyond the skyline. The son of African refugees, the 23-year-old was raised in a tower block neighbourhood marked by a quiet resilience and later lived in Castlemilk. But on the athletics track, Mr Ahmed found something powerful - a space where he could define himself on his own terms. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Miraji Ahmed competing in the triple jump as a junior | Contributed Today, he is a GB-level triple jumper, a community advocate and a rising social entrepreneur- leaping from a life on the margins to compete on the national stage. Such was his talent as a junior that Mr Ahmed set a Scottish under-17 indoor record in the triple jump at the FPSG National Open in 2018. His effort of 14.12m broke a record that at the time had stood for 28 years. Mr Ahmed's story is one of determination and his success, he insists, didn't come from luck, but rather from perseverance in a city in which he said he often felt like an outsider. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I've had to fight for who I am, what my name is and what it means,' he says. It was in primary school, racing in the playground, that Mr Ahmed said a teacher spotted his natural ability. She handed him a flyer for a trial at the Glasgow School of Sport. 'She believed in me,' he says. 'I didn't even know what it meant to take running around more serious … but that flyer changed everything.' Miraji Ahmed in his Scotland kit | Contributed By his late teens, Mr Ahmed had earned a scholarship to Lindenwood University in Missouri, United States, studying finance while training in elite US facilities with world-class coaches, and preparing for a future in international athletics. But his success did not come without strain. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I was 18, 19, training at the level of a 27-year-old Olympic athlete,' he recalls. 'It broke my body down.' Mr Ahmed reflects on his injuries, which included a torn hamstring, then a ruptured Achilles. For many it would have meant the end, but Mr Ahmed refused to give up. Miraji Ahmed's race number | Contributed 'People told me my career was over,' he said. 'But I couldn't let it be. This country had given me a chance and Scotland believed in me- I had to keep going.' His injuries became a turning point in his philosophy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Never quit your mind, never stop believing,' he says. 'You must push through the hard times to get to the success.' Now in his 20s and on the road to recovery, Mr Ahmed has redirected his energy into mentorship and community work aimed at inspiring young people from underrepresented backgrounds through charity outreach and creative expression. 'I am now interacting with young people who are the same colour as me, but they don't go through any racism, segregation and discrimination that I did,' he says. Determined to express himself, Mr Ahmed said he was pushing himself to the limits - physically, academically and creatively. 'I realise how big the opportunity that I had was, so I just took advantage of it all,' he says. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Ahmed wants to use his success, both on and off the track, to be a role model not just for young athletes, but for a generation of Scots whose heritage spans continents. The athlete has even launched his own clothing brand EES - short for 'ease' - around the idea that hardship can be worn with dignity and reimagined as strength. 'What your mind can believe, your body can achieve,' he says. Miraji Ahmed has launched his own clothing brand | Contributed After spending a period studying in America, Mr Ahmed decided it was time to return to his roots after the US university cut the funds for track and field. He has returned to Scotland to live in Edinburgh. 'I'm going to take everything I have learned directly to Edinburgh - the capital,' he says 'It felt like I was called to be back. I'm so grateful to be here, to live the truth I have been building for myself.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Though once uncertain of his place in national identity debates, he now embraces his heritage proudly. 'Scotland is not just one thing; it's more than just one identity, it's just got to be in your heart,' he says. 'I am truly showing what it is like to be a Scottish man. Especially now that I am living in Edinburgh, everything is expressive. The architecture, writers, artists, it is all expression.' Mr Ahmed's story comes against the backdrop of Glasgow's role as a major dispersal area in the UK for asylum seekers - a situation that has led to increased strain on the city's resources, particularly housing. Glasgow is facing mounting pressure as a surge in asylum decisions leaves hundreds of refugees without stable housing. The UK government's accelerated asylum process has shortened the notice period for refugees to leave government-provided accommodation from 28 days to as little as seven, forcing many into homelessness almost overnight. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The city expects more than 1,400 new homelessness cases by year's end, straining an already overstretched system with a housing shortfall of around 1,600 units. Glasgow City Council warns that without urgent intervention, the crisis could push rough sleeping to record levels and result in a £70 million funding gap for homelessness services. The local authority is facing a potential legal battle with the Home Office, having told the UK government it wants to pause the city's role as an asylum dispersal city after reaching 'crisis point'. Against the backdrop of the crisis in his home city, Mr Ahmed's story offers a quiet counterpoint. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Springfield Public Schools announces new leadership appointments
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Springfield Public Schools (SPS) said it's pleased to announce two leadership appointments that will begin with the 2025-26 school year. Mary Edgerton will be the next director of College and Career Readiness for SPS. She is currently assistant principal with the Launch Missouri Workforce program, which provides virtual Career and Technical Education courses to students. During her career with SPS, she has worked as a middle school Project Lead the Way teacher, a high school business teacher and FBLA adviser, GO CAPS facilitator and Launch business teacher. Prior to becoming an educator, Edgerton worked for eight years in the private sector in finance and information systems. 'With 25 years of experience in Career and Technical Education and Choice Programs, Mary is uniquely positioned to lead the work of the College and Career Readiness department,' Ben Hackenwerth, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer, said in an SPS news release. 'She's passionate about students gaining the skills, knowledge, and real-world experiences necessary to thrive in post-secondary education and the workforce,' Hackenworth said. Edgerton completed her undergraduate work in business administration/finance at Missouri State University and earned a Master's of Business Administration from Webster University. In 2023, she obtained an educational specialist degree in educational leadership from Lindenwood University. 'I am excited to step into this role and continue building on the great work already happening across our district. My focus will be on growing existing programs and creating new opportunities so every student can graduate with a clear plan for their future,' Edgerton said. 'I look forward to working with teachers, counselors, and community partners to ensure students have the support, skills, and real-world experiences they need to take that next step with confidence,' she added. Andrea Fraser will be the next principal of gifted education. For the past three years, she has served as assistant principal at Wilson's Creek Intermediate School. She replaces Lenae Lazzelle, who is retiring. 'We are excited for Fraser to bring her expertise to Phelps Center for Gifted Education and continue to build upon the programs that engage and inspire students to develop their individual talents and capabilities,' said Ken Carlisle-Davis, Executive Director of K-8 & Middle Schools, in the release. Fraser has 24 years of experience in education, including serving the past 16 years in building leadership roles, including principal at Boyd Elementary School and Fremont Elementary School. Dr. Fraser began her career with SPS as a gifted education teacher at Phelps Center for Gifted Education. She completed her undergraduate studies at Missouri State University. She earned a master's degree in gifted education from Drury University and a master's degree in education administration from MSU. She also obtained a doctorate in educational leadership from Southwest Baptist University. 'As the next Principal of Gifted Education for Springfield Public Schools, I am driven by the opportunity to continue fostering a culture of excellence, leading a team of passionate educators dedicated to innovative, high-quality instruction. I am committed to unlocking the unique potential of advanced learners, creating an environment where they are understood, challenged, and encouraged to reach their fullest potential,' said Fraser. 'At the same time, ensuring that all gifted students, including those from underrepresented groups, have access to meaningful and challenging learning experiences that prepare them for future success,' Fraser added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
