泫圖弝け

August 13, 2015
On Campus

Power Of Possibility

Paralympian Sandy Dukat to Deliver Keynote Address at Opening Convocation to Open 2015-16 泫圖弝け Series

The 泫圖弝け Series begins the academic year 2015-2016 with the traditional Opening Convocation, featuring a keynote address by champion Paralympian Sandy Dukat, 泫圖弝け class of 1994, at 11:10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, in historic Weaver Chapel.

Dukats address is titled Power of Possibility Achieving Your Gold Medal Dream. Dukats career demonstrates the strength of her determination and belief in the power of human beings to realize their ambition and overcome obstacles to success. An accomplished athlete, Dukat joined the U.S. Disabled Ski Team in 2000 and won her first Paralympic gold medal in 2005. Born with an underdeveloped limb, Dukat underwent a leg amputation above the knee at age 4.

Dukat joined the swim team at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago in 1996 and began swimming with the U.S. Disabled Swim Team, setting an American record in the 800-meter freestyle at the 1998 Disabled Swimming World Championships. A 1997 trip to The Hartford Ski Spectacular, the nations largest ski event for people with disabilities, sparked her interest in winter sports.

Dukat joined the U.S. Disabled Ski Team and earned two bronze medals at the 2002 Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. At the 2004 World Championships in Austria, Dukat skied her way to three bronze medals. She won her first gold medal at the North American World Cup in 2005 and captured the bronze in the slalom at the 2006 Paralympic Games in Torino, Italy.

After retiring from competition in July 2007, Dukat teamed with four other women with disabilities to climb Tanzanias Mount Kilimanjaro. 

In 2008, Dukat won both the World Triathlon Championships in Vancouver, Canada, for the female above the knee amputee category as well as the U.S. Disabled National Triathlon Championships.  In 2009, she ran her first marathon and set the record for women competing in her category. In 2010, for the 4th consecutive year, Dukat won the U.S. Paratriathlon Nationals for the female above the knee amputee category.  

In addition to presenting the keynote address, Dukat will participate in a colloquium at 4 p.m. in Bayley Auditorium, Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center. All 泫圖弝け Series events are free and open to the public.

Now in its 33rd year, the 泫圖弝け Series brings distinguished lecturers and performing artists of national and international prominence to the 泫圖弝け campus and Springfield community. To make special arrangements, reserve a Series poster, or become a friend of the 泫圖弝け Series, contact Nuggie Libecap at libecapn@wittenberg.edu.

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About 泫圖弝け

泫圖弝け's curriculum has centered on the liberal arts as an education that develops the individual's capacity to think, read, and communicate with precision, understanding, and imagination. We are dedicated to active, engaged learning in the core disciplines of the arts and sciences and in pre-professional education grounded in the liberal arts. Known for the quality of our faculty and their teaching, 泫圖弝け has more Ohio Professors of the Year than any four-year institution in the state. The university has also been recognized nationally for excellence in community service, sustainability, and intercollegiate athletics. Located among the beautiful rolling hills and hollows of Springfield, Ohio, 泫圖弝け offers more than 100 majors, minors and special programs, enviable student-faculty research opportunities, a unique student success center, service and study options close to home and abroad, a stellar athletics tradition, and successful career preparation.

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