Howard Students Create the First HBCU Figure Skating Team
Similar to Tennessee State University's new intercollegiate hockey program and Talladega College's and Fisk University's NCAA gymnastics teams, Howard is breaking into new territory and increasing the representation of Black athletes in sports where they have historically been underrepresented. This time, Howard students Maya James and Cheyenne Walker joined forces to cement Howard as the first HBCU with a figure skating program.
James and Walker missed the feeling of being on the ice, and wanted to bring their lifelong passion of figure skating to their school.
Over the course of a semester, the pair went through the process of registering the sport with the school and U.S. Figure Skating. By the time the end of summer 2023 rolled around, the inaugural Howard University Figure Skating team had come to life.
As a political science major, Walker was able to apply some of her academic skills to the process by writing the team's constitution which outlines the team's rules, regulations, and governing structure. Such a document is essential to maintaining the team's integrity and ensuring a level playing field. The dynamic duo also put their heads together to create the budget and schedule.
Howard's figure skating team has also partnered with Diversify Ice. The non-profit provides the team with Black coaches and sponsored access to an ice rink where the team can spend sufficient time practicing. Diversify Ice's founder Joel Savary and board member Joy Thomas will coach the team this season.
Diversify Ice was founded in 2017 and has supported Black and Brown skaters through financial support, mentorship, education and networking opportunities.