Myron Rolle might be the ultimate student-athlete.
A gifted football player who became a Rhodes Scholar and, later, medical school student and philanthropist, Rolle is a role model for all aspiring student-athletes. And that makes him an ideal keynote speaker for CSU’s 2016 Athletics Diversity Summit, set for 6:55 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at Moby Arena.
“Myron’s story brings voice to all of our ambitious dreams, breathes life into our potential and sheds an empowering light on our unique paths that we each walk in our daily lives,” said Albert Bimper, assistant professor of ethnic studies and senior associate director of athletics at CSU. “He’s an embodiment of how the assembly of both talent and motivation can open doors of opportunity and also be used to elevate our communities near and far.”
CSU’s third Athletics Diversity Summit is themed, “Boundless Opportunities.” Rolle’s unique story certainly makes him an apt speaker.
A defensive back ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the country, he signed with Florida State out of high school and graduated in 2½ years with a degree in exercise science in 2008 before becoming just the fourth Florida State student to earn the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to attend Oxford University in England.
Third Rhodes Scholar to play in NFL
He postponed his NFL career to earn his master’s degree in medical anthropology on 2010 before embarking on a four-year stint in professional football – becoming just the third Rhodes Scholar to play in the NFL – with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans before retiring in 2013 to enter medical school at Florida State.
Rolle in 2009 created the Myron L. Rolle Foundation, dedicated to the support of health, wellness and education initiatives benefitting children and families in need. He has been actively involved in community outreach and service throughout his life.
“Myron Rolle is an ideal keynote speaker for our third annual Athletics Diversity Summit,” said Bimper, a former CSU football player and scholar. “Our mission across the CSU athletic department is relatively simple and extremely fulfilling to actualize: To Educate, Engage and Excel. This year’s summit is an opportunity to pause and celebrate our mission.”
The event is sponsored by the Denver Broncos Institute for Sports Management at CSU. Admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to RSVP at https://conferencereg.colostate.edu/AthleticsDiversitySummit2016.
