Sports
While producing a client event the Kentucky Derby Museum in 2019, Nancy Hays ’84 MS discovered a dimly lit gallery that highlighted the history of Black jockeys. She spent the next seven years uncovering the history of Isaac Burns Murphy, one of the most decorated athletes of the 19th century.
On Sept. 28, 2025, Taeyoung Lee ’26 finished his sixth international Ironman triathlon, becoming the youngest person to complete an Ironman on six continents.
Barry Slotnick ’93, ’00 MBA knew about the fitness benefits of slide boards — smooth, low-friction devices designed to facilitate low-impact lateral movement exercises and mimic speed skating technique. Looking for an indoor activity to maintain his lower body strength in the winter, Slotnick built a slide board in his off-campus apartment in the fall of his senior year — and UltraSlide was born.
If Glenn DeWeirdt ’84 DDS is not in his dental office, he’s probably on a racetrack. From April through October, DeWeirdt moonlights as a high-performance vehicle driving instructor, an avocation that involves “hours of boredom tempered by moments of sheer terror.”
Former Northwestern Wildcat Ike Kepford and his fellow Jolly Rogers in Fighter Squadron 17 helped foil what could have been a devastating Japanese anti-carrier attack in the early days of the Pacific War. For most of 1944, Kepford was the Navy’s leading ace with a total of 16 aerial victories, and for his service, he was awarded two Navy Crosses, a Silver Star and a Distinguished Flying Cross.
Drafted by the WNBA’s Dallas Wings in 2022, Veronica Burton ’22 quickly carved out a role as a rotation player, providing steady minutes off the bench as a defense-first guard. Given a new opportunity with the Golden State Valkyries in 2025, a rejuvenated Burton earned the league’s Most Improved Player award while helping the Valkyries reach the playoffs in their inaugural season.
Daniel Svärd is one of only three Wildcat golfers to win two individual Big Ten Championships, joining Sidney Richardson ’39 in 1937–38 and Luke Donald ’01 in 2000–01.
After four years as one of the best defenders in NCAA women’s lacrosse, Sammy White ’25 returned to Northwestern to accomplish her dream of playing women’s basketball. Now she’s back in a Wildcats uniform as a grad student, hitting the hardwood in the Big Ten.
Sports executive, actor and former professional soccer player Andy McDermott is founder and CEO of Intentional Sports. The organization’s world-class facility offers free or low-cost sports activities and other programming to kids on Chicago’s northwest side.
The Northwestern Alumni Association bestows its greatest honor, the Alumni Medal, on four alumni for their professional achievement and service to the University.
