This-N-That
Philly Hosts Renowned Fencer For Youth Chat
Temple University Sports Hall of Famer, Kamali Thompson, who is well known for her exploits in fencing, was invited to the Belfield Recreation Center in Philadelphia earlier this year to talk with a crowd of 25 young women about her journey, building confidence, finding your passion, and dealing with adversity.
The event was held in partnership with nonprofits Different Mindset and Urban Sports Rescue
Growing up in Teaneck, N.J., Thompson began fencing in ninth grade after a teacher recommended it to obtain a college scholarship. Despite only playing for four years, her talents landed her a scholarship at Temple University where she was a four-time NCAA Championship qualifier, second team All-American and four-time conference champion. Thompson also excelled in the class, where she was named University’s Student Athlete of the year in 2011 and 2012.
After graduating from Temple with honors, Thompson matriculated into medical school while also competing for the United States fencing team. She was a member of the 2019 National Team and was an alternate to the 2020 women’s saber Olympic team. Thompson really piqued the students’ interest when she spoke about the nearly three dozen countries that’s she’s traveled to as part of the fencing program including France, Italy, England, and Egypt.
She felt that all were important topics that most students don't get advised on until much later in life.
Khadija Hickson, director at Different Mindset who served as the moderator for the discussion, says she feels these conversations with youth are important.
“I think that it’s important that youth, especially young girls, get a perspective from someone who looks like them,” she notes. “Oftentimes, they get advice from older people, and they listen. But when it’s someone closer to their age that has recently put in the work to become successful, it’s more impactful.”
Thompson also spoke to the audience about the importance of mentoring. Peter Westbrook, five-time Olympian, 1984 bronze medalist in fencing, and founder of the Peter Westbrook Foundation, mentored Thompson throughout her fencing career and path into medicine. She currently gives back by mentoring other student-athletes at the Westbrook Foundation and encouraging high-achieving students of color to enter the field of orthopedic medicine. Less than one percent of all orthopedic physicians are African American.
Hickson also addressed the crowd about the importance of young people looking beyond sports to achieve long-term success.
“A lot of times, many young people think that they are going to be the next star athlete and it doesn’t work out,” she points out. “Dr. Thompson spoke how she was able to use sports as a vehicle into something beyond playing. A lot of the girls will now say this is something they can possibly accomplish as well.”
Different Mindset LLC is a Philadelphia-based non-profit that empowers young women to embrace the importance of individuality and to take ownership of their self-image and self-concept. Urban Sports Rescue, also a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization, is dedicated to the development of urban youth through positive athletic programs.
--Written by Aurelius Cousar and Rasool Hajj
Yanmar Expansion Slated For Spring Completion
Grand Rapids, Minn.—Yanmar Compact Equipment North America broke ground on a 32,000-square-foot expansion earlier this year that will increase manufacturing capacity and allow for Yanmar compact track loaders to be manufactured alongside ASV compact track loaders.
The new section will house a paint system that will increase paint capacity by up to three times. It will also boost parts manufacturing capacity by up to two times in the previously occupied space. The new powder paint system will be more efficient and have less environmental impact.
Hiking, Anyone?
After analyzing trail data, real-time reviews, and weather information, Kuru footwear notes a selection of states that offered remarkable hiking experiences in 2023:
1. Colorado: Majestic peaks, alpine lakes, and an extensive trail network offer unparalleled hiking opportunities.
2. Utah: Renowned for its red rock formations, canyons, and national parks like Zion and Bryce Canyon.
3. New York: Offers a mix of landscapes, including the Adirondack Mountains, the Appalachian Trail, and the Finger Lakes region.
4. Texas: Its diverse terrain, encompassing deserts, canyons, and coastal areas, provides a variety of experiences.
5. California: From the Sierra Nevada mountains to the coastline of Big Sur, there’s an unrivaled combination of natural wonders and outdoor adventure.
6. Washington: Known for lush rainforests, towering mountains, and iconic trails like the Pacific Crest Trail and Mount Rainier National Park.
7. Arizona: The land of the Grand Canyon and the Sonoran Desert is known for unique geological formations and an abundance of desert flora and fauna.
8. Massachusetts: Its diverse landscapes, from the Berkshires to the tranquil Cape Cod, offering an array of trails and natural beauty.
9. North Carolina: Boasting the Blue Ridge Mountains, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Outer Banks, it provides an unforgettable hiking experience.
10. Wyoming: Known for its vast wilderness areas, including Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park.
Field Notes
Munro, a manufacturer of pumps, pump controls, and pump stations for the turf-irrigation market, named Jack Chilton as Central U.S. Regional Account Manager.
STIHL Inc. Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Chris Keffer was promoted to president and CEO. He succeeds Terry Horan, who was appointed to the Board of Directors.
Fecon LLC, a manufacturer of site preparation attachments and forestry accessories, announces Ray Dalton as the new vice president of aftermarket sales, a newly created role.
Genesis Turfgrass recently joined United Turf Alliance as its newest owner. Based in Glen Rock, Penn., Genesis Turfgrass serves customers in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, West Virginia, and New Jersey.
WAC Landscape Lighting is collaborating with Land F/X software to help landscape architects, designers, and contractors specify the brand through distributors. WAC offers a range of accent lights, wall wash fixtures, bollards, path lights, wall and step lights, hardscape, and many other landscape lighting fixtures.
Partnership Helps Scholarship Program Numbers Swell
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.—The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) and Every Child A Swimmer (ECAS) have partnered with Goldfish Swim School Franchising to provide more children with access to low-to-no-cost swimming lessons in more communities.
Goldfish Swim School is a swim school franchise in North America, while ECAS is ISHOF’s nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families in need gain access to swim lessons. The partnership more than doubles ECAS’ total footprint to 231 locations and helps amplify the individual efforts of the two organizations to further promote water-safety education by providing access to swim lessons and water-safety instruction for infants and children aged 4 months to 12 years.
A-LIST Adds DLF Super Bents
Corvallis, Ore.—The Alliance for Low Input Sustainable Turf (A-LIST) announced the addition of creeping bentgrass to its list of approved turfgrass species and included three of DLF’s Super Bents varieties: 007XL, 777 (Triple Seven) and Macdonald.
The A-LIST is a non-profit organization that conducts independent trials across the U.S. to identify and certify the best-performing turfgrass varieties under reduced inputs. The addition of creeping bentgrasses is the result of decades of work by plant breeders to develop varieties with better disease resistance, heat and drought tolerance, and other traits that reduce the amount of water, fertilizer and pesticides required.
DLF is a global seed company owned by Danish grass seed farmers with more than 2,200 employees in 22 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.dlfna.com.