Shavonneice Loubar/ Photographer/Contributing Writer

More by Shavonneice Loubar/ Photographer/Contributing Writer

Her Story: Michelle Burgher

5/8/2012

When you think of a campus celeb, Michelle Burgher is an easy choice for this week’s issue. With two Olympic medals and a title no other staff member holds at IUP, she is a decorated celebrity indeed.

“I am fortunate to say that I have been blessed with a lot of great opportunities. The key is, I have always been prepared and ready to turn those opportunities into what I can say are my accomplishments,” Burgher states.

As a decorated two-time Olympian (and two-time World Championship medalist!), many couldn’t imagine what exactly comes along with this prestigious honor. Burgher shared that she knows exactly what it means to make sacrifices and work for what she wants.

Among all the accomplishments as an athlete, Burgher made it clear that she has a favorite: “I would say my bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, is my biggest accomplishment (athletically).”

This took four years of preparation—demanding self-discipline, dedication and determination—to run the race of her life and walk away with a bronze medal. She had sustained an injury to her foot in a freak accident and had to overcome some nerve damage prior to the event, which made the moment even more significant to her.

When asked how it feels to be the first female Head Coach of a men’s sport at IUP, Burgher goes on to say that “some may say it’s a big deal … but I view it as an opportunity to show that women can coach just as well as men.”

She expressed that she has never seen her gender as an excuse not to strive for what might seem unattainable. It’s not very common to have a woman in the driver’s seat directing a male sport, but she is very proud to be at the wheel.

His Story: Nafee Harris

5/1/2012

Standing at six feet, two inches, with numerous national titles and a broken IUP long jump record (on his first jump!) under his belt, he sets a pretty high standard for athletes everywhere. Nafee Harris, 24,was born in New Jersey but raised in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. He has made history at IUP and his legacy will continue to shine—with his picture painted on the walls of the KCAC alongside other outstanding student athletes, Harris is the only one that holds a title no other will share. He has won more national titles than any IUP athlete in school athletic history.

The key to success comes from hard work, dedication and persistence, all qualities that Harris has learned over his five years of participating in track and field. His love of track of field stems from the fact that he is responsible for himself and the success he receives. “You do not have to rely on someone else being on their game or worry about someone else messing up,” he states. It is an individual sport and you are up against a lot of competition, the end result is hoping you are the best man that wins.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and taking on life after college, Harris shares his enthusiasm, stating, “I miss the team atmosphere and it feels very weird being done because being in school was all I’ve known most of my life”. Now an alumnus of IUP, Harris has continued his love for track by crafting other athletes to be the best they can be by taking on the task of a volunteer track and field assistant coach.