An Evening with Olympic Champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee

The John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute (JBSPLI) announces that its next JBS Distinguished Lecture will take place Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 7:00 PM, Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center (WNPAC). The address is 1310 N. FM 1788, Midland, TX 79707. The lecture is ticketed at $10 a person. Students must show their student ID to obtain a ticket free of charge. All tickets are available at the WNPAC Box Office.

 

The title of this lecture is An Evening with Olympic Champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Having been dubbed ‘The Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century’ by Sports Illustrated, Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s athletic accomplishments are literally second to none.  By the conclusion of her career in the heptathlon and long jump events she had amassed six Olympic medals (3 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze) and four World Champion titles over four consecutive Olympic Games. Jackie was the first woman in history to earn more than 7,000 points in the heptathlon and today, over 20 years later, she still holds the world heptathlon record of 7,291 points. She continues to hold the Olympic and national records in the long jump and her 1994 performance in the long jump remains the second longest in history.

 

Less well known are her tireless efforts and remarkable accomplishments off the field as a philanthropist and an advocate for children’s education, health issues (in particular asthma from which she has suffered throughout her life), racial equality, social reform and women’s rights.

 

Jackie is the author of both “A Kind of Grace” (1997), her autobiography, and “A Woman’s Place is Everywhere.” She is an active professional speaker and is widely considered one of the most inspiring motivational speakers in all of sports.  Jackie speaks on topics of athletics, business success, living with the limitations of medical issues, nutrition, women’s issue and youth advocacy.

 

Dr. Robert Brescia, Executive Director of the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute, will moderate the lecture. JBS asks that all media outlets have a reporter and camera present at the WNPAC green room, 5:00 PM sharp for a 20-minute question & answer meeting with Ms. Joyner-Kersee.

 

The Shepperd Institute strongly encourages audience members to submit their questions to Ms. Joyner during the lecture using their phones wih our specially-designed text app.

 

Anyone wishing to meet our guest celebrity, have their photo taken and attend a VIP Reception with her must join the Shepperd Inner Circle. Details are at http://shepperdinstitute.com/donate/ For more information about this lecture event, please contact Ms. Cyndi Ward, JBS Administrative Assistant, at 432-552-2850 or at ward_c@utpb.edu.

 

ABOUT THE SHEPPERD INSTITUTE

 

The John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute is the state’s Center of Excellence for public leadership education, ethics, and public service. It prepares young Texans in these areas and conducts on-site leadership training at schools and organizations throughout Texas. The JBS Institute is co-located and part of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB). Information about the Shepperd Institute and the Texas Leadership Forum is available at www.shepperdinstitute.com.