Gift Supports Baylor Built Program to Benefit Student-Athletes

Baylor’s recently launched Baylor Built program received remarkable support through a lead-off gift of $500,000 by Jeremy, BA ’97, and Kristy Fudge of Parker, Texas.

Begun during the fall 2018 semester for the University’s more than 500 student-athletes, Baylor Built represents a collaborative effort between departments across campus and the Baylor Student-Athlete Center for Excellence. The initiative adds a new component to the student-athlete experience through participation in specifically designed programming that elevates their development and character formation alongside academic and on-field success.

Baylor Built promotes character formation through workshops and seminars that focus on such topics as spiritual growth, money management, healthy relationships and career goals. By the time a student-athlete graduates, he or she will have completed 48 hours of intentionally designed programs to prepare them for citizenship in post-college life. 

During the years since Mack B. Rhoades IV became Baylor’s vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics in 2016, the emphasis on preparing champions for life has burgeoned into a detailed plan to invest in student-athletes in ways to build character and prepare them for life after competition.

“Character formation is an area that rises to the top when we think about what we should be doing as we develop young people,” Rhoades said. “There’s a lot of focus on developing student-athletes for competition, and we’ve done that. We’ve done that in the classroom as well. Baylor Built is the recognition that we have a great responsibility and privilege to work with young people at this critical time in their lives and ensure that when they leave Baylor, they leave better in all areas.”