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Business Wire
17-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Rutgers Swimmer Brooke Thompson Named SHI Brand Ambassador
SOMERSET, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SHI International, one of the world's leading IT solutions providers, named Rutgers University swimmer Brooke Thompson as its newest official brand ambassador. Thompson will help represent the SHI brand while she prepares to compete in the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo this November. Thompson, a rising junior at Rutgers University, holds the USA Deaf Swimming Record in the 50-meter freestyle (23.53), which she set at the 2025 Big Ten Championships. The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, native also captured the ECAC 200 Medley Relay Championship in March. Born completely deaf, Thompson is an advocate for adaptive technology and workplace inclusion for individuals with disabilities. She received her first cochlear implant at age 1 and her second at 4. Thompson joins LPGA Tour golfers Jennifer Kupcho, Gurleen Kaur, and Allisen Corpuz, as well as North Carolina Courage and U.S. Women's National Team goalkeeper Casey Murphy, on the company's team of brand ambassadors. 'Brooke embodies the qualities we value most at SHI: dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to helping others succeed,' said Ed McNamara, Senior Director of Communications at SHI. 'Her athletic achievements are remarkable, but what truly sets Brooke apart is her willingness to share her story, answer every question and advocate for greater awareness of adaptive technologies that can help level the playing field. We're thankful that Brooke is joining the SHI brand and look forward to supporting her journey to Tokyo and beyond.' Thompson discovered her passion for swimming after her parents enrolled her in lessons for safety reasons. While the Thompson family enjoyed Michigan's abundance of lakes and summertime water sports, swimming can pose a unique set of challenges for beginners with cochlear implants. Concerned that it may be difficult to communicate with Brooke during a potential emergency, her parents encouraged her to become the best possible swimmer in the water. She has since won 11 medals in two World Deaf Swimming Championships and won five gold medals and three bronze medals in the 2022 Deaflympics in Brazil. 'Swimming has given me opportunities I never imagined, from competing at the highest level to connecting with the deaf community worldwide,' Thompson said. 'Partnering with SHI feels natural because they understand that success comes from hard work, collaboration and a culture that ensures all people have the tools they need to succeed or the ability to request them. I'm eager to represent SHI while showing that with the right technologies and mindset, barriers can become steppingstones.' Thompson, who is majoring in business leadership and management, first told her story to SHI customers, partners, and employees at an SHI End User Computing Summit in 2024. Addressing a 300-preson audience responsible for supporting tens of thousands of end-users around the globe, Thompson raised awareness about the importance of ensuring businesses have both the policies and inclusive culture in place to ensure employees have – or feel free to request – whatever adaptive technologies they need. Her advocacy focuses on helping organizations understand that simple accommodations can make profound differences for employees with disabilities. As a member of the delegation the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADF) is sending to 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo this November, Thompson will compete against deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes from around the world, where all participants compete without hearing assistance to ensure equal competition conditions. About SHI SHI International Corp. is a $15 billion transformational technology solutions provider serving the needs of more than 15,000 corporate, enterprise, public sector and academic customer organizations around the world. It helps companies achieve business goals through the use of technologies ranging from software licensing and end user computing devices to innovative cloud and edge solutions. With over 6,000 employees worldwide, SHI is the largest Minority and Woman Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) in the U.S. To learn more about SHI, please visit
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa football director of operations Paul Federici announces retirement
With the 2025 Iowa football season just under two months away, the Hawkeyes will have a new Director of Operations as 21-year tenured Paul Federici announced his retirement on Tuesday after 21 years with the program. Federici spent the past 16 years as director of football operations, which followed a five-year tenure as director of athletic training services for the Hawkeyes. 'Paul has been an invaluable member of our program for more than 20 years,' head coach Kirk Ferentz said. 'He joined the team as an athletic trainer and rapidly became known for his skills, focus and commitment to the players. Several years later, Paul moved into the role of Director of Football Operations, which he has held for the past 16 years.' Among his duties as Director of Operations, Federici assisted with the planning, coordination, and implementation of Iowa's daily operation and travel plans beginning with the 2009 football season. Federici also served as a championship team operations liaison at the College Football Playoff National Championship games from 2015-19, served on the Rose Bowl Game Advisory Committee, and was the Big Ten representative on the National Football Operations Committee. 'It is incredibly challenging to manage all the details surrounding every facet of a football program — from logistics, to travel, to managing staff and player needs — and Paul has made it look effortless,' Ferentz added. 'We wish him well in retirement and thank him for making our program better.' In a statement of his own, Federici made sure to thank everyone he encountered during his 21 seasons with the program and share his appreciation for the knowledge he gained. "It has been an honor to contribute to the academic, athletic, and social experiences of the hundreds of players, 60+ football student managers, football staff, and extended student staff since 2004. Working with young people every day was beyond rewarding," said Federici. "It was a special privilege to learn from John Streif, Norm Parker, Ben Hansen, Andy Piro, Ken O'Keefe, Reese Morgan, and Dr. Ned Amendola,' added Federici. "Each provided unique personal and professional perspectives for which I will always be grateful. Coach Ferentz's leadership and consistent messaging to staff and players on skills focused on lifelong success is the fundamental cause of Iowa Football's sustained athletic and academic success." During his time on staff, the Hawkeyes won 172 games, had 18 winning seasons, shared two Big Ten Championships, won three Big Ten West Division titles, finished in the Big Ten's first division 19 times and appeared in 19 bowl games (including the 2020 Music City Bowl, which was canceled due to COVID). Before joining the Iowa program in 2004, Federici served as an assistant athletic trainer at Vanderbilt from 1987-93, where he later became the head athletic trainer for the Commodores from 1994-99. Between 1999 and 2004, he served as the head athletic trainer for the Seattle Seahawks for five seasons. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Longtime Michigan men's golf coach Jim Carras dies at 92
Longtime Michigan men's golf coach Jim Carras died on Saturday, June 21. He was 92. Carras spent two dozen years as a coach in Ann Arbor, first as an assistant (1978-82) before taking over the lead position (1983-2002). Known for his warm personality, Carras' greatest strength, according to those who spent the most time around him, was his ability to relate to players in ways many coaches couldn't. It's why his teams had perhaps even more success in the classroom than they did on the golf course. "Jim Carras had a special connection with his players, the kind that stays with people long after their college years," said Chris Whitten, executive director of the Golf Association of Michigan and U-M men's golf coach from 2011-19. "I've heard many athletes say they don't remember every win or loss, but they remember how their coach made them feel. Jim made people feel supported, valued and encouraged. "Jim represented everything good about college golf. He cared about people, had perspective, and invested in others. I'm lucky to have known him and proud to have learned from him." Under Carras' watch, the program earned 39 Academic All-Big Ten citations (which began in 1987) and featured six golfers honored as National Golf Coaches Association National Scholar Athletes: Michael Affeldt (1999, 2000); Anthony Dietz (1992, 1993); Michael Harris (1998, 1999, 2000); Bob Hennighan (1992); Isaac Hinkle (1997) and Kevin Vernick (1998). Harris was one of the best golfers under Carras, being named All-Big Ten three times (1998, 1999, 2000) and winning medalist honors at the 1999 Big Ten Championships. That was the same year Andy Matthews became U-M's first Big Ten Freshman of the Year. "Coach Carras always saw the bigger picture," Matthews said in a statement. "Golf may have been what brought us to Michigan, but he knew our time in Ann Arbor would be about far more than any score we shot or accolade we earned. He built a true sense of family within every team he coached and made it clear we were there for each other and to earn our degree above all else. "For Coach, it was always family, academics, then golf — in that order. Those values shaped the experience for everyone who played for him, and they continue to live on in all of us. I'm incredibly grateful to have been part of the program he led." MORE GOLF IN THE STATE: This is the best public golf course in each metro Detroit county U-M had four top-three finishes at Big Ten championships (1985, 1988, 1995, 1997) and reached the NCAA championships three times under Carras. Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Carras went to Jones School, Slauson and Ann Arbor High School before he served in the Army (1952-54). After he graduated from Eastern Michigan University (1958), he taught at Allen Park and what is now Northside Elementary for a decade. Per his request, there will be no services. "There are many coaches who have touched so many lives. Jim Carras was one of those," U-M athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement. "A firm handshake, honesty, and a smile that could fill a room will be the lasting memories of him. The golf programs have lost two legends, with former women's coach Sue LeClair last year and now Jim. Two foundational pillars. "We will never forget them, what they accomplished, nor will all those who played, worked and learned from them." Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@ and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Longtime Michigan men's golf coach Jim Carras dies at 92
USA Today
24-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Longtime Michigan men's golf coach Jim Carras dies at 92
Longtime Michigan men's golf coach Jim Carras died on Saturday, June 21. He was 92. Carras spent two dozen years as a coach in Ann Arbor, first as an assistant (1978-82) before taking over the lead position (1983-2002). Known for his warm personality, Carras' greatest strengths according to those who spent the most time around him was his ability to relate to players in ways many coaches couldn't. It's why his teams had perhaps even more success in the classroom than they did on the golf course. "Jim Carras had a special connection with his players, the kind that stays with people long after their college years," said Chris Whitten, former U-M men's golf coach (2011-19) and now executive director of the Golf Association of Michigan. "I've heard many athletes say they don't remember every win or loss, but they remember how their coach made them feel. Jim made people feel supported, valued and encouraged. "Jim represented everything good about college golf. He cared about people, had perspective, and invested in others. I'm lucky to have known him and proud to have learned from him." Under Carras' watch, the program earned 39 Academic All-Big Ten citations (which began in 1987) and six individuals who were honored as National Golf Coaches Association National Scholar Athletes: Michael Affeldt (1999, 2000); Anthony Dietz (1992, 1993); Michael Harris (1998, 1999, 2000); Bob Hennighan (1992); Isaac Hinkle (1997) and Kevin Vernick (1998). Harris was one of the best golfers under Carras, being named All-Big Ten three times (1998, 1999, 2000) and becoming a medalist at the Big Ten Championships the same year Andy Matthews (1999) became U-M's first Big Ten Freshman of the Year. "Coach Carras always saw the bigger picture," a statement from Matthews began. "Golf may have been what brought us to Michigan, but he knew our time in Ann Arbor would be about far more than any score we shot or accolade we earned. He built a true sense of family within every team he coached and made it clear we were there for each other and to earn our degree above all else. "For Coach, it was always family, academics, then golf − in that order. Those values shaped the experience for everyone who played for him, and they continue to live on in all of us. I'm incredibly grateful to have been part of the program he led." U-M had four top-three finishes at Big Ten championships (1985, 1988, 1995, 1997) and reached NCAA championships three times under Carras. Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Carras went to Jones School, Slauson and Ann Arbor High School before he served in the Army (1952-54). After he graduated from Eastern Michigan University (1958) he taught at Allen Park and what is now Northside elementary for a decade. Per his request, there will be no services. "There are many coaches who have touched so many lives. Jim Carras was one of those," said U-M athletic director Warde Manuel in a statement. "A firm handshake, honesty, and a smile that could fill a room will be the lasting memories of him. The golf programs have lost two legends, with former women's coach Sue LeClair last year and now Jim. Two foundational pillars. "We will never forget them, what they accomplished, nor will all those who played, worked and learned from them." Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@ and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Three Spartans listed in the field for the 2025 Rocket Mortgage Classic
Starting on Thursday, the PGA Tour is returning to Detroit, for the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club. This will be the seventh edition of the tournament in Detroit, the PGA Tour's return to Michigan. For the event coming to Detroit, the Spartans are going to be nicely represented, with there being a trio of players from the Michigan State golf program set to play in the event. Ryan Brehm, a long time PGA Tour veteran, and a 2008 graduate of Michigan State that helped lead MSU to three Big Ten Championships, will be the Spartans headliner in the event. The one-time PGA Tour winner, and Mt. Pleasant native, will look to tally his second win while in Detroit. James Piot will also make his return to the PGA Tour. The 2021 US Amateur Champion and a 2021 MSU graduate, Piot played in the Masters Tournament and the US Open with his amateur status after winning the 2021 US Am. After turning pro, he played on the LIV Golf Tour for a year. He has joined the field as an unrestricted sponsors exemption. Ashton McCulloch is the final Spartan in the field. A 2025 graduate, McCulloch still has his amateur status, and will be making his fourth start on the PGA Tour. It is expected that he will likely turn pro following this event, where he got in with a sponsors exemption. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner
