Sports Envoy
Sports Envoy Program

Year: 2019

Casey Shaw

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2019  –  Italy

Casey Shaw joined the Vanderbilt basketball staff in April of 2016 as an assistant coach after a successful playing career as a professional athlete in the NBA/FIBA and as a student-athlete at the University of Toledo.

“Coach Shaw is a former NBA draft pick who has a wealth of experience and knowledge from his playing career and through the relationships he has made in the NBA,” said Drew. “Being 6’10, he will be outstanding in working with our post players and developing them.”

Shaw’s wealth of basketball experience began in 1998 when he was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 37th overall pick after a stellar four-year career at Toledo, where he ranks sixth all-time with 1,562 points and fifth with 871 rebounds. He also ranks second in Toledo history with 107 blocked shots and sixth in field goal percentage (.546). He was named second team All-MAC in 1996-97 and 1997-98, and made the MAC All-Freshman team in 1994-95. He also was an outstanding student, earning third-team Academic All-America honors as a senior in 1997-98, and making the Academic All-MAC team in his junior and senior seasons.

After a stint in the NBA, Shaw began what became an 11-year international professional career in 2000 with stops in the Italian and Spanish leagues along the way.

“Having the opportunity to play professional basketball for 13 seasons was a dream come true and I am thankful that I can now use all those years of experience to be a better coach for players who hope to realize that same dream after their Vanderbilt playing days are over,” said Shaw.

Prior to his arrival in Nashville, Shaw worked at Balasa Dinverno Foltz, LLC, in Chicago, where he served as the Director of the Professional Athlete Service Team, providing business, career, and investment guidance to professional athletes. He is also a member of the National Board of Directors for the NBA Retired Players Association, which assists NBA players in their transition from playing to life after the game.

On the court, Shaw was the Director and Head Coach of the Athletes in Action Basketball Camp from 2003-2010, served as a Global All-Star Challenge Head Coach in 2012, and coached the Midwest Elite AAU team in Merrillville, Ind., in 2013 and the 180 Elite AAU team out of Chicago from 2015-16. In addition, he served as a National Basketball Developmental League Tryouts Coach and was a member of the NBA Assistant Coaches Program in 2014.

Shaw graduated with an undergraduate degree in Physical Education, from the University of Toledo, in 1997, and a Master’s degree in Biblical Studies from the Moody Graduate School in Chicago, Ill., in 2011. He also graduated from the Northwestern University School of Continuing and Professional Education to become a Certified Financial Planner in 2012.

Jeff Agoos

Soccer

Served as envoy

  • 2019  –  Egypt

MLS Senior Vice President of Competition, Operations, Medical Administration

Five-time MLS Cup champion and National Soccer Hall of Famer Jeff Agoos is Major League Soccer’s Senior Vice President of Competition, Operations and Medical Administration, in which he is responsible for improving the quality of the on-field product, ensuring a best in class sports experience and providing exceptional, individualized medical care. Additionally, Agoos provides input on technical development, disciplinary matters and serves as the league liaison with MLS coaches and Chief Soccer Officers on all game-related matters. Agoos serves on the COVID-19 Task Force Agoos and is responsible for all medical and testing protocols. Agoos joined MLS in April of 2011, after serving as Sporting Director and Technical Director for the New York Red Bulls.

Soccer fans know Agoos as a rock-solid fixture in the U.S. National Team defense for more than 15 years, including two FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Summer Olympic Games. Agoos has played at every level of the game including earning a silver medal in the 1992 FIFA Futsal World Championships. He also won the 2002 Concacaf Gold Cup and was named to that tournament’s Best XI. Agoos ranks fifth all-time in appearances for the United States with 134 caps.

A 10-year MLS veteran, Agoos was named an MLS All-Star nine times while playing 244 games with three clubs: D.C. United, the San Jose Earthquakes and the MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls). He was selected to the MLS Best XI on three occasions, and to the league’s “All-Time Best XI,” the latter awarded to commemorate the league’s 10th anniversary in 2005.

Agoos played every minute of all five MLS Cup victories, winning three championships with D.C. United (1996, 1997 and 1999) and two with the San Jose Earthquakes (2001 and 2003). Agoos also won the 1996 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with D.C.

In 2009, Agoos was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He has gone on to earn his MBA in Sports Administration from Southern New Hampshire University while working for Major League Soccer.

Ben Hatchell

Skateboarding

Served as envoy

  • 2019  –  Estonia
  • 2019  –  Finland
  • 2019  –  Denmark

Hatchell is a regular on X Games Park podiums, with 4 medals in 9 XG starts. He’s multi-talented: He has the mini ramp mastered and consistently lands a 540 in the bowl. He’s also won vert and street contests, and that combination of skills makes him a formidable competitor. Ben skates hard, fast and big — he finds great lines, is a lot of fun to watch and could contend for gold.

Lizzie Armanto

Skateboarding

Served as envoy

  • 2019  –  Estonia
  • 2019  –  Finland
  • 2019  –  Denmark

Lizzie Armanto is one of the most groundbreaking ladies in skateboard history. Pouring sweat, skill, and creativity into full parts for both Thrasher Magazine and Birdhouse in 2017, she also became the first female to be featured on the cover of Transworld Skateboarding in addition to Thrasher cover honors. Armanto is also one of the leaders of a new onslaught of fierce women skaters making names for themselves in the Vans Park Series circuit.

If that’s not enough, she’s also the first female skater to successfully complete Tony Hawk’s 360 Loop, in addition to being featured as a primary character in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 video game. With over 30 awards on her mantle, along with the first-ever Gold in X-Games Womens Park competition in 2013, Lizzie’s path is paved in milestones and setting the tone for generations of women in skateboarding.

Michele Carmichael

Special Olympics Swimming

Served as envoy

  • 2019  –  Malta
  • 2022  –  Belarus

Michele Carmichael had her very first experience with Special Olympics when she was only 13 years old and was asked to be a swimming volunteer. She has been involved ever since and chose her career as a Special Educator. She has been a certified Special Olympics coach in many sports since the 1980s and has volunteered in almost every aspect/role of Special Olympics.

Michele served as World Games coach and head coach five times and
attended 10 World Games. She started the first high school program for students with Intellectual Disabilities on a regular/mainstream campus in 1989. Michele retired from teaching after 38 years but continues to volunteer with Special Olympics, Unified Sports, and high school swimming and water polo programs.

Alec Heuermann

Special Olympics Swimming

Served as envoy

  • 2019  –  Malta

My name is Alec Heuermann, I am 22 years old. I live in Northern California with my mom and dad and 3 younger brothers. I am a college student studying Mechatronics at Sierra College.

I am also a swimmer for the West Placer Special Olympics here in CA. I have also competed for golf, flag football and bowling. I recently completed the Global Messenger Training with the Special Olympics. I am passionate about competing in Special Olympic Sports and also about the Mission of Special Olympics and the Unified Sports Movement.

I have always enjoyed sports but I especially like skiing and swimming. I began competing in swim during my high school year for my school team and local rec summer leagues. After I finished high school, I aged out of competition in both leagues. Luckily, I found and joined the Special Olympics. I have been competing now for 4 years. I was lucky enough to win a spot at the state summer games all 3 years but this summer the summer games are cancelled because of Covid-19. The highlight of my Special Olympic Career was competing in the World games in Dubai in March 2019. I competed in swimming and won 2 silver medals in the 200 Free and 4×100 free relay. It was amazing to see athletes compete in 24 sports and 190 nations were represented. It was amazing!! Athletes young and old and from every background were brought together to compete at their level. I made lifelong friendships with both athletes and coaches… it is an experience I will never forget.

After the World Games, I had another fantastic opportunity to spread the message of Inclusion thru sports via the 360 Envoy program. In October 2019, I traveled to Malta with the Special Olympics national swim coach Michele Carmichael and US Olympic Medalist Donna De Varona. We spoke about the importance of Special Olympics and its focus on the spirit of inclusion through the Unified Sports Program. We presented to the University of Malta college students and faculty as well as coaches and PE teachers working in the local high schools. We spoke about how they can create unified programs in the schools and why it is important. As a result, University students then served as a practicum experience in local SO Malta programs.

We also got to present to the media and local NGO’s re the importance of inclusion in their programs. My favorite part were the inclusive swim clinics that were held with the local schools and Special Olympic Athletes. This was a first in Malta and it was a lot of fun for all involved.

The people of Malta couldn’t have been warmer hosts and the message was embraced with open hearts and minds. Again an unforgettable place in the friendships we made and the country was a spectacular backdrop to such an incredible week.

Other engagements that I have spoken at are the California State Capitol where I was recognized for my efforts at the World Games. I was also awarded a ceremony at Sierra College, Rocklin City Council and for the local school district as a “Student Who Makes a Difference”. Lastly, I was featured on local tv stations, magazines and newspapers. Most importantly, all of these events gave me a platform to speak about the importance and message of inclusion and unified sports.

In the future, I hope I am awarded more opportunities to not only compete in sports but to speak to others about how sport can bring us together. I plan to remain active in the unified sports movement.

Jesse Lovejoy

STEAM

Served as envoy

  • 2019  –  Fiji
  • 2021  –  Virtual

Jesse Lovejoy is the director of 49ers EDU & the San Francisco 49ers Museum. He is also the managing partner of EDU Academy. Lovejoy joined the 49ers in August 2013, when he was brought on to envision and implement educational and community programming for the 49ers, and develop the content of and operating structure/plan for the 49ers Museum.

While spearheading the 2014 launch of the Museum—a 20,000 square foot facility featuring 11 unique gallery and exhibit spaces exclusively dedicated to the 49ers past, present and future—Lovejoy concurrently led the 49ers into a domain where no professional sports organization had ventured before, a comprehensive STEAM Education Program for students in grades K-8, completely free to the end-user. In 2017, as inbound interest in the 49ers STEAM efforts continued to rise, Lovejoy formed and launched EDU Academy, a consulting arm which helps organizations envision, build and launch education programs.

Lovejoy sits on the board of governors for the International Sports Heritage Association, the education committee for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and the corporate council for the National Association for Gifted Children. He was named as one of Silicon Valley’s 40 most influential people under 40 years of age in 2016 by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, and one of SportTechie’s “20 Innovators” in 2017.

Before he joined the 49ers, Lovejoy was director of community relations and marketing for the San Diego Sports Commission/San Diego Hall of Champions where he served as a brand champion for community relations initiatives, awards programs, and educational opportunities for nearly three years.

Prior to his role with the San Diego Hall of Champions, Lovejoy served as a substitute teacher for the Catholic Diocese in San Diego and then as an English teacher at a language academy before taking the Hall of Champions position.

Lovejoy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from San Diego State University-California State University.

Katie Ledecky

Swimming

Served as envoy

  • 2018  –  Japan
  • 2019  –  South Korea

Born in Washington, D.C. in 1997, Kathleen Ledecky (Katie, for short) did not waste much time before beginning her already-legendary swimming career. She started swimming at age 6, following in her older brother Michael’s footsteps. All before she passed her driver’s license test, she had two world records, four world championships, one Olympic gold.

Ledecky exploded onto the U.S. swimming scene in 2012 at the Olympic Trials, where she was the youngest swimmer at the meet. She quickly claimed her spot in the future of American swimming by winning the 800 freestyle and finishing third in the 400 and ninth in the 200. A few weeks later, she surprised her country and the world with a gold medal finish in the 800 freestyle at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Her time of 8:14.63 was incredibly close to the World Record and broke Janet Evans’ long-standing American Record of 8:16.22.

In the 1500, she shaved nearly six seconds off of Kate Ziegler’s previous world record in a hard-fought battle against Denmark’s Lotte Friis. Ledecky also made her international relay debut in Barcelona and won gold in the 4×200 freestyle relay with teammates Shannon Vreeland, Karlee Bispo and Missy Franklin. The 2013 FINA Female Swimmer of the Meet has certainly proven herself as a crucial part of the future of American swimming.

Donna De Varona

Swimming

Served as envoy

  • 2019  –  Malta

At age 13, Donna de Varona was the youngest member of the United States swimming team at the Olympic Games Rome 1960. The San Diego native broke 18 world records by the age of 17, and won two gold medals when she competed in the 400-meter individual medley and the 4×100 freestyle relay at the Tokyo 1964 Games. She was named Female Athlete of the Year by both the Associated Press and United Press International. Following retirement at competitive swimming at age 17, de Varona began a successful sportscasting career. She was both the first female sportscaster and first woman to cover the Olympics for television in the United States, covering the Olympic Games for ABC in 1968, 1972 and 1976. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in political science from UCLA. She helped co-found the Women’s Sports Foundation and served as the organization’s first president from 1976-84. She also worked as a consultant to the United States Senate, specifically regarding the Amateur Sports Act to give women and minorities greater access to athletics facilities and money. De Varona was inducted into the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, the President’s Commission on Olympic Sports and International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Dennis Ogbe

Track & Field Paralympics

Served as envoy

  • 2019  –  Nigeria

Dennis is an elite shot-put and discus thrower who has competed in numerous competitions all over the world. His competitions include, but are not limited to, the Czech Opens, Toronto Opens, multiple World Championships, Pan-American Games and the prestigious London 2012 Paralympic Games. At the USA Track & Field National Championships Dennis has won over a dozen gold medals throughout the years. He holds the US National Record in shot-put and discus throws (class F58).

As a survivor of Polio, Dennis is actively engaged in the campaign to eradicate Polio. He is an ambassador for the United Nation’s Foundation Shot@Life, UNICEF, and Rotary International. His articles advocating for vaccinations have been published on the Huffington Post and CNN. Since 2013 Dennis has participated annually in World Polio Day events. Dennis was a presenter for Rotary International’s World Polio Day: Making History (2013 and 2016) a Livestream event featured in 15+ countries.

His story was featured in the HBO documentary and book Citizen USA: A 50 State Road Trip by Alexandra Pelosi.

Dennis lives in the U.S. with his wife and their two children.