Madyson Ray is one of more than 400 female student-athletes at Midland University. As a member of the Warrior Track and Field team, Ray has her share of teammates. But she considers every female athlete on campus to be a teammate as well.
To honor those teammates, Ray has created a collage (in the shape of the Midland logo) featuring hundreds of present and former Warrior female athletes, as well as female administrators, coaches, trainers, and athletic staff. The collage hangs on the west wall of the Wikert Event Center.
Ray, a sophomore from Blair, Nebraska, said she was inspired by the mural created by students as part of Diversity & Inclusion Week in January. The mural features hundreds of thumbprints in the shape of the Midland logo. “When I saw the mural, it made a connection for me, and I thought creating this collage would be a good idea,” Ray said.
She spent about 10 hours putting the collage together, but the labor of love was well worth it for Ray. “It’s something I’m very proud of. I feel like everyone in this photo is unified,” she said. “You see the smiling faces of all the athletes, past and present, and you realize how hard each of them has worked in their sport. They are strong, and we are all in this together.”
Ray said her project coincided with National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a day that has been set aside to honor women athletes of all ages for the past 36 years. “We have a great freedom to be able to showcase our talents and abilities with others,” Ray said. “It’s an honor for me to practice with other females and see how great they are at their respective sports and see how much time and effort they put into performing. It’s amazing to be a part of.”
