FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 17, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT:

Lisa Slappy, Chief Communications and Public Relations Officer

410-386-8184 | lslappy@carrollcc.edu

Carroll Community College Awarded NJCAA Foundation Grant to Expand Track & Field Program

Carroll Community College is pleased to announce the continued growth and success of its Track & Field program, which launched in Spring 2023. This momentum has been made possible in part by a generous $1,000 Sport Opportunity Grant from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Foundation.

The grant reflects Carroll’s ongoing commitment to enhancing athletic opportunities and supporting student-athletes. With this support, the College has expanded the Track & Field team, doubling its size to 20 athletes projected for Spring 2025, under dynamic new coaching leadership.

“This grant came at a critical time,” said Teri Leatherwood, Athletic Director at Carroll. “As a new athletic director, one of my top priorities is balancing our budget while ensuring our athletes have the resources they need. At a small college like ours, where sports programs are relatively new—just six years in the making—this funding was essential.”

The NJCAA Sport Opportunity Grant enabled the purchase of much-needed uniforms and helped offset transportation costs to competitions outside this year’s athletic budget. The impact has already been felt on and off the field. Six Carroll athletes achieved personal bests this season, and standout thrower Logan Rich was named NJCAA Region 20 Athlete of the Month for April.

"Collegiate athletics are a vital component of the student experience," Leatherwood added. "They build leadership, discipline, and camaraderie. There’s nothing more rewarding than watching our athletes thrive in both academics and competition."

As a proud NJCAA member, Carroll Community College is dedicated to fostering excellence, integrity, and opportunity through athletics. The College views sports not just as competition, but as an essential part of student development and community engagement.

“The NJCAA Foundation is excited to further support the growth of NJCAA member colleges and the sport programs they offer through the NJCAA Sport Opportunity Grant,” said Andrew Givens, NJCAA Foundation Executive Director. “The ability to provide this funding is a testament to the importance and growth of two-year collegiate athletics. The NJCAA Foundation looks forward to this initiative’s impact as NJCAA member colleges continue to create opportunities for student-athletes across the country.”

Collegiate athletics are vital to the community college experience, fostering discipline, teamwork, and academic achievement. This partnership continues to provide a high-quality education enriched by athletic participation and student engagement.

“I’m incredibly proud to be part of the athletics and the NJCAA,” Leatherwood said. “There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing our athletes succeed both in the classroom and in competition.”

For more information about Carroll’s Track & Field program or to learn how to support student- athletes, visit www.carrolllynx.com or email the Athletics Department at athletics@carrollcc.edu.

About NJCAA Foundation

The mission of the NJCAA Foundation is to enhance the NJCAA national organization, student-athletes, member colleges and local communities through financial support, scholarships, program initiatives and community service.

Carroll Community College’s mission is Empowering learners. Changing lives. Building community. Carroll Community College (Carroll) provides accessible, high-quality educational opportunities to advance careers, enrich lives, and strengthen the community we serve. Carroll offers academic and career preparation leading to transfer to four-year colleges and universities, and for direct entry into professional opportunities. Carroll Community College is located at 1601 Washington Road, Westminster, Md., 21157. Visit us on our website at www.carrollcc.edu.