Megan Maley ’23 (left) is just one of the many Scripps Athenas impacted by gifts to CMS Athletics during the 1946 Challenge
When CMS Women鈥檚 Head Golf Coach Jodie Burton saw her student-athletes reunite in person after 18 months apart, she was struck by their emotion. These weren鈥檛 polite, workaday hugs, she observed鈥攖hey were the embraces of those who know the magic of belonging to a team.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the relationships that makes athletics special,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou get to laugh together, be sad together, journey together, work hard together鈥攊t was just so joyful to see them all again.鈥�
Burton鈥檚 golfers are just a few of the student-athletes impacted by the , the annual fundraising event taking place this year on October 13鈥�14 in honor of the founding year of Claremont McKenna College. As a member of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) athletic alliance, Scripps and its athletes also benefit from the campaign, with many parents, alums, and friends giving to CMS in celebration of the incredible contributions of our women鈥檚 team, the Athenas.
鈥淵ear in and year out, we鈥檙e tops in the conferences and NCAA鈥擨鈥檓 not sure most people are aware of that,鈥� Burton says. 鈥淭he talent we have is extraordinary, with some exceptional athletes from Scripps.鈥�
CMS Athletics Make a Difference for Students at Scripps
Computer science major Megan Maley 鈥�23 is among these talented students. A runner since middle school, Maley has competed on the CMS track and cross country teams, and credits athletics for keeping her happy and motivated to excel in the classroom and on the field. Especially through the pandemic, she says, CMS has been a source of hope and encouragement鈥攁nd the overall highlight of her time at Scripps.
鈥淎s a woman in sport, the relationships I’ve made with the strong group of Athenas have been the backbone of my college experience. I am inspired by each one of my teammates and I know I can rely on them and they can rely on me,鈥� she says. 鈥淗aving聽such an extensive support system and the opportunity to be a team leader is incredibly important for women in college, and athletics provide a perfect environment for that.鈥�
Although athletics were part of the consortium鈥檚 history almost from the very beginning, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women鈥檚 teams weren鈥檛 officially introduced until 1976. Burton鈥攁 gifted multi-sport athlete who was 鈥渞eady to compete from birth鈥濃�攋oined the coaching staff a couple of years later, eager to provide other women with the opportunity to train and compete. But more could be done for student-athletes like Maley, and donors have played a significant role in making that possible.
鈥淒onations enhance my programs tremendously,鈥� Burton says, noting how donor funding has helped expand CMS women鈥檚 athletics over her 43-year tenure by adding teams for soccer, softball, water polo, lacrosse, golf, and more. Gifts also help cover everything from bringing a greater number of students to elite competitions to grabbing an ice cream cone together as a team.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 not in the ordinary budget,鈥� she adds. 鈥淒onor gifts allow me to decide where we need more support and pick what鈥檚 important for each year鈥檚 team.鈥�
By giving, supporters of CMS have also stoked the local rivalry in college sports between CMS and Pomona-Pitzer, adding something intangible to the Scripps experience: intercollegiate pride.
鈥淩unning for a nationally ranked team so deeply rooted in tradition, boasting over 10 straight Southern California Intercollege Athletic Conference (SCIAC) titles鈥攊t forges a strong sense of pride and community,鈥� says Maley. 鈥淐MS athletics builds bridges in and outside of the classroom to make the 5C bond even stronger.鈥�
Burton agrees鈥攁nd knows the broader Claremont Colleges community is part of that shared magic.
鈥淎ll three schools have been tremendous in their support and have encouraged us to be competitive鈥攖o be outstanding and high achieving. I am so appreciative of the gifts that have helped make CMS what it is today,鈥� she says. 鈥淎lumnae and parents make our programs better.鈥�
Athletics help create an exceptional Scripps experience for all students. To support Scripps鈥� student-athletes with a gift during the CMS 1946 Challenge, please click .