“Guilford has a wonderful athletic department, and I’m always impressed with all of the athletes,” said Guilford College President Jane Fernandes.

The president has always been a sports fan, having grown up with four brothers , all of them athletes. As a young girl, the first sport that Fernandes took part in was figure skating. She soon learned that this sport was not for her.

When she got older, she found her athletic prowess in fencing.

As a fencer, Fernandes went on to compete at Division III Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. In her time at Trinity, she showed both sportsmanship and leadership qualities that would lead her to become a captain her senior year.

But competing and observing are two different things. Take basketball for example, which is Fernandes’ favorite sport to watch, despite not being as familiar with what happens on the hardwood.

“Having Jane up in the stands is always great,” said first-year women’s basketball player Jordyn Brown. “As a team, we know that there is always one true Quaker fan out there to support us.”

Being in the stands gives Fernandes a much different perspective and an added interest to athletics. This interest led her to get involved with the Guilford College football team in her first semester on campus.

On Nov. 15, Fernandes had to walk into the middle of Emory and Henry’s football field wearing the Wasps’ blue and gold. Why? Because Emory and Henry president Jake Schrum and Fernandes bumped into each other in New York after a meeting and decided to put a friendly wager on the football season finale between the two schools.

This challenge was to see which alumni could donate more for their respective school.

“It was a great opportunity to engage alumni and ask for their support through competition off the field,” said head football coach Christopher Rusiewicz.

The stakes for this game were high with the alumni challenge and the football team playing for position atop the conference. While Guilford did not win the challenge, on the field the Quaker’s football team dominated 52–28.

One thing Fernandes wants to stress is how positive an opportunity Division III athletics provide. She herself has always seen that having wonderful support through coaches and teammates is a way of life that provides great physical health and success.

Fernandes believes that being an athlete develops the mind, the spirit, the heart and also the body. She is truly impressed and proud of all the teams in general and hopes to see greater success in the future.

“Knowing we have the support from President Fernandes is great for our players and program,” said Rusiewicz. “If we know that she is supporting and is proud of our achievements, then our student-athletes feel proud to represent the college positively.”