Track and field student-athlete Anna Rodgers was one of the 46 student-athletes, coaches, administrators, conference staff, and key stakeholders from the Pac-12 Conference that traveled to Selma and Montgomery, Alabama for an educational experience focused on social justice. Along with the ACC and Big 10 institutions, these individuals explored, learned, and prepared themselves for impact beyond the world of college athletics. Below are her own words surrounding the experience.

Prior to the trip, I did not really know what to expect.  We had an extensive and in-depth itinerary for each day, but I could not even imagine what we were about to experience.  The idea of meeting representatives from other Division I athletic departments from around the country was enticing.  It was encouraging to know that Washington State and the Pac-12 were taking the initiative to be sure we were represented, and I felt incredibly honored and fortunate to represent WSU.

We explored the historic towns of Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, visiting civil rights landmarks like the Freedom Rides Museum, First Baptist Church, and Equal Justice Initiative Museum.  Each city itself had so much rich history surrounding each landmark, but what I found equally if not more impactful were the people whose mission it is to share that history.  We were so fortunate to have the opportunity to hear from speakers who were so passionate about the importance of their local civil rights history.  Their passion for spreading stories and memories of various civil rights leaders and other historical accounts help to keep legacies and their historical importance intact.
 
As a black student-athlete, nothing could prepare me for the impact the trip would have on me personally.  You can read all the history books and be well-educated on the history of the Civil Rights Movement, but until you are physically there, standing at the corner where Rosa Parks was arrested, or marching over the Edmund Pettus Bridge where Bloody Sunday took place, or staring at the soil under which Black individuals were lynched, you cannot fully grasp what the fight for Civil Rights entailed. Although our modern society has all this historical information and documentation on how much (the African American community) has progressed, we as a community must continue to acknowledge and understand that we are still not free.
 

Ms. Sheyann Webb-Christburg, one of the youngest freedom fighters, spoke to our group with the message, "I've had so many mixed emotions because we look at what happened back in the 60's and then, we witness so many of the same experiences in 2022, it just makes me sad." We should still reflect, celebrate, and be proud of the freedoms our community has fought for in the past, but collectively, we must understand that the fight is not over.  As black student-athletes and allies in a modern civil rights movement, it is now on us to strive towards a future where communities are truly provided equal opportunities for success in life.
 
I cannot single out my favorite part of the trip as each event and museum were a completely different experience. It was great to see the representatives from all the universities passionate and excited about the experience. It was comforting being around so many individuals who have lived through and witnessed some of the same inequalities that I have.
 
My biggest takeaway from the experience is the power of conversation and education. We must be realistic and know that change does not happen overnight but if we are open to new experiences, tough conversations, and education we will stand alongside the freedom fighters and the many others who have fought and lost their lives for our rights and begin to forge a better future.  As an individual and as a university, we must embrace the courage of the freedom fighters, strive to make an impact, and aim to live up to and capture the passion of those before us.

Washington State football student-athlete Chris Jackson and Deputy Athletic Director Ike Ukaegbu also represented the institution on the Selma to Montgomery trip.