Dear Horned Frogs,
Texas Christian University had a record nine Horned Frogs playing in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. I was fortunate to be there to cheer them on, making many great memories with fellow Horned Frogs and learning about opportunities that await our students. Below are three big takeaways I’ve carried with me that also apply to our collective vision for the future of TCU.
The next summer games are in Los Angeles in 2028. See you there, Horned Frogs.
President Daniel Pullin
Lessons from the Olympics:
1. Immersion in other cultures develops empathy, ethical leaders and global citizens. I encourage every student to study abroad if they are able while in college or soon after. As a university, I challenge us to create more opportunities for our students to study abroad through programming and scholarships. We must continue to encourage our students to engage in the valuable lessons and perspectives waiting for them outside the classroom.
(In Paris, I interviewed Brent Folan ’13 about his experiences and lessons learned while traveling the world: Episode 8: Alumnus Inspires Horned Frogs from Olympics – TCU Innovates Podcast.)
2. The TCU community is broader than you may think. It was an incredible feeling to be walking down the Champs-Élysées in Paris wearing TCU purple gear and hearing a lively “Go Frogs” from passersby. While the heart of our campus is in Fort Worth, we are truly a global university with Horned Frogs living and traveling across the world. Our diversity in background and experiences drives innovation on our campus and throughout our engaged alumni globally. Let’s build on our global presence by continuing to engage broadly with communities and industries worldwide.
3. Sports bring people together. At TCU, we know the power of athletics to rally our school spirit and bring Horned Frogs together. It was great seeing countries cheering on their athletes, and the camaraderie in Paris was remarkable. We will continue to invest in athletics and create experiences for our fans to build community.
(Listen to interviews with Beach Volleyball Head Coach Hector Gutierrez and Women’s Basketball Head Coach Mark Campbell in Paris for the TCU Innovates podcast.)
