Wingate, N.C.----It was a complete honor and privilege to attend the second annual Campbell Trophy Summit at Stanford University. As soon as I stepped onto Stanford's campus, I knew I was going to experience an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
 
Over the four days, I was able to hear from some of the nation's top CEOs and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, tour the San Francisco Bay, have dinner on top of Stanford's football stadium and develop lasting relationships with some of the best scholar-athletes from across the country. We also learned why Bill Campbell was one of the most influential individuals in the Silicon Valley.
 
Each speaker shared stories which illustrated why Bill Campbell was such an impactful mentor for individuals like Steve Jobs of Apple, Eric Schmidt of Google, Scott Cook of Intuit and countless others. It was ironic to hear that it wasn't something top secret which made Bill Campbell so unique.
 
Bill Campbell was able to get the best out of himself and the individuals around him just by helping people realize that the answers they often sought were already within themselves. He provided individuals with mentorship which pushed them to understand that they had what it took to accomplish their goals/dreams; they only needed to believe and go for it. 
 
I never thought a small-town kid like me would be able to experience such a life-altering event…and I cannot express enough gratitude to the individuals who allowed me to attend this amazing opportunity. This trip has enriched my mind and soul with such potent and inspiring knowledge. My hope is to use this knowledge as a tool to help better the lives of my student-athletes, friends and family…just as Bill Campbell did for so many others. 
 
ZACK SINGLETON ('18)
 
Wingate's Zack Singleton was invited to the Campbell Summit event as a semi-finalist for the 2017 William V. Campbell Trophy®. Earlier this year, Singleton joined the Wingate athletic staff as the assistant sports performance coach. Singleton is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
 
In 2017, Singleton served as a team captain for the football Bulldogs. He was named to the Academic All-America® NCAA Division II second team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Singleton posted a 3.90 GPA with his community and commercial recreation major (exercise science minor).
 
Singleton and his teammates compiled a 9-2 overall record (6-1 SAC) on the way to the 2017 SAC championship. The Bulldogs concluded the 2017 regular season as the number 16 team in the AFCA/NCAA Division II Coaches' top 25 poll. The Bulldogs were one of 28 teams invited to the NCAA Division II post-season.
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
A comprehensive, independent and growing university, Wingate serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Founded in 1896, the University offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as graduate and professional programs. Wingate is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. Wingate blends in-class exploration with out-of-class application to deliver an uncommon and life-changing educational experience.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 12 years. Wingate is first in the 2000s among NCAA Division II and North Carolina's colleges and universities with 105 CoSIDA Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 114 lifetime Academic All-America® honorees. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com. Current news and videos can be found at www.wingate.edu.