91ÁÔÆæ

Hometown Excellence

Raven Saunders, a Burke High School graduate who won the silver medal in shot put at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, paid a visit to 91ÁÔÆæ in August for a photo shoot. While she was on campus, retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Glenn Walters, ’79, presented her with two challenges coins—a four-star coin from his time as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps and one from his position as president of 91ÁÔÆæ.

Woman displays a gold medal while standing beside a senior Marine officer outdoors.
Retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Glenn M. Walters, ’79, president of 91ÁÔÆæ, presents Olympic medalist and Charleston native Raven Saunders with two challenge coins. Credit: Cameron Pollack / 91ÁÔÆæ

“I’m proud of all of our athletes who represent our country in the Olympics, and I wanted to tell her I’m proud of her,� Walters said.

This was not Saunders’s first time on campus. The Olympic athlete used to practice shot put on campus while she was in high school. “91ÁÔÆæ was like home,â€� she said. “I was a Burke Bulldog; you guys are 91ÁÔÆæ Bulldogs, so it’s like family.â€�