Article published Feb 23, 2008
IWU to honor Dungy for being a 'World Changer'
Wednesday's event by invitation only
By Mishele Wright
mdwright@chronicle-tribune.com
Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy will be on Indiana Wesleyan
University's campus for about three hours Wednesday as the university
inducts him into its Society of World Changers.
"Tony Dungy is coming to Indiana Wesleyan University, not because he's
won the Super Bowl and is an outstanding coach and former football
player," President Henry Smith said. "He's coming because he's an
example of a Christian character, who provides an example to our
students. … He's just a great choice for us."
Larry Lindsay, Smith's chief of staff, said Dungy is expected to arrive
at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The Fort Wayne television station and WIWU-TV 51
will be interviewing the coach before he is honored.
The convocation is a formal event at 10 a.m. in Luckey Arena, and about
25,000 faculty, staff, students and VIP guests will be in attendance,
Lindsay said.
Smith said the university has had to deny access to the public and some
students because of lack of space.
"We decided the No. 1 priority is for him to connect to the students,"
he said. "We want the students to hear and meet him."
Dungy is the fifth person to be inducted into the society, which honors
people making a difference in the arts, athletics, government or the
business world and doing so in a Christ-like manner. Dungy will be
honored with a life-size bust, which will be placed in the rotunda at
the university. Dungy also will receive a bust to place in the Colts
arena, Lindsay said.
Dungy was nominated for the honor last year but couldn't make it to
Marion because of his busy schedule, Lindsay said.
"Obviously, Tony Dungy has been dramatically impactful through America,
by working with the youth and with parents," Lindsay said.
He said that after the convocation, Dungy take about five minutes to
answer other media outlets' questions. He then will eat at the
University Commons with two special guests, who won the opportunity by
being the highest bidders for it during the university's annual telesale
Friday night.
Roger Alcock, who works in the marketing office at the university and
volunteers at the telesale, said the two tickets were valued at $250,
but he was expecting them to go for more. The tickets are not only for
the lunch, but for seats at the convocation, he said.
Lindsay said Dungy is expected to leave the city at 12:30 p.m.
According to a news release, Dungy's appearance was arranged by All Pro
Dads, a program sponsored by a nonprofit organization in Florida. Dungy
helped start the program in 1997.