Courage Week 2022: Dare to Defy What Holds You Back

Hilary Bentman, Assistant Director of Communications
Two students sit atop a table holding painted rocks, with other painted rocks displayed before them
Kyle Schaeffer ’23 and Lizzy Lynch '24, co-program coordinators of Courage Week 2022, hold painted courage rocks that were placed around campus.

A pandemic. Racial injustice. Global conflict.

In today’s world, finding the courage to do the right thing, to defy the odds, or even just to show up, is no simple task.

With such a backdrop, it’s no surprise that the organizers of Courage Week 2022 seized on the theme of “Dare to Defy” to encourage the Widener community to “discover their inner courage,” said Lizzy Lynch ’24, co-program coordinator. 

“It’s about daring to defy stereotypes, daring to defy the odds, daring to defy – fill in the blank. And it’s about having the courage to change,” said Lynch. 

Organized by Widener’s Apogee Scholars, Courage Week began as Courage Day in 2016, but has since been expanded to include a week of programming and events to engage the community in thinking about what courage means to them.

“The big thing with dare to defy, with everyone coming back on campus (from the pandemic), it’s about getting people involved, to bring out their courage,” said Kyle Schaeffer ’23, co-program coordinator.

Courage Week 2022 ran from April 4-8. Take a look back at some of the moments.

Blue Courage Week logo with a lion and a mirror image of a lion and the words "Dare to Defy"
"Dare to Defy" Courage Week logo

The week kicked off – quite literally – with a Kickoff to Courage soccer tournament, featuring groups of students in a tournament-style play competing for Philadelphia Union tickets. 

Group of students playing soccer on Memorial Field
Six students pose for a photo in a soccer net, holding a soccer ball

Tuesday was a social media day, with several features running on the Apogee Scholars Instagram account. Students were encouraged to find painted courage rocks hidden around campus and to share a photo on social. The Apogees also shared a courage BINGO board of dares.

About 20 painted rocks on a picnic table, many with inspirational slogans

Wednesday featured the first-ever Courage Fair, with student clubs, teams, and others showcasing how they show courage through their organization. The day ended with a Blue Table Talk with university representatives discussing the Dare to Defy theme.

A student stands at the Student Government Association table at the Courage Fair in University Center
Courage Fair
Several students at a Courage Fair table in University Center, with blue and white balloons
Courage Fair

Rain postponed Thursday’s car smash, organized with Tau Kappa Epsilon, to smash away one’s stress and fears.

The Apogees rounded out the week by participating in Founders Day Pride-A-Palooza, the culminating celebration of the university’s bicentennial.

A cake shaped like '200' in front of balloons shaped like '200' with Old Main in the background
Pride-A-Palooza was the culminating event of the bicentennial celebration

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