Playing Above the Rhim

Long before Kris Rhim’s one-year fellowship with the New York Times and his current work covering the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN, he was determined to do—as he memorably said in a class—“purposeful work.” At Springfield College, that took a number of forms. Rhim was a four-year member of the track and field team. He was elected student trustee. He was the president of the Men of Excellence club. He contributed regularly to student media, including the newspaper and SCTV3. He and Professor Marty Dobrow hosted a podcast called “Liberty, Justice, and Ball” on the intersection of basketball and social justice. He participated in a spring break civil rights tour. As a senior, he was named the winner of the Tom Waddell Leveling the Playing Field Award for his many contributions on campus.

In the almost four years since his graduation, he has blazed an impressive path. This included his fellowship at the Times, where he covered a wide array of stories ranging from an analysis of Tom Brady’s last year in the NFL to WNBA star Brittney Griner’s release from a Russian prison. More recently, he has been ESPN’s beat writer for the Chargers. He regularly appears on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” Rhim’s presentation will focus on how to find a larger sense of purpose within the sports world.

At the conclusion of the presentation, a current Springfield College student-athlete will be recognized with the Tom Waddell Leveling the Playing Field Award. Waddell ’59, a Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame member, devoted his life to issues of social justice. This annual award goes to a student-athlete who has worked diligently to build a more just world.

The 10th Annual Sports and Social Justice Symposium at Springfield College is presented by the Division of Campus Life and Inclusion and the Department of Athletics. The Symposium is free and open to the Springfield College community and the public.

For more information, please contact the Division of Campus Life and Inclusion at campuslife@springfield.edu or (413) 748-3100.

Supported by the Dr. Tom Waddell ’59 Fund.
For more information on the fund, or to make a gift, visit springfield.edu/giving.

A Wellness Passport Event