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Dear Wildcats,
 
We learned two important pieces of news last week, beginning with Arizona Governor Doug Ducey's extension of the "Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected" order until May 15 with a plan for gradual economic reopening. The following day, President Robbins announced that the University of Arizona plans to resume in-person classes in the fall. These updates brought positivity to our future and highlight our athletics department's need to focus our planning on the eventual return of student-athletes, coaches and staff to campus.
 
Just as President Robbins stated his plans to bring students, faculty and staff safely back to campus in the fall, our intention is a return to competition and we have been planning accordingly. Most recently, as part of the coordinated Campus Re-Entry Plan Working Group, Arizona Athletics has formed a Re-Entry Planning Team to examine and strategize the issues and concerns surrounding a future return to facilities while adhering to important guidelines and initiatives from our campus partners, local and state authorities, the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA. We are committed to developing the best plans for a safe and healthy future for our entire Wildcat Family. We will share updates with you as they become available.
 
 
In case you missed them, here are some other news and updates from Arizona Athletics:

• The Wildcat Family lost one of its special members with the passing of Dave Lowell earlier this week. An Arizona Football letterwinner who graduated in 1949, Dave and his wife Edith were lifelong supporters of the University of Arizona and Arizona Athletics. In addition to co-naming the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility, the Lowells were also members of the University of Arizona's Founders Society and created an endowed chair in Geosciences in the College of Science. The Lowell Institute of Mineral Resources in the College of Engineering also bears his name among other major gifts. It was a special moment to recognize Dave as an honorary captain as our football program also welcomed him to practice. Dave was truly a Wildcat for Life and his powerful generosity impacted the lives of countless young men and women. Our thoughts are with Edith and the Lowell family at this time.

 

 

• Student-Athlete Convocation is next week, and Arizona Athletics is excited to celebrate the nearly 100 Wildcats who are fulfilling their dreams and earning their college degrees. I am honored to join Vice Provost for Student Success and Retention Innovation Dr. Cynthia Demetriou in speaking at this memorable event. Our Student-Athlete Valedictorian Rhett Rodriguez from Arizona Football will also address his fellow graduates during the ceremony. The virtual graduation ceremony can be viewed through our live stream as well as the Arizona Athletics Facebook page on Thursday, May 14 at 9 a.m. (MST).
• May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and our athletics department is honoring this important celebration through the month. We began with an inspiring look at what #APAHM means to Jenny Leung and Malia Hargrove of Arizona Gymnastics.
• Arizona Athletics is proud to be a part of the AZSportsTogether charity fundraiser to raise money for AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund. The raffle includes tremendous prizes from sports organizations throughout the state of Arizona with all proceeds going to provide financial support to Arizona communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Purchase your raffle tickets today and Bear Down.
• We want to welcome Arizona Women's Basketball alumnus Dee-Dee Wheeler back to Southern Arizona as Tucson Unified School District's new Director of Interscholastics. An All-Pac-10 Team selection and an Honorable Mention All-American from 2001 to 2005, Dee-Dee is one of our greatest Wildcats. The impact Southern Arizona and the University of Arizona had on Dee-Dee during her career helped propel her to return to support our community. Bear Down Dee-Dee!
• Did you know the Cole and Jeannie Davis Sports Center is one of the many sites for COVID-19 antibody testing? Arizona Athletics has been part of the important team that is staffing this very significant endeavor, and the Wildcat Way is powering this vital collaboration.

  
WEAR THE COLORS – SHARE THE PHOTOS
 
Thank you for wearing the colors and sharing your Arizona pride! If your photo submission did not make this week's edition of the Wildcat Wednesday, please check our "Wear the Colors" album at facebook.com/ArizonaAthletics on Fridays.
 
NOTE: Please submit photos for Wildcat Wednesday with an original email to uofaad@arizona.edu using the subject line 'Wildcat Wednesday photo.' Also, please ensure all submissions are clear and properly lit. We also ask that you identify everyone in the photo so we can highlight them accordingly.
 
 
 
 
 
Continue being a proud Wildcat by

• Staying strong and being safe
• Renewing your Wildcat Club membership or Joining Today
• Wearing the colors and Bear Down with pride

 
Bear Down,
 
Dave Heeke
Vice President and Director of Athletics