University of Massachusets Athletics
Ryan Durkin Named 21st Century Leader At UMass Commencement
May 27, 2008 | Men's Track & Field
May 27, 2008
AMHERST, Mass. - For senior men's track captain Ryan Durkin, his final week at the University of Massachusetts was a good one. It started on Monday with Durkin being a featured speaker at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center for the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund's 59th annual banquet. He followed that up the next day by becoming just the second person in school history to complete a marathon inside the Curry Hicks Cage. At Saturday's 138th Commencement, Durkin was named one of 11 seniors presented with the 21st Century Leader Award which is co-sponsored by the Chancellor's Office and the Alumni Association.
Durkin's speech at the Ouimet banquet was featured in the Boston Globe and can be read Here. During the speech, he spoke of overcoming the loss of his father to cancer, his passion for track, and his plans to serve his country in the Marine Corps after graduating. Following his speech, he was given a long standing ovation from the 1,400 in attendance.
The next day, he completed a marathon run in the Cage becoming just the second person ever to do so. A mile inside the Cage track is 10 laps and a marathon is 26.2 miles so Durkin ran a whopping 262 laps in just over 3 hours. Several friends and teammates were there handing him water cups, counting laps, and cheering him on as he hit the final lap.
On Saturday, he was one of 11 seniors presented with 21st Century Leaders awards. The awards are designed to recognize students who are academically accomplished and who have contributed to the university through exceptional achievement or have enhanced the reputation of the campus. The recipients are nominated by faculty for strong leadership qualities; noteworthy original research, community service, the achievement of success by overcoming extraordinary personal circumstances, or public presentation through art, performance or athletic ability.
This is the sixth year the awards have been given. The awards are sponsored by the Chancellor's Office and the UMass Amherst Alumni Association. "The presentation of these awards during the undergraduate Commencement helps focus the ceremony on the accomplishments of students," says Thomas W. Cole Jr., interim chancellor. "The awards also bring deserved recognition to the families who have supported this group of excellent students."
Oh, and Friday was his birthday. Not a bad week for the Andover, Mass., native who epitomizes all the great things that surround the term student-athlete and who has represented UMass so well in his four-year career.