The Lancer Way is a storytelling program run by California Baptist University’s Athletic Communications department. Its first story was published in October.
CBU Athletics uses The Lancer Way as a platform where CBU student-athletes can tell their personal stories.
“Our initial vision behind it is that we wanted to give our student-athletes a voice,” said Daniel Cross, assistant director of Athletics Communications. “It is a platform on our website that they can use to express their stories and reasons why they chose CBU.”
CBU’s Athletics Communications department had been successful in running its social media by posting game recaps and athlete spotlights, but it did not have a platform for the athletes before The Lancer Way.
“We want stories that are real and authentic from our student-athletes that we feel our community can grasp and agree with,” Cross said.
To gather material, the Athletics Communications department asks the coaches of each sport to reach out and ask for athletes on the team who might have a story to tell.
“We’re looking for stories such as different upbringing, nationality or problems that they have to face in their life,” Cross said.
Andrew Shortall, director of Athletics Communications, said the Lancer Way stories are interesting because while we often see these athletes on campus or competing, we do not know their stories and the things they have overcome.
“The numbers on these (Lancer Way) stories show that they are being read twice as much as the usual game recap stories,” Shortall said.
Rebecca Oviedo, sophomore political science major and freestyle and individual medley swimmer with women’s swim and dive, shared her story through The Lancer Way. Oviedo is from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and had the opportunity to tell the story of how she came to CBU.
“I feel happy on being able to share my story with everyone,” Oviedo said. “The Lancer Way is such a great way for the CBU community to get to know their athletes.”
Oviedo said she hopes that after reading student-athlete’s stories people will understand the hard work student-athletes put in to both athletics and academics and be influenced by what they read.
To follow the Lancer Way story updates, visit the CBU Lancers’ website at cbulancers.com/sports/thelancerway.
