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The Eastern Echo Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | Print Archive
The Eastern Echo

Sports

Heather Lyke comes to EMU from Ohio State University, where she has been for the last 15 years.

Heather Lyke named EMU Athletic Director

By Al Willman · Monday, July 1, 2013

On Monday morning, Eastern Michigan University named Heather Lyke its new Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics following a national search to replace former AD Dr. Derrick Gragg.

Pressure on: Two months till Eagles football

By Eugene Evans · Monday, June 24, 2013

While students are at the halfway point of the summer semester, another Eastern Michigan University football season is right around the corner and more than ever, the pressure is on head coach Ron English and his players to produce on the field.

Student athletes set EMU GPA records

By Al Willman · Monday, June 24, 2013

On June 18, the Eastern Michigan University Athletic Department announced the winter semester Grade Point Averages for each of the university’s 19 varsity teams, with a combined GPA of 3.087.

EMU student wins slam dunk challenge, has high hopes

By Eugene Evans · Monday, June 24, 2013

From dunking on the rims of Eastern Michigan University’s Rec/IM to being a part of the Sprite Slam Dunk Challenge during the National Basketball Association’s All-Star Weekend, Chris Staples is living out his dream but knows there are more steps to be taken in order to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Staples was born on Dec.

The Eastern Echo

Track Team wrap ups-Womens

By Eugene Evans · Monday, June 17, 2013

Sophomore Victoria Voronko’s dominating performances headlined Eastern Michigan University’s women’s track and field outdoor season. Voronko set personal bests in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the National Collegiate Athletic Association East Regional, the 5,000-meter run at the Drake Relays, the 1,500-meter run at the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships and qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. “Victoria really took a big step forward this track season,” EMU head coach Sue Parks said.

The Eastern Echo

Track Team wrap ups-Mens

By Eugene Evans · Monday, June 17, 2013

Despite being made up of mostly underclassmen, the Eastern Michigan University men’s track and field team showed signs of growth this past outdoor season. “We were a relatively young team and saw development throughout the year whether it was during cross-country, indoor or outdoor seasons,” coach John Goodridge said.

The Eastern Echo

Track and field season comes to an end

By Eugene Evans · Thursday, June 13, 2013

As the lone representative of the Eastern Michigan University track and field team, as well as the sole Mid-American Conference runner, Sophomore Victoria Voronko’s season came to an end over the weekend as she finished 21st in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Eugene, Ore. Voronko finished with a time of 10 minutes, 30.5 seconds, finishing nine spots shy of qualifying for the finals. 2012 Olympian and Colorado University senior Emma Coburn went on to capture the 3,000-meter steeplechase title in 9:35.38, while Florida State University sophomore Colleen Quigley and Weber State University junior Amber Henry placed second and third with times of 9:38.23 and 9:43.89, respectively. This is Coburn’s third overall national title as she captured the 2011 and 2013 indoor steeplechase titles. Other Notable Championship Results: University of Michigan redshirt sophomore Amanda Eccleston finished fifth in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:14.56 to earn All-America first team honors. University of Notre Dame senior Rebecca Tracy placed fourth in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:14.42, while junior Alexa Aragon crossed the line eighth in 9:57.26. On the men’s side, Michigan junior Ali Arastu finished fourth in the 400-meter hurdles in 49.37.

The Eastern Echo

EMU’s women’s club lacrosse team willing to work hard for their sport

By Raven Gardiner · Thursday, June 13, 2013

After her first year coaching the Eastern Michigan University’s women’s club lacrosse team, head coach Erin Maturo has learned more of what to expect from the team but is still preparing for next year. “I was just hoping to learn as much as I could about the team, the school/club life, and prep for the following season,” Maturo said about her expectations.

EMU golfer falls short of US Open

By Andrew Armbruster · Monday, June 10, 2013

On June 6, former Eastern Michigan University golfer Casey Olsen traveled to Springfield Ohio to compete in the US Open Sectionals. Olsen scored a 72 in each round of the two-day tournament.

The Eastern Echo

Runner places 21st in NCAA

By Eugene Evans · Monday, June 10, 2013

As the lone representative of the Eastern Michigan University track and field team and the sole Mid-American Conference runner, sophomore Victoria Voronko’s season came to an end over the weekend as she finished 21st in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Eugene, Ore.

Bryant out of courtroom, yet off the court

By Al Willman · Monday, June 3, 2013

After being arrested for allegedly choking his girlfriend on April 22, Eastern Michigan University redshirt junior forward Glenn Bryant had his case dismissed last Tuesday after the witness in the case failed to appear at the hearing, according to AnnArbor.com.

The Eastern Echo

EMU football players sign contracts with National Football League organizations

By Eugene Evans · Wednesday, May 29, 2013

While summer is in full swing, there is still plenty taking place on the gridiron as four former Eastern Michigan University football players have signed Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) contracts with National Football League organizations in the last month. Former quarterback turned wide receiver Alex Gillett, tight end Garrett Hoskins, long snapper Mike Zupancic anddefensive linemen Andy Mulumba signed with NFL teams and Mulumba was selected second overall in the Canadian Football League draft. This past Wednesday, Gillett signed with the Green Bay Packers and became the team’s 11th wide receiver on its 90-man roster. Gillett had previously been invited to the Washington Redskins mini-camp. “I think the Packers made a nice signing with Alex,”Student Equipment Manager Courtney Jackson said.

The Eastern Echo

Voronko shines in 3,000-meter steeplechase

By Eugene Evans · Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Sophomore Victoria Voronko’s dazzling performance in the 3,000-meter steeplechase highlighted the Eastern Michigan University men’s and women’s track and field performances at the National Collegiate Athletic Association East Regional in Greensboro, N.C., this past weekend. Voronko qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships finishing ninth in 10 minutes 8.10seconds, which broke her own school record of 10:15.74. In the 100-meter hurdle finals, freshman Vanessa Clerveaux finished 20th with a time of 13.53.

EMU softball team seniors bid teammates farewell

By Al Willman · Monday, May 27, 2013

The graduating seniors of the 2013 Eastern Michigan University softball team are all in the midst of making the transition from college student to various different endeavors, but before they begin, they took the time to leave some parting words for the Eagle community. Nellie Coquillard, Jenna Ignowski, Courtney Nicholson, Courtney Loe and Katy Blaharski all played their respective roles on the team, but all five had different words of advice to give and different lessons to take away from their time at EMU. Coquillard and Ignowski both said the key to success was working hard and taking ownership of one’s destiny.

Latest Podcast

Eastern Michigan University’s “Enlighten U” has been ranked the top mental health podcast in Michigan by FeedSpot, a platform that compiles blogs, podcasts, YouTube channels, newsletters and other sites in one location.

“Enlighten U” is a podcast geared toward students who are experiencing mental health challenges. Melissa Thrasher, EMU's executive director of media relations and social media, and Lolita Cummings, an EMU public relations professor, serve as the co-hosts. Each episode is released around the 15th of every month and features a student or alum and a subject-matter professional.

Lolita Cummings in an interview with The Echo said that this is not the first time the No. 1 mental health podcast in Michigan has been awarded to "Enlighten U."

"We've been the No. 1 mental health podcast in Michigan from the very beginning," Cummings said. "I think it's an indicator of the fact that what we are trying to do, we are doing well, and that is important."

At the start of each "Enlighten U" episode, Cummings and Thrasher state that the "Enlighten U" podcast is an award-winning show.

"A couple of years ago, I won the best in PR for good campaign from Public Relations Society of America for the marketing and promotions program, because it's important that we get this, the word, out to everyone and about the podcast," Cummings said.

Thrasher and Cummings are both extremely proud of their podcast, but these awards and recognitions are not why they continue with it.

It is important to Cummings that she serves all of her students' needs. She noticed that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of many of her students was declining. When the students came back after the pandemic, Cummings noticed that her students' mental health was even worse. Due to this, she began brainstorming with one of her students about how she could help.

"She [the student] said to me, 'We watched a lot of podcasts while we were off.' So I said, 'Okay, I don't know anything about podcasts, but I will meet you all where you are.' So that's where the idea came from," Cummings said. "I am able to not just serve their academic needs, but I'm also able to serve their mental health needs. And to get the feedback from them, that is really helping, and is everything to me because the students are the ones who tell us what issues are impacting the most. Those are the issues that we bring to the table at 'Enlighten U.'"

Cummings encourages students to not only watch and listen to "Enlighten U" but to also spread the word about the podcast.

"One of the things we want to do is get the word out about this podcast to as many people as possible, across the nation, across the world," she said. "The need is not limited to our campus — the need is universal; it is worldwide. My goal at this point is obviously to continue to produce quality shows that reflect the mental health challenges that students are facing, but also get it out to wider audiences so we can help more people."

For those who are interested in engaging with "Enlighten U," the podcast can be found on YouTube and Spotify.

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