OU Students Set Their Mark on Making an Impact Overseas

Fifty-seven students from the University of Oklahoma track and field team, along with staff, spent time during their spring break to participate in an intercollegiate meet and to help revitalize the community of Grand Bahama. Located about 60 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida, Grand Bahama is the third largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands.

When most people think of the Bahamas, they envision the same picturesque scenery that is found in travel brochures, tropical weather, white sand beaches and turquoise water. But upon arrival at Grand Bahama International Airport, the picture painted was much different. Concrete walls framed a barren space with only a handful of workers to greet arriving travelers.

The drive into town mirrored that of the airport, telling a story of endurance. Traces of a natural disaster were evident, with the homes eerily reminiscent of the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Ike.

As the bus full of students from a team that represents more than 13 countries but who all currently call Norman, Oklahoma, home, peered out the window, many noticed the houses had the same etchings of where the water line once stood – smudged lines that cut across each home horizontally, each stain standing about four feet high. While each home had this same marking, some sat abandoned while others were full of life.

There were also gaps among the tree lines. The few trees left standing grew at an angle, with many of them bare. This was another sign that this island had suffered a tremendous blow but had survived.

As the street started to wind toward the beach, large resorts and marketplaces lined the roadway, all strategically placed to engage tourists. Yet the streets remain quiet.

Still, excitement could be seen on one student’s face.

“I feel like I'm home,” said Demarius Smith, graduate assistant for OU track and field. “Members of my family are from this island; we have strong roots here. The culture is contagious. I am excited to be back.”

That infectious spirit was evident once the team met the locals, who greeted the OU contingent with smiles, welcoming words, and gratitude.

The next day, students and staff loaded the bus. The group split into two, with one of them disembarking to mentor local high schoolers.

“The students were intrigued. They asked us questions about what it was like in the U.S. and what our daily lives looked like as students and athletes,” said Ashonti Warner, a graduate student-athlete who also has family ties to Grand Bahama. “We gave them tips and guidance on how to properly stretch, work out, stay healthy. We also talked about the opportunities awarded to us.”

The next group was taken to the local Red Cross. The building seemed to stick out; it did not match the architecture of the other buildings and homes in the area. The newly constructed white building with red trim and shutters seemed to brighten the neighborhood like a beacon of hope and recovery. Come to find out, it was just that.

“The need is very great in our community. Nearly half of the homes on the island were damaged or destroyed in early September 2019 by Hurricane Dorian,” said Terez Curry, president of Bahamas Red Cross. “The need for a shelter was evident following the hurricane and a need to serve the community with increase access to household supplies, food and mental health care soon after.”

The effects of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas were among the worst experienced for any natural disaster in the country. Dorian struck the Abaco Islands as a Category 5 hurricane, and a day later hit Grand Bahama with the same force, stalling over Grand Bahama for another day. Damage amounted to about $3.4 billion USD. Approximately 75 deaths were reported and nearly 300 people were never found.

The foundation for Bahamas Red Cross building was poured from the effects of Hurricane Dorian, and the growth is not only in the form of additional buildings from outreach efforts generated by COVID-19.

“I hate to keep coming back to COVID, but it is real,” Curry said. “The recovery from Dorian was already too much to bear, then you add a global pandemic to the mix, and you have an extensive disaster that will take generations to recover from.”  

Coaches and staff were humbled as they learned of opportunities to help as they toured the small building that served such an enormous need. Each step taken to explore the structure told a story of how a community still recovering from a natural disaster was thrust into a pandemic. Life, health and financial stability compounded more when the world shut down. With ports closed, work halted, schools shut down and food scarcity was at an all-time high. Volunteers continued to push forward to help the most vulnerable of families.

As the bus returned to pick up students, many recalled similar stories from the high school students who were only a few years younger than them of a life plagued by Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19.

“Perseverance is a lesson we all learned,” said Tim Langford, OU head track and field coach. “So many times, our student-athletes see only their situation and they have no point of reference of what it means to endure. Experiences like this one that also includes a service trip aspect give us all perspective. Being able to persevere is what helps develop our students into well-rounded adults and professionals.”

The next day student-athletes took to the field for the Island Relays Bahamas, a competition that included two days of track and field competitions featuring collegiate athletes from U.S. and Bahamian universities.

“The impact a community from Norman, Oklahoma, had on the small Caribbean Island is immense,” said Joyce Johnson, co-founder of Island Relays Bahamas. “This connection allowed resources and support to pour into the community that has been suffering from lack of tourists. When you bring in hundreds of people, jobs are created and that means there is a boost to the economy. People who have been struggling to find work were  able to make a living, from hotel staff to transportation personnel to local vendors and everything in between.”

The forecasted impact on the community of Grand Bahama from this event is $2 million. Organizers hope to build on this collaboration next year by doubling the number of universities that participate.

“Experiences like this are what sets the University of Oklahoma apart,” Smith said. “Coach Langford provided us with a way to broaden our perspective. It is more than just sun and sand; it is getting a deeper understanding of a different culture. In our short time here, we learned about our differences and made a difference in a community that is financially suffering.”

“Within a few days not only was a multi-million-dollar economic impact made, but also a humanitarian one,” said David Surratt, OU vice president for student affairs and dean of students “Our students dedicated their time and talents through philanthropy. As a result, our students gained a deeper appreciation and knowledge of the Bahamian culture and history. These are the types of encounters that shape our students and raise awareness to issues plaguing other societies.”

An impression was made on and off the field, with OU’s women's team winning first place and with Ashonti Warner setting the school record in the 400m hurdles.

To donate to the Red Cross Bahamas, visit bahamasredcross.org.