A healthy balance of academics and extracurricular activities is of utmost importance in every student’s life. Even more so when the student is in grade 11 or 12, as the pressure of studies is constantly mounting. Therefore, while academics are the top priority, it is essential to equally indulge in extracurriculars as they play a significant part in the overall wellbeing and development of students. Moreover, extracurriculars not only help students have a relief from hectic schedules but also help them develop into an all-rounder personality.
Born on March 26, 1945, in Evansville, Indiana, Dane Clinton Mathews’s life is the best example of a perfect balance between academic and athletic achievements. Mathews is an African-American IT Security Risk Auditor at Ford Motor Company. Before this, he also worked as an IT Security & Control Project Manager for the same company. Working as part of the General Auditor’s Office, he reviews and evaluates the various documented security access controls for the 3000+ businesses and suppliers that have access to Ford Motor Company’s corporate assets.
Previously, when Mathews worked as an IT Security & Control Project Manager, he managed and coordinated the Global Security Controls Coordinators (SCC) security experts to facilitate alignment, collaboration, and problem-solving through various security issues projects and provided worldwide training.
Mathews’s history of education is full of academic and athletic achievements. He graduated from Rufus High School in 1963, where he played as a team’s baller for the basketball team. He attended Concordia University Ann Arbor in 2000 to complete a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and later joined Eastern Michigan University, where he received his Master’s in Information Security in 2006. Because of his passion for basketball, he got an opportunity to attend Marquette University, where he received a basketball scholarship. He always believed that extracurriculars are as important as academics and should be conducted alongside them, as activities outside academics bring people together and build an inclusive community. Not only that but making connections is vital, especially for college students who are preparing to enter the workforce. Considering the importance of extracurricular activities, Mathews joined a singing group, the Enchanters, while studying at Marquette University. His dedication earned him popularity in his senior years; he was named first-team All-City by the Milwaukee Sentinel and second-team by the Milwaukee Journal.
His love for basketball was not limited to school; he also became a Detroit Metro Basketball team member. His intellectual player moves earned him a ticket to the Michigan Senior Olympics. He, along with ten other dynamic basketball players, namely Victor Deihl, Fredde Jackson, Roy McNeely, Robert Kiner, Timothy Przekop, Ronald Bynum, Raleigh Graves, Jim Price, James Bubba Ellison, and Robert Ellison, represented Michigan in six National Senior Games held in 2003, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017, respectively. Together, they won gold medals in all six games without a single loss.
Mathews is the current Vice President of Waterways Community in Delray Beach, FL, a community that offers a waterfront lifestyle to its residents. With such diverse expertise, he is an exceptional inspiration for academic and athletic excellence.