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Making A Difference blue hen alum marjelle scheffers changing lives on a global stage

A difference maker. That’s the best way to describe University of Delaware alum, Marjelle “MJ” Scheffers.

Six years ago, Scheffers was recruited by the Blue Hens. At the time, not many would have considered Delaware a threat in the field hockey world. MJ aspired to change that and that’s exactly what her and her teammates did.

During her freshman season, the Blue Hens won the 2013 CAA Tournament. After receiving her ring, she made a bold statement to head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof.

“MJ had come by my office that week to chat and she had a big smile on her face. She pulled out her 2013 CAA Championship ring and said, “Why not four?” I liked her thinking and shared that with her, but also tried to keep things in perspective and that we had to go for number two first.”

Fast forward to 2016, not only were four CAA Championship rings achieved, but MJ and her teammates had put Delaware field hockey on the national stage with the first-ever National Championship in 2016.

“During our banquet that year, MJ comes up to me, again with that big smile on her face. She’s wearing all four of her CAA rings and says “told you so… four," van de Kerkhof laughed.

However, Scheffers’ difference-making wasn’t limited to the field, as she quickly turned her focus to making an impact on a global level.

During her attendance at Delaware, the Science, Technology, and Advanced Research (STAR) campus opened. STAR was a groundbreaking addition to the University. She participated in research at the Move to Learn Innovation Lab inside of STAR. It was here that she started her work with the Go Get Them! Wheelchair Racing Club in Ghana, a non-governmental organization (NGO). She developed wheelchairs and bikes that were made of bamboo, while working with the other engineers inside the club.

“I got really inspired how they are accomplishing their athletic goals, with such different circumstances,” she exclaimed. “The way the members of NGO pursued their goals, no matter the obstacles that were ahead of them, it was truly inspiring. It sparked a passion inside me about the project.”

Post-graduation, she headed to Ghana to work with the engineers of the club to make her prototype in to the real deal. Since then, her and the engineers have been building the bamboo wheelchairs, and have now started developing bikes. This simple research opportunity has given her the power the make an incredible difference in the world. They are able to make the vehicles custom to the person, rather than adjustments on a standard model. She even has been able to provide employment for the people of the village she works near.

“You have to dream big, pretend you are bigger than you are,” says Scheffers.

This mentality is what has allowed Scheffers to thrive as a student, athlete, and person throughout the world.

“As a program we are very proud of and thankful for MJ’s contributions to the University of Delaware as an academic scholar, an go-to athlete and now as an incredible ambassador of our institution," said Van de Kerkhof.

During her time at Delaware, Scheffers dedicated herself on the field, in the classroom and in the community. She played in 90 career games, earning four NFHCA Academic Squad honors and three CAA Academic Honor Roll accolades. She was a two-time team captain and earned a spot in Chi Alpha Sigma, the National Honor Society for College Athletes.

“MJ was such a joy to coach and work with throughout her four years at Delaware. She is a great example of what a Blue Hen student-athlete can and should be all about,” Van de Kerkhof said. “She has always been opportunistic and at the same time still realistic, she understood and took pride in doing good for herself and others either within the team setting, academic arena or the world we live in.”

It’s safe to say that Scheffers has that ‘difference maker’ thing down pat.

compiled by Kaitlyn Zook (Athletic Communications student assistant)

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