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#BlackHistoryMonth Proudly sharing the stories of Penn State student-athletes and coaches who have shaped Nittany Lion history.

ANDRE BUTLER

"Black History Month to me, is very important in the sport of baseball where you don't see many African Americans. It's extremely huge." - Andre Butler

Promoted to Nittany Lion assistant coach after serving as volunteer assistant for two years, baseball's assistant coach Andre Bulter is in his third season with the Nittany Lions. Giving back to his Philadelphia roots, Butler started a tee ball league in West Philadelphia called the "Jackie Robinson West Philly League" for boys and girls ages eight and under.

FRITZ SPENCE

Surrounded by track and field his entire life, Penn State assistant coach Fritz Spence didn't let a battle with cancer take away his dream to impact the lives of others.

"Just being in the environment with my student-athletes, they gave me motivation to push through." - Fritz Spence

"He reminds us after every meet that these days are special and we need to cherish every moment we have with our teammates and in competition because you never realize how quickly it goes, or that one day you won't have it anymore. His appreciation for life and competition is something that I'll always be grateful for." - senior high jumper Megan McCloskey

Nearly 10 years ago Spence was diagnosed with leukemia, courageously enduring treatment before entering remission. In 2013, Penn State hosted the 2013, the athletes and coaches at Penn State hosted its inaugural "Fit for Fritz" walk-a-thon to raise money for the American Hope Lodge, where he stayed while receiving treatment.

GENE HARRIS

A men's basketball Nittany Lion record holder, Gene Harris served as team captain his senior season, lettering from 1960-62.

"The early sixties were a time of transition on college campuses and sports. There weren't that many African American players in any of the sports."

TONI POLK

"When I think about Black History Month I think about all the people who have come before me and have given me the opportunity to be in this position." - Toni Polk

For junior Toni Polk coming to Penn State was an easy decision. From the athletics to the outstanding opportunities academically, it took no time for the Nittany Lion to feel right at home in Happy Valley.

CHARMELLE GREEN

For Penn State senior associate athletic director and senior woman administrator Charmelle Green, Black History Month means sharing unique stories that inspire. When it comes to inspiration though, there's perhaps no better story to share than Green's.

As the only black student-athlete at Utah, often times Green felt a majority of the challenges she faced were different from those her teammates were confronted with. That hardly slowed her stride, as the All-American proud looks back on her experiences at Utah, even drawing from the challenges she overcame with the help of her head coach and teammates.

"Jo Evans was a huge part of my life. She was a coach who got me, who understood that my experience at the University of Utah might be very different than my teammates' experience. I was the only black student-athlete on the team and she embraced that. She allowed me to be who I was."

In 2011, Green decided to accept an opportunity at a place she had always considered a legacy program.

"Sandy Barbour as the director of athletics at Penn State and having the opportunity to be a part of her leadership team is a dream come true."

"When student-athletes tell me that this has been the greatest experience of their life, when they say that they couldn't imagine spending their undergraduate career's someplace else, that Penn State provided them everything they needed to be incredibly successful while they were here. To leave this place with the confidence that they need, that's what makes me most proud."

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