University of Minnesota Athletics
Black History Month: Cynthia (Phillips) Wilson
2/6/2019 5:12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
In honor of Black History Month, Gopher Athletics is celebrating those who made us great. Throughout February, GopherSports.com will share short interviews with African-American alumni from various Gopher programs. In these interviews, former student-athletes reflect on their time at the U of M, provide advice to current Gophers and share what Black History Month means to them personally.
Cynthia (Phillips) Wilson
Sport: Basketball
Years: 1983-87
Hometown: Lansing, Michigan
Occupation: Director of Facilities
What is it you miss most about the University?
Just playing ball, traveling, and friendships I made.
If you could give the current student-athletes any piece of advice, what would it be?
It's a blessing to be a student athlete, so use the sport as a tool to your success. Be appreciative of everything (the good, bad, and ugly), because is develops character.
Please share your favorite university or athletic event you've attended since you graduated and what made it so special to you?
The alumni events; Women's Basketball/ African American Mentors. It warms my heart to see old school mates and share stories.
What are you grateful for?
I'm grateful for a free education, establishing myself in the Minneapolis community and raising a family. That was afforded to me by way of a full athletic scholarship.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
Black History Month is a month that was granted by our government (through tireless struggles by many, but mostly Cater G Woodson), to honor Black History, and while recognizing people, places, and things are great, it is more than a formality to me. It's every day that I live as a black woman. It is about really evaluating our history and establishing the change that our history really stood/stands for. Black History is American History! I appreciate and honor the month, but I try to live a life that reflects Black History daily. It is my hope that my children and community sees the cherished Black History through me, and the telling of our continued stories of life, love, struggle, and growth.
My time is filled with my family: Husband Odell Wilson III former Penn State Football student-athlete and current federal government supervising probation officer. I have a daughter (Cyndell) who is 21 years old and is completing a degree in nursing, an 18 year old son (Odell IV) who is a freshman, student-athlete at North Dakota State University (NDSU) on a full athletic scholarship for basketball. Youngest son is (Willie) 15 years old and is a freshman at North Community High School where he is an honor roll student who plays football and basketball. I am also a foster parent and very active in sports, my community, and church.