Luke Campbell showed Tiger Tank how to OVERCOME. Campbell, a senior education major from Trenton, Ohio, recently became the latest Tiger Tank winner after pitching his idea to three alumni judges in early February on campus before the COVID-19 health crisis. Founder of OVERCOME, a fundraiser to help children with disabilities live an active lifestyle by participating in sports, Campbell was one of four Wittenberg students and one local high school student from the Global Impact STEM Academy (GISA), pitching at the event.
As the winner, Campbell secured more than $25,000 worth of business assistance as a result of the third-annual, business department-sponsored event and Wittenberg鈥檚 version of the popular Shark Tank program. The event was organized by Kevin Steidel, assistant professor of practice and the Robert E. Ness Chair of Entrepreneurship, and Heath Queen, class of 2016, who serves as the coordinator for engaged learning at Wittenberg. Sarah Auble 鈥�20, of Orville, Ohio, also helped with planning the event.
鈥淥VERCOME is everything I have ever wanted to do for children in similar situations as me, and Tiger Tank gave me the opportunity to make my dream a reality,鈥� said Campbell, who was born with only one hand forcing him to overcome many challenges, including participating in sports. He was a pitcher growing up and through his first two years at Wittenberg.
鈥淚 always relied on sports to gain that sense of normalcy,鈥� he added. 鈥淧eople aren't afraid to stare when you have a disability, so I wanted to give them something special to look at. Playing collegiate baseball was a blessing in my life, and reassured me that I can OVERCOME any obstacle in my life. Every time I took the mound, I took it as an opportunity to prove I belonged. By making it to the collegiate level, I proved to myself and others that I truly did. Through sports, I gained a sense of self-worth that I needed. I do understand however, that not every person that is in my shoes gets the same opportunity. I started OVERCOME to give people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in athletics, however that may look for them.鈥�
Campbell has already donated $4,500 to organizations that give athletes like himself this opportunity. But he felt that pitching his idea at Tiger Tank could take OVERCOME to another level.
鈥淚 decided to enter this fundraiser to Tiger Tank as it had shown so much potential for future growth and this cause is super close to my heart,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淚 knew if I did well enough to earn the grand prize, I would be able to help so many kids just like me. I was very nervous to present and tried to prepare a long and detailed speech. When I got up on stage, I decided it would mean more if I just told my story and spoke from the heart. I believe the judges could see how passionate I am about making this dream a reality. There were so many great presentations, so I truly feel blessed to have won Tiger Tank 2020. I couldn't be more excited to work with every business and mentor that has generously offered up their time and resources to help progress OVERCOME.鈥�
OVERCOME started as an idea for a tattoo as Campbell wanted to have something that constantly reminded him that his disability does not define who he is and what he accomplishes. After getting the tattoo, some of his peers suggested his message should be shared with others like him. That encouragement led him to put the design on a bracelet and sell those bracelets to raise money. The bracelets gained attention when he announced the sales on Twitter. Since then, he has had an overwhelming amount of support from his fraternity brothers in Phi Kappa Psi, former teammates, education majors, fellow students, professors, and now the entrepreneurial world.
He now sells bracelets, T-shirts, laptop stickers, and accepts donations with the money going to any organization that supports athletes with disabilities and future students in his classroom.
鈥淢y goal is to be an intervention specialist at the elementary level, serving not only as their teacher, but as a role model they can relate to,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want students with disabilities to see someone that looks like them and struggles with the same things they do every day.鈥�
Other students presenting at Tiger Tank 2020 included Joshua Butler 鈥�20 from Ironton, Ohio, for Shooter Stopper; Christopher Stock 鈥�22 of Maineville, Ohio, Charles Fales 鈥�22 from West Chester, Ohio, Gunnar Doran 鈥�22 from West Jefferson, Ohio, and Christian Sweet of Hilliard, Ohio, for Tiger Rage Cage; brothers Andrew 鈥�20 and Austin Boeres of Urbana, Ohio, for CAKTUS apparel; and GISA student Haylee Acquah for 鈥淛ust Because鈥� podcast.
Other students from GISA displayed their entrepreneurial projects in Gus Geil Lounge outside Founders Pub in the Benham-Pence Student Center during the evening. Melanie Barrett, Wittenberg class of 2021, who won Tiger Tank in its inaugural year, emceed the event along with Steidel.
This year鈥檚 Tiger Tank judges included Gina Schaefer, Wittenberg class of 1993, Peter Franz, Wittenberg class of 2004, and Dana Akers.
For more information, check out Campbell鈥檚 website or follow him on Instagram @overcomedisability and on Twitter @luke_campbell25.
-By Megan Selby 鈥�20 and Cindy Holbrook, University Communications
