As we get ready to kick off the collegiate skating season, we'd like to introduce you to our newest collegiate ambassadors for the 2023-24 season: Audrey Lu, Ian Kang and Megan Westphal! Read about why their passion for collegiate skating led them to becoming an ambassador, their goals for the upcoming season and what new college course they would create if given the chance.
Audrey Lu (UCLA, intercollegiate):
What’s your major?
I am studying Psychobiology on the pre-med track at UCLA
Why did you want to become a collegiate ambassador?
I am very grateful that I can keep doing what I love while being a full-time college student. I wanted to become a collegiate ambassador to inspire student-athletes around the country that they can continue doing what they love while pursuing their academics with such a like-minded and inspiring community of people. I want to be able to utilize my visibility and voice to make a difference for the community and to share my motto: Never give up. Keep chasing your dream. Whatever you do, do it with all your heart.
What do you love most about your school's skating team?
UCLA figure skating team is filled with the most supportive, genuine, passionate, and talented people that I am grateful to call my friends. The support I have received from the team has given me a sense of comfort and belonging as well as the opportunity to skate for myself. It is a way for me to unwind and forget about all of my worries when I step on the ice with my team. UCLA Figure Skating is my home away from home <3
What are your goals for the upcoming collegiate skating season?
I am honored to be selected as U.S. Figure Skating collegiate ambassador and UCLA figure skating team’s Competition Chair for the upcoming season. While continuing to do what I love, I am very happy to give back to my skating community, organize and coordinate competitions for the team as well as inspire college athletes around the country. I am grateful to be able to compete with my teammates across our section and hopefully make it all the way to Nationals;)
If you could create your own college course about anything in the world, what would it be and why?
I would like to create a time management course about how to balance school and other activities. Since I started skating at the age of four, I have learned to manage my time and balance school and skating, while maintaining straight A’s at school to chase my Olympic dream. I have realized that time management is the key to success.
Ian Kang (University of Denver, intercollegiate):
What’s your major?
I am a psychology and sociology double major with a business administration minor.
Why did you want to become a collegiate ambassador?
I wanted to become an ambassador because collegiate skating has given so much to me. It has provided me not only with a rekindled passion for the sport of figure skating, but also with a community of collegiate skaters across the country that I have come to call some of my closest friends. I want the opportunity to give back a community that has given me so much!
What do you love most about your school's skating team?
I love skating with the University of Denver because beyond medals and placements, this team is a family. We love and support each other so much on and off the ice, and getting to see my teammates blossom while they are on the ice is something that just makes me so incredibly happy.
What are your goals for the upcoming collegiate skating season?
For the upcoming collegiate season, I want to continue my mission of growing engagement with collegiate skating not just within my own team, but across the country. I want everyone to have the same incredible opportunities and experiences that I have, and to get the chance to be part of such a unique and special community of athletes.
If you could create your own college course about anything in the world, what would it be and why?
If I could create a college course about anything it would probably be a history class in the discography of Beyoncé because I would do SO well in that class.
Megan Westphal (Adrian College, synchronized skating):
What’s your major?
I am a biology major at Adrian College.
Why did you want to become a collegiate ambassador?
I love collegiate skating because it’s an amazing opportunity to meet people from schools all over the country. It gave me my love of skating back and I became an ambassador to share this with everyone else! It’s also a great chance to try something new.
What do you love most about your school's skating team?
I absolutely love my team and my skating family! My favorite tradition at Adrian is singing our fight song and dancing to "Space Jam" before we compete.
What are your goals for the upcoming collegiate skating season?
My goal for this season is to promote the growth and awareness of the collegiate skating program. I also want to help my team grow and am so excited to watch my teammates grow and succeed!
If you could create your own college course about anything in the world, what would it be and why?
If I had to create any class in college, it would be “How to be an Adult,” because I think we all need it.
