Rashad Jennings (’09)
EDITOR’S NOTE: After press time, Liberty held a watch party for the “Dancing with the Stars” finale, in which Rashad Jennings was crowned the winner of Season 24.
Former Liberty Flame and current NFL free agent running back Rashad Jennings (’09) stood out as a formidable contender on Season 24 of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Paired with professional dancer Emma Slater, Jennings debuted in the Season 24 lineup. His Week 4 performance on the show’s “Most Memorable Year” episode in April captivated the nation, as he dedicated his dance to his father, Lynchburg resident Albert Jennings, who was in the audience cheering on his son because of a kind act by Liberty.
Albert Jennings is a double amputee and had not planned to travel to Los Angeles because he is unable to fly commercially. But when Rashad Jennings contacted friends at his alma mater — President Jerry Falwell and his wife, Becki — asking for help, they offered the university’s private jet to transport his parents and a brother and sister-in-law to the show from Lynchburg. President Falwell saw them off, and Becki Falwell, along with their daughter, Caroline, joined the Jennings family on the jet and attended the live television event, meeting with Rashad afterward.
President Jerry Falwell came to the airport to say goodbye to his wife, Becki, and the Jennings family as they left to see Rashad Jennings on ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
In a pre-filmed video shown during the episode, Rashad revealed how he had overcome a strained relationship with his father and learned the value of unconditional love. After his first year playing football at the University of Pittsburgh, Rashad was told his father’s health was declining and he was in need of an amputation. Rashad transferred to Liberty so he could be closer to home and help take care of his father. Jennings and Slater’s dance to Katy Perry’s “Unconditionally” captured the highest score of the night.
“Thank God for you (Becki Falwell) and Liberty University for flying my dad out to the show! I’ll never forget your most kind gesture,” Jennings wrote in a post on Instagram.
Jennings and Slater continued to do well on the show and made it to the finals.
Samantha Ponder (’09)
Alumna Samantha Ponder will take the desk at one of the most coveted positions in sports broadcasting world this fall as host of ESPN’S long-running “Sunday NFL Countdown.”
It was announced in March that she would replace sports broadcasting legend Chris Berman. Before the announcement, Ponder, a Phoenix, Ariz., native, was among the network’s top college football reporters. She has been a contributor to “College GameDay” since 2012. Ponder also reported for ABC Saturday Night Football last year. She has been with ESPN since 2011 after a stint with FOX Sports Net.
As part of her new role, Ponder will contribute NFL features and interviews to the network. She is only the third host of “Sunday NFL Countdown” in its 32-year history.
At Liberty, Ponder was a Liberty Flames Sports Network sideline reporter for all football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball games.
Cabot Phillips (’15)
Cabot Phillips regularly appears on national news networks, including FOX News, to discuss political issues. He is currently the director of campus outreach for the Leadership Institute, where he trains college students around the country to effectively spread conservative ideals, and has been a contributor to its Campus Reform news platform.
Phillips was recognized on Red Alert Politics’ “30 under 30” list of young leaders making an impact in their communities. He is also a YouTube Partner, starring in numerous videos which have received more than 100 million views.
