A champion of all people, Blake Lyman USUSA Athletics and Campus Recreation Vice President
The office of the USUSA Athletics and Campus Recreation Vice President is filled with books, photos and even a small basketball hoop alongside other random artifacts. In essence, it looks similar to a high school coach’s office.
It reflects the person who sits behind the desk. Blake Lyman isn’t just an over-dedicated Aggie Fan, nor just a college politician — he is a coach and a champion of people, said Julia Lyman, Blake’s mother.
Blake’s ability to care for the people around him is what has set him apart his entire life, Julia said. His compassion for others comes from the relationship he has built with his sisters. In particular, the relationship Blake has with his sister Hailey, who has disabilities, has shaped him into who he is today.
“He is a champion for everyone’s rights as he has seen his sister grow up,” Julia said. “Hailey is his girl and he will protect her until the end of time. When he was a kid, he would just go sit and hold her hand because it was a source of comfort for him. Hailey was his kid. I think it has just impacted him to love and accept everyone regardless of differences. He is the protector of all.”
Julia described Blake as an easy kid to be a mom to. Blake was constantly searching for knowledge and almost never stopped talking.
“Once he started talking, the kid never stopped. He was a voracious reader. It was punishment for him to take away his books or make him stop reading,” Julia said. “That is still him now. He always has to have knowledge coming into his brain. He wants to know everything.”
From the time Lyman was a kid, he has had a lot of dreams. In elementary school, Blake dreamed of being a paleontologist. However, that dream quickly turned into working in the movie industry during high school and changed again into his college dream of owning or managing an NBA team. In recent months, Blake has found that none of these previous dreams are what he truly wants to do with his life.
“In the past 3 months or so, I’ve gotten this itch that can’t be scratched. I want to become a teacher now,” he said. “I hate that I want to do that because I just made it through four years, switched my major four times and none of them were education. It’s just been popping into my brain constantly. I want to affect my community and help people out and I think that teaching will give me the best opportunity to do that.”
Julia said she has never been surprised when Blake starts to pursue something new.
“The bar was always so high with Blake. He always wanted to do anything and everything and he has always tried to. Nothing ever surprised me because he always gives it 110 percent. He is always trying new things and pushing himself and he alway has,” she said.
Blake’s recent change of heart comes from what he has seen recently with the presidential election.
“Blake is a champion for all people. Regardless of your religion, gender, sexual identity, or skin color — none of it matters to Blake. He will defend you and your right to be you to the death,” Julia said. “When he saw people going through hard things, he felt their hardships, worry and pain. When that happened it shifted from wanting to own a NBA team to wanting to make an impact on humanity.”
Blake’s compassion for others has carried over into his position as the USUSA Athletics and Campus Recreation vice president.
Megan Neilson Blake Lyman hosts high stakes bingo early in the spring 2017 semester at Utah State University.
USUSA President Ashley Waddoups said Blake consistently reminds them of their duty to the student body.
“I feel like his ability to care about other people — not just executive council members but the whole student body is really impressive,” Waddoups said. “One thing that he’s done a really good job of is reminding us of how much we owe the students and how privileged we are to have these positions. Now that we have these positions, we have a duty to students to help them.”
Waddoups said working with Blake throughout the last year has been a great privilege. Blake’s sense of humor, determination and passion for USU students is what she has enjoyed the most about getting to know him.
Waddoups is also thankful for Blake’s humble and hard-working attitude and his willingness to cover meetings when she is unable to attend.
“He is more than willing to do the behind the scenes work and has not asked for any credit or recognition. There was one time he was super sick, but still covered a meeting for me. He is that loyal and that responsible,” she said. “I don’t think he even realizes what an impact he has made. He really has taught me a lot about leadership.”
When Blake was initially choosing where he wanted to go to college, USU was one of the last places he thought he would be. After growing up in the valley, Blake wanted to get out and see the world. Blake was set on attending the University of Pittsburgh. However, after serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cambodia, Blake came to USU and fell in love with the atmosphere.
“To be candid, I was a little bit less than thrilled. But once I got to school, got involved and met people and I loved it. And now here during my senior year, I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” he said.
Blake said he would not be who he is today if it was not for his time at USU.
“What I am now and what I have been able to be a part of is so much different. I’ve changed a lot and really figured out who I was through my collegiate experience. I fell in love with the university and I think I had to come here in order to do that,” he said.
Jakob Ambuehl is one student who has had the opportunity to work closely with Blake throughout his time at USU.
“I would describe Blake as a charismatic person who loves life and loves USU. He is always striving to serve people and show them why he has such a love for life and his school. I appreciate the friendship and guidance he has shown me as a great friend and leader,” he said.
Ambuehl has enjoyed getting to learn from Blake about what it means to be a leader and to serve the school.
“Blake has really worked hard on bridging the gap between athletics and executive counsel. Other VPs have tended to stick to athletics and athletics alone and I believe Blake has done a great job of combining the two and working hard on athletics but also being involved with the other organizations at school,” he said.
Carly Thornhill has been able to get to know Blake through the Hurd Committee
“I appreciate how Blake is always concerned about those around him. I appreciate how he is there whenever you need him, even if it’s a ride to the airport. Blake is an incredible guy and I’m glad to call him my friend,” she said.
Thornhill believes that Blake has been a great influence at the university, especially in his position as athletics VP.
“Blake is different from other athletic VP because when he has an idea, he will do everything to push that idea through. Even if there are a ton of obstacles, he will find a way to make it happen,” she said.
Blake said his time as the athletics VP has been the most rewarding experience of his college career.
“I’ve seen a lot more of our university and I love the involvement opportunities here. I get to do a lot with athletics but I also get to work with the executive council and being able to try to make change here on campus. Seeing how much there is for students to jump in — that’s been rewarding for me,” he said.
Blake has a desire to see USU become a school that is respected nationally on all levels — both in academics and athletics.
“I want Utah State to be nationally known for everything it can be. I want the athletics to do well but I also want to continue the great things that are going on in our research. I think there is room for improvement in how many students we have and the quality of students we have,” he said.
Blake’s advice to USU freshmen is to quickly find out who they are and where they belong at USU.
“Some of you are going to focus much more on academics and research and others will focus more on social connections and networking,” he said. “Both are important but I think the biggest thing is to find out how you personally operate in academics, social interactions or employment.
He continued.
“Just find out who you are as a person. Take the time to focus on yourself and how you work. Find out your strengths and know them. Then be comfortable with who you are in those ways,” he said.
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