Panthers Share Impact of 2025 ACC Unity Tour
6/30/2025 11:40:00 AM | General, Wrestling, Track & Field, Life Skills
PITTSBURGH – Pitt student-athletes Taylor Forbes (Track & Field), Norrah Lemongo (Track & Field), Darren McQueen Jr. (Track & Field), and Jordan Villarreal (Wrestling) along with staff members Sophia Steinmeyer (Life Skills) and Alonzo Webb III (Track & Field), participated in the 2025 ACC Unity Tour (June 19-22) with stops in Montgomery, Selma, and Tuskegee, Alabama.
The group checked in with PittsburghPanthers.com to share some of their experiences with the tour that kicked off with an introduction from prominent Civil Rights Movement figures Doris Crenshaw and Sheyann Webb-Christburg. Other tour highlights included:
- Visit to Tuskegee University
- Tour of the Tuskegee Airmen Museum
- 60th Anniversary of the March from Selma to Montgomery
- Community Engagement Project – Collecting School Supplies at First Baptist Church in Selma
- Memorial Walk across Edmund Pettus Bridge
- Visit the National Memorial for Peace & Justice Museum
- Visit the Legacy Museum
Pitt's four student-athletes shared some of their thoughts on the experience:
Favorite Part of the ACC Unity Tour
Forbes - The legacy museum which we visited on the final day. To see years and years of history in chronological order, was very moving. It was also very inspiring but saddening to see what we have come from, but also to see that we are not done yet.
McQueen, Jr. - Visiting The National Museum for Peace & Justice. Seeing all the monuments dedicated to those that were lynched was saddening but also inspiring. It showed how far the country has come and demonstrates how far we need to keep going.
Villareal - Walking the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma.
Lemongo - … A mix of the daily reflections and the powerful places we visited, like the museums and historical sites. Taking time to process each day and hear other student-athletes' perspectives really opened my eyes. Everyone brought something unique to the table, and being in those spaces, surrounded by so much history, made the learning feel real and emotional.
Main Takeaway from the trip
Forbes - There is so much that we have accomplished, however we still have so much to fight for. There is still so much that can be done now, but also so much that needs to be done in the future. It showed me that I can't get too comfortable with how the world is, but that I need to continuously challenge myself and others to look at what can still be done.
McQueen, Jr. - Change starts with us. It's up to the young people in college and high school to bring about change in the near future. As long as we continue to seek knowledge and strive towards greater than we'll accomplish the change that's needed.
Villareal - Progress was built by those who came before us. We stand on the shoulders of giants.
Lemongo - One quote that really stayed with me was: "Dreams are possible as long as you have a vision." This trip reminded me of the deep power in resilience and faith. Learning about the history and hearing stories of people who fought through unimaginable challenges taught me that vision and belief can carry you through anything. That message will stick with me forever.
What can you bring back to Pitt from this trip?
Forbes - Something that I will take back to my team is the idea of community and how much can be accomplished even by just working together as a team. Track is an individual sport, however I think when you really use this community of individuals, you can still accomplish so much. It doesn't need to be 100s of us, but if we just work together with the community that we have, we can achieve so much!
McQueen, Jr. - From this trip I'd bring more unity and teamwork to my teammates. All of us from various ACC sports and teams worked together to learn and we all left inspired and better than how we came. Bringing this sense of camaraderie to the Track & Field team can take our community involvement and athletic performances to a new level.
Villareal - This trip reminded me that every moment we step onto the mat or into a classroom, we're part of something bigger than ourselves. When we recognize the sacrifices made before us, we realize we owe it to them and to each other to push beyond limits and reach new heights.
Lemongo - I'm so thankful for this experience. Visiting the museums and engaging in tough but necessary conversations gave me a bigger perspective on what leadership, unity, and growth really mean. I'm leaving this trip inspired to create stronger bonds within my team and lead with more purpose and compassion. Thank you, @ACCsports, for making this unforgettable.
About the ACC Unity Tour
The ACC Unity Tour began in 2022 when ACC student-athletes and administrators embarked on an immersive education journey to Selma and Montgomery. In 2023, the tour continued in Washington, D.C., where participants visited key civil rights landmarks and joined in commemorating the 50th anniversary of Title IX. The 2024 tour brought the group to Charleston, South Carolina, for an educational experience in "The Holy City."
This transformative and educational tour is reflective of the ACC's continued commitment to empowering student-athletes through meaningful, real-world learning opportunities. As a key initiative of ACC UNITE, the Unity Tour provides student-athletes, coaches, and administrators with the opportunity to explore history firsthand, connect with local communities, and participate in immersive educational experiences.
"We are proud to once again provide this meaningful experience that brings our entire membership together," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. "We are grateful for the support of our outstanding partners – Ally, Gatorade, and the Capital One Orange Bowl – who continue to support our student-athletes, administrators, schools and conference at the highest level."
Each ACC member institution is invited to send six representatives – four student-athletes and two coaches or staff members – to take part in the 2025 ACC Unity Tour. This immersive educational experience will include visits to historical sites and opportunities to learn from local leaders about history, culture, and community engagement. This year's tour will stop in Montgomery, Selma, and Tuskegee, Alabama, and will center on the theme: Legacy of Unity: Elevation, Equity, and Empowerment.
ACC Unity Statement
"We, the ACC, are committed to seeing each other as equals and treating each other with respect and dignity at all times; recognizing that our differences don't divide us, but they make us stronger."
About the ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference, in its 72nd year and 18 members strong, stands as one of the most competitive and revered intercollegiate conferences in the nation. ACC members including Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest are dedicated to upholding the league's founding values of academic excellence, athletic competition at the highest level, and integrity. The ACC supports 28 NCAA sports, with 15 for women and 13 for men, and its member institutions span 12 states. In August 2019, the ACC and ESPN partnered to launch ACC Network (ACCN), a 24/7 national network exclusively devoted to ACC sports and original programming. For more information, visit theACC.com and follow the ACC on Instagram (@accsports), Twitter/X (@theACC) and Facebook (facebook.com/theACC).
Players Mentioned
