Carrying Forward
Honoring the Legacy of a Wynner
in loving memory
LORI WYNN
March 17, 1970 - April 17, 2020
Coach | Mentor | Servant Leader
Ignite International Board of Directors
"He will keep in perfect peace the one whose mind stays on Him."
Isaiah 26:3
Meet Lori Wynn
On April 17, 2020, one of life's finest champions crossed the starting line to her eternal adventure after a nearly four-year battle with cancer. Lori Wynn was not only the coach of our first team to Jamaica but also a servant leader on the Ignite Board of Directors.
Lori invested 26 years as a collegiate coach and revered mentor. She was a beloved daughter, the ultimate teammate, and an intentional friend. In every way, Lori was a wynner. Her impact will live on in countless ways, through countless lives. Lori bettered all within her reach even as her mom, friends, and teammates walked with her to Heaven's doorstep, where she was welcomed to the arms of Perfect Peace to dance on the waves of Eternity.
On April 17, 2020, one of life's finest champions crossed the starting line to her eternal adventure after a nearly four-year battle with cancer. Lori Wynn was not only the coach of our first team to Jamaica but also a servant leader on the Ignite Board of Directors.
Lori invested 26 years as a collegiate coach and revered mentor. She was a beloved daughter, the ultimate teammate, and an intentional friend. In every way, Lori was a wynner. Her impact will live on in countless ways, through countless lives. Lori bettered all within her reach even as her mom, friends, and teammates walked with her to Heaven's doorstep, where she was welcomed to the arms of Perfect Peace to dance on the waves of Eternity.
On April 17, 2020, one of life's finest champions crossed the starting line to her eternal adventure after a nearly four-year battle with cancer. Lori Wynn was not only the coach of our first team to Jamaica but also a servant leader on the Ignite Board of Directors.
Lori invested 26 years as a collegiate coach and revered mentor. She was a beloved daughter, the ultimate teammate, and an intentional friend. In every way, Lori was a wynner. Her impact will live on in countless ways, through countless lives. Lori bettered all within her reach even as her mom, friends, and teammates walked with her to Heaven's doorstep, where she was welcomed to the arms of Perfect Peace to dance on the waves of Eternity.
Lori invested 26 years as a collegiate coach and revered mentor. She was a beloved daughter, the ultimate teammate, and an intentional friend. In every way, Lori was a wynner. Her impact will live on in countless ways, through countless lives. Lori bettered all within her reach even as her mom, friends, and teammates walked with her to Heaven's doorstep, where she was welcomed to the arms of Perfect Peace to dance on the waves of Eternity.
Tilda Publishing
Meet Lori Wynn
Ignite International, Inc. will honor Lori by carrying her legacy forward through these three ways:
Wynner of the Year
"Pray. Left foot. Right Foot. Breathe. Repeat."
The Wynner of the Year is the highest honor awarded annually by Ignite International, Inc. The purpose of the Wynner of the Year award is to celebrate an individual who has overcome hardship and actively uses their experience to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
The Ignite Wynner of the Year reflects the qualities, characteristics, and deeply held convictions we affectionately refer to as "Wynnerisms" - consistent with the award's namesake, Lori Wynn. Equally, the Wynner of the Year mirrors the Ignite vision to ignite hope for those who need it and make ambassadors of those who have it.
"Ignite you first so that you can ignite your world."
We celebrate hope. We celebrate life. We celebrate Wynners!
The Ignite Wynner of the Year reflects the qualities, characteristics, and deeply held convictions we affectionately refer to as "Wynnerisms" - consistent with the award's namesake, Lori Wynn. Equally, the Wynner of the Year mirrors the Ignite vision to ignite hope for those who need it and make ambassadors of those who have it.
"Ignite you first so that you can ignite your world."
We celebrate hope. We celebrate life. We celebrate Wynners!
Night of Wynners
"Love what you do. Do what you love."
The Night of Wynners is the newest addition to our annual calendar. More than just another signature event, the Ignite Night of Wynners is literally a celebration of LIFE. Life after trauma. Life after hardship. Life after loss. At the Ignite Night of Wynners, we celebrate individuals for whom the journey to overcoming life's worst is the weapon they now use to break destructive cycles and ignite generational cycles of hope.
Our first annual Night of Wynners will be held in September 2022, allowing the Wynner of the Year selection timeline to run a full course. This annual celebration will celebrate our Final Four candidates, and capping off each event will be the crowning of the Wynner of the Year.
We don't do boring!! Trust us, you will not want to miss the Ignite Night of Wynners! Dually reflective of Lori and Ignite, Ignite NoW will be a celebration to remember - fun, empowering, inspiring, and most of all relevant, reachable and real. Stay tuned for 2022 registration details.
Our first annual Night of Wynners will be held in September 2022, allowing the Wynner of the Year selection timeline to run a full course. This annual celebration will celebrate our Final Four candidates, and capping off each event will be the crowning of the Wynner of the Year.
We don't do boring!! Trust us, you will not want to miss the Ignite Night of Wynners! Dually reflective of Lori and Ignite, Ignite NoW will be a celebration to remember - fun, empowering, inspiring, and most of all relevant, reachable and real. Stay tuned for 2022 registration details.
Wall of Wynners
"Let your faith be bigger than your fear."
The Wall of Wynners is an online space dedicated to recognizing everyday heroes who have overcome the hardships of life and are now actively using their experiences to ignite hope for others.
Honorees on the Ignite Wall of Wynners are selected from within our pool of nominees on the road to determining the annually awarded Ignite Wynner of the Year. Candidates who have qualified for our starting pool of 64 but do not make the Top 32 are recognized by name as Honorable Mention on the Ignite WoW. Candidates who make the Top 32 but are eliminated before the Sweet 16 are recognized as Semi-Finalists with a photo and brief introduction.
Our full nomination and selection timeline begins in January 2022.
Honorees on the Ignite Wall of Wynners are selected from within our pool of nominees on the road to determining the annually awarded Ignite Wynner of the Year. Candidates who have qualified for our starting pool of 64 but do not make the Top 32 are recognized by name as Honorable Mention on the Ignite WoW. Candidates who make the Top 32 but are eliminated before the Sweet 16 are recognized as Semi-Finalists with a photo and brief introduction.
Our full nomination and selection timeline begins in January 2022.
"A good coach can change a game, a great coach can change a life."
The Qualities of a Wynner
Courage
Faith
Grit
Hard Work Ethic
Initiative
Faith
Grit
Hard Work Ethic
Initiative
Leadership and Humility
Loyalty
"Perfect Peace"
Perseverance
Positive Mentality
Loyalty
"Perfect Peace"
Perseverance
Positive Mentality
Selflessness
Service
Steadfastness
Vulnerability
Service
Steadfastness
Vulnerability
"Just do the next thing."
Timeline and Selection Process
The Wynner of the Year full timeline and selection process will begin in January 2022.
(timeline details will be updated throughout 2021)
(timeline details will be updated throughout 2021)
January 2022
January 2022
Invitations for Nomination
Ignite International will send invitations for nomination to a comprehensive pool that includes organizations and agencies whose mission parallels our mandate to break cycles of trauma and ignite generational cycles of hope.
February 15
February 15
Deadline to Submit Nominations
Our Selection Team begins reviewing the nominations to determine the starting pool of the Top 64 nominees.
March 10
March 10
Top 64 Announcement
Our Selection Team continues to narrow the field to our Top 32 Semi-Finalists.
March 31
March 31
Top 32 Announcement
Those who are eliminated after Round One (Top 64) will be recognized as Honorable Mention with their name added on our Wall of Wynners.
April 30
April 30
Deadline to Submit Requirements
The Top 32 Semi-Finalists will submit the required essays and letters of recommendation for consideration by the Selection Team.
May 1 to 31
May 1 to 31
Review of Top 32
The Selection Team will review the essays and letters of recommendation and will decide from our field of 32 which candidates proceed to the Sweet 16. The Semi-Finalists eliminated at this point will be recognized with a photo and brief introduction on our Wall of Wynners.
June 1 to 15
June 1 to 15
Sweet 16 Voting
To go forward from the Sweet 16 to the Elite Eight, candidates will be selected through an online voting mechanism. Details TBA.
June 16 to 30
June 16 to 30
Elite Eight Voting
To go forward from the Elite Eight to the Final Four, candidates will be selected through an online voting mechanism. Details TBA.
July 1 to 10
July 1 to 10
Notification of the Final Four
The Final Four candidates will be notified of reaching the Final Four and inviting them to attend our Night of Wynners celebration in September 2022.
Between July 1 and September 1, the Selection Team will make the ultimate decision to select the Wynner of the Year to be announced at our annual signature celebration, the Night of Wynners.
Between July 1 and September 1, the Selection Team will make the ultimate decision to select the Wynner of the Year to be announced at our annual signature celebration, the Night of Wynners.
September 2022
September 2022
Night of Wynners
Date and Registration Details TBA
A celebration of LIFE, and the annual awardning of the Wynner of the Year
"There is no 'I' in team."
Planning and Selection Teams
"We could not adequately honor the Lori Wynn Legacy without the diligence and dedication of people who both know and love Lori, and also the heartbeat of Ignite International. We are thankful for the contributions of each of these individuals."
~ Judy Fox, President | Ignite International, Inc.
~ Judy Fox, President | Ignite International, Inc.
PHASE ONE - PLANNING TEAM (completed)
The groundwork of establishing the criteria and process took place through weekly meetings in the fall of 2020 by a team comprised of individuals having both a deep, historic relationship with Lori and with Ignite International. This team includes:
1. Lori's collegiate coach | Ignite Founder Judy Fox's coach | Friend of Ignite
2. A teammate and 30+ year friend of Lori who is equally a friend/supporter of Ignite
3. A friend of Lori's who is equally a close friend/supporter of Ignite International
4. A friend/colleague/opponent of Lori who as a coach led two teams with Ignite
5. A former student-athlete of Lori's who has served internationally with Ignite
6 and 7: Two representatives from the Ignite International leadership team
1. Lori's collegiate coach | Ignite Founder Judy Fox's coach | Friend of Ignite
2. A teammate and 30+ year friend of Lori who is equally a friend/supporter of Ignite
3. A friend of Lori's who is equally a close friend/supporter of Ignite International
4. A friend/colleague/opponent of Lori who as a coach led two teams with Ignite
5. A former student-athlete of Lori's who has served internationally with Ignite
6 and 7: Two representatives from the Ignite International leadership team
PHASE TWO - SELECTION TEAM
Every individual on our Planning Team (above) graciously embraced the invitation to continue by serving on our Selection Team. To broaden the circle, we welcome seven additional individuals representing Lori's broader "inner circle", including:
8. Lori's mom (a.k.a. "Mama Wynn")
9 and 10: Two of Lori's closest friends from Clarks Summit, PA
11. An additional teammate from Houghton College, NY
12, 13, and 14: Three of Lori's dearest friends/colleagues from Geneva College, PA
[Fun Fact: The gold lettering and gold background on specific blocks on this and the Wall of Wynners page are color-matched to "Geneva gold" to honor Lori's coaching journey coming "full circle]
*Full-time Ignite International staff will participate in the process for the sake of discussion and insights related to Ignite relevance, but will NOT vote on the award in any step of the selection process. Beginning in January 2022, the Ignite Wynner of the Year award will be independently named by this Selection Team of well-qualified individuals giving their time and insight to help us carry forward a legacy we all cherish.
8. Lori's mom (a.k.a. "Mama Wynn")
9 and 10: Two of Lori's closest friends from Clarks Summit, PA
11. An additional teammate from Houghton College, NY
12, 13, and 14: Three of Lori's dearest friends/colleagues from Geneva College, PA
[Fun Fact: The gold lettering and gold background on specific blocks on this and the Wall of Wynners page are color-matched to "Geneva gold" to honor Lori's coaching journey coming "full circle]
*Full-time Ignite International staff will participate in the process for the sake of discussion and insights related to Ignite relevance, but will NOT vote on the award in any step of the selection process. Beginning in January 2022, the Ignite Wynner of the Year award will be independently named by this Selection Team of well-qualified individuals giving their time and insight to help us carry forward a legacy we all cherish.
"I don't know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future."
"My favorite memories as a player:
I cannot tell you about games won and games lost. It's the experience of doing life with a group of people...
I cannot tell you about games won and games lost. It's the experience of doing life with a group of people...
"I cannot tell you about games won and games lost. It's the experience of doing life with a group of people...not all of us have that. This process is not about me, it's about making His name known more."
Lori Wynn
Zoom with #teammatesforlife
April 15, 2020
Lori Wynn
Zoom with #teammatesforlife
April 15, 2020
...and the ability we've had to weave in and out of each other's lives over this span of time. The older I get the more I realize how unique that is.
It's about people. It's not about what we do. It's one of the things that has encouraged me to stay positive and keep focused on the Lord.
This is not about me, it's about His process and making His name known more.
Judy made a comment to me yesterday about you guys walking with me to the starting line. For me, this is a beginning. And I value you guys being with me in that."
~ Lori Wynn ~ Zoom with #Teammatesforlife April 15, 2020
~ Lori Wynn ~ Zoom with #Teammatesforlife April 15, 2020