EF Tours blog
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Turning adversity into advantage with gold medalist Blake Leeper
Positivity, perseverance, power. You feel it all within the first few minutes of speaking with Track & Field athlete Blake Leeper.
Meeting someone as open and genuine as Blake, it’s tough to imagine his smile giving way to his game face when it’s time to step onto the track and into the starting blocks. But after shattering the world record in the 400-meter dash twice and collecting eight medals along the way, it’s safe to say he’s a fierce competitor.
Blake’s drive to succeed shines through both on and off the track. He’s dedicated his life to beating the odds after being born without feet, ankles, and lower leg bones due to a congenital birth defect. And he’s determined to help others turn their own setbacks into motivators so they can achieve their dreams, too.
Like travel, sports build bridges between disparate communities and cultures. So when EF hosted a Global Leadership Summit in Berlin focused on The Impact of Sports & Wellness, it was a no-brainer to invite Blake to share his story. Keep reading to explore how he’s learned not to let his disability define him and discovered a universal language that connects him with people all across the world—running.
Designer: Michelle Peck
Videographer: David Blumer
Editor: Eric Gonzalez
How Leon B. brings the civil rights movement to life on tour
Designer: Will Crawford
In order to truly understand the civil rights movement, Tour Director Leon B. believes people need to walk through the places where it happened—and learn from those who shaped it.
“I think that civil rights history—[especially] the people who sacrificed throughout the years to become free, to be able to vote, to live equally—is a very important story,” he says. “And that’s the story I know well and want to tell and share.” That’s why EF Explore America partnered with Leon to create The Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta tour, perfect for educators committed to understanding and teaching the civil rights movement. Thanks to his strong passion for the subject matter, along with his personal connections to people who were directly involved, Leon delivers an immersive, one-of-a-kind experience that features everything from in-depth analyses of popular music of the time to face-to-face conversations with lesser-known heroes.
Educator Jason B. turns Global Rewards Points into unforgettable memories
Designer: Will Crawford
EF’s Global Rewards Program is designed for all educators, whether they’re leading their first tour or have been traveling with us for years. High school assistant principal Jason B. learned from that experience.
Jason has been leading his students on EF tours since 2011. In the time since, he’s earned (and redeemed!) thousands of Global Rewards Points through EF’s loyalty program. But when he first started, Jason had no idea what future flights, adventures, and perks were in store for him, all courtesy of his points. He certainly didn’t realize just how soon he’d be able to start using them. In fact, when Jason’s Tour Consultant first told him about EF’s Global Rewards program, he thought there must be a catch. “I remember hearing about the program, but didn’t I look into it because I didn’t think those [rewards] were attainable at the time. Now I know that adding up these points is more than attainable.”
Boston STEM tour: Innovation comes to life in one of America’s oldest cities
Designer: Kristi Oster