The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 ■ 25 the Murphy Football Center and support student-athlete scholarships in the football program. Overall, the Washingtons said they hope to expand opportunities and experiences for students, particularly those from groups underrepresented in higher education, by ensuring that financial barriers don't de- rail dreams. They want to help deepen the sense of community that helped them thrive at the university. "We want to see even more racially and ethnically diverse students graduate from NC State, and even more students achieve at high levels," Adama said. "We want to broaden mentorship efforts and foster that village feeling that was so important to us. "We love NC State's dedication to excel- lence, and it starts at the top. Chancellor [Randy] Woodson has been consistent and bold in how he represents NC State, and in his commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity and student support." The Washingtons' gift is very personal. They would love to inspire similar philan- thropy in others — including their three children. "Hopefully, even more alumni will step up, especially former student-athletes," De- wayne said. "I hope other people will see a need, or recognize whatever area they're passionate about, and give to support that." A Shared History Building community is a recurring theme for the Washingtons. Adama grew up in Lawndale, a small town in western North Carolina's Cleve- land County. Someone from her hometown had attended NC State, which got it onto her short list of colleges under consider- ation as a high school student eager to em- brace the larger world. "I came from a hard-working family and knew I would stay in state for school," she said. She started out studying business at NC State but soon switched her major to social work. Adama's parents ran a fam- ily care home while she was growing up and raised her, she said, to help and serve others. "When I was an undergraduate student, I worked several campus jobs, and I par- ticipated in on- and off-campus community service activities. Some of those experi- ences, along with my upbringing, tugged at my heart," she added. "From the moment I got involved in the social work program, everyone there was so helpful and so sup- portive. Faculty like Linda Williams were such incredible mentors. I loved it." A couple of years earlier, the slightly older Dewayne, a Durham native, had drawn recruiting attention from across the ACC as a football standout at Northern Durham High School. In the end, a decid- ing factor for joining the Wolfpack was staying close enough for his mother to eas- ily watch him play. The decision also led him to his most important teammate. Adama and Dewayne officially met around the start of the 1993 fall semes- ter as they headed to classes in the since- demolished Harrelson Hall, after noticing each other at a couple of off-campus social functions. Both have fond memories of a small but tightknit community of Black students at NC State. They learned from influential faculty like Dr. Gail Hankins and Dr. Wan- dra Hill, and spent time in places including the then-Student Center and College Inn. "It was my village," Adama said. "As historically excluded students at a predomi- nantly white institution, we had a strong network and we looked out for one another. The Washington family — from left to right: DJ, Adama, Dewayne, Demi and Delaney — wanted to give back to the place where Adama and Dewayne met and which has had such a huge impact on their lives since. PHOTO BY MARC HALL/NC STATE UNIVERSITY