The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1407083
26 ■ THE WOLFPACKER We hung out on the Brickyard, we social- ized off campus and with students from Duke, UNC and the historically Black col- leges and universities in the area. We retain many of those connections today. "Those experiences and those relation- ships gave me a sense of home here at NC State." Dewayne, who in 1994 became a first- round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings, shared that feeling. He spent several sea- sons as a starting cornerback there and with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with shorter stints playing for the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars. "I always came back to campus in the offseason to work out and I always knew this would be a place I'd eventually call home," he said. During those months between profes- sional football seasons, Dewayne also en- rolled in classes, one at a time. He eventu- ally completed his undergraduate degree in the College of Humanities and Social Sci- ences with a major in interdisciplinary stud- ies. Hankins and Gary Palin were among the faculty and staff who encouraged him. "One of the biggest impacts NC State has made on me came from the commit- ment and determination of those who motivated and supported me to finish my degree," he said. "That meant so much to me, because it didn't have anything to do with football or how fast I could run or how high I could jump. It fulfilled the promise I made to my mom that I would graduate. "It took me six years to finish it up, but it's the most gratifying thing I've ever done, outside of my marriage and kids, no doubt." A similar experience deepened Adama's ties to NC State. When she and Dewayne married in 1997, she had one degree re- quirement remaining. The social work fac- ulty here helped connect her with St. Olaf College in Minnesota, where Dewayne was playing for the Vikings, and ensured she could earn that final internship credit. "We are dedicated to the School of So- cial Work because of how much they've supported us," Adama said. "It's only right to give back." A Shared Vision Of Shaping The Future Adama earned her master's degree in social work at the University of Pittsburgh while Dewayne was with the Steelers. She holds licensure in several areas and has put her skills to work in mental health and sub- stance use disorder settings as well as being an active volunteer leader in her children's schools and the community. Dewayne, always interested in archi- tecture and construction growing up, is a partner at NSV Development and past CEO and managing partner for the D. Washing- ton Group. He focuses on the construction and financial operations of NSV, which prides itself in transforming areas of com- munities like Fayetteville, Wilson and his Durham hometown. One day during his NFL years, De- wayne, whose Wolfpack career bridged the Dick Sheridan and Mike O'Cain eras, ran into former strength and conditioning coach David Horning on campus. Horning had traded his shorts and T-shirt for a coat, tie and role as an associate athletics direc- tor. Conversations followed. "He would talk about future possibilities and ways that I could get reinvolved. He talked to me about how you should do your part to give back and that really resonated with me," Dewayne said. "I always knew that someone out here paid for my schol- arship, so I should probably do the same since I was blessed to have the ability to do that." The Washingtons are members of the Wolfpack Club, Black Alumni Association and William Joseph Peele Lifetime Giv- ing Society. Dewayne has served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Board of Visitors and the NC State Univer- sity Foundation Board. Adama has served Despite being selected in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft, Dewayne Washington returned to NC State to train in the offseason and finish his degree. He wound up playing 12 years in the league for four different teams. PHOTO COURTESY JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS " I hope other people will see a need, or recognize whatever area they're passionate about, and give to support that. " Dewayne Washington, former NC State and NFL player