Petra Hüttemann-Schiller, Senior School ESL/German Teacher was a Division 1 middle distance runner and cross-country runner on full scholarship at Manhattan College in New York. She still runs for pleasure on a regular basis, explaining that “I love to be healthy, feel my body, and see that I can improve anything if I just believe in myself.”
She started the cross-country team at MIS in 1996. Until last year, she coached both cross-country and track and field. Even though Mrs. Schiller is no longer directly involved in coaching, she is still an advocate for the importance of empowering male and female, young athletes.
Petra found out about Sports Illustrated Deutschland’s Wall of Will initiative from her long-time friend Matthias Harbeck, CCO and Partner at established marketing solutions agency, Saint Elmo’s. She brought the project to the attention of MIS leadership who were enthusiastic about incorporating the Wall of Will into the interior design of the FAB.
Saint Elmo’s has partnered with Sports Illustrated (offering their creative services pro bono) to tackle a global issue in women’s sports: According to Women’s Sports Foundation, “by age 14, girls are dropping out of sports at two times the rate of boys.” The Wall of Will is a mural featuring prominent, professional female athletes whose call to action for young female athletes is “Don’t Stop”. The mural is intended to serve as “daily inspiration for young girls. We want to use their stories to inspire girls to stay in sport.” Saint Elmo’s and Sports Illustrated are making over gym and locker room spaces in multiple schools in Germany “where young girls often think of quitting sport”.
The Wall of Will goes up this weekend in the FAB and will serve as a vibrant reminder that there are a hundred reasons for female athletes to stay in sports. Look out for more features to come from MIS’s student news source, the Buchhof Bulletin.