2016 TERP AWARDS

MARYLAND IMPACT AWARD

Awarded to a person or group who has contributed to the lasting impact of
local, state or global communities. It honors those who strive to advance society with the best attributes of higher education and/or fundamentals of athletics.

HUDSON

TAYLOR

With the establishment of Athlete Ally vin 2011, Taylor has brought a voice to the often-marginalized community of LGBT athletes in amateur and professional sports across the world.  Athlete Ally is a 501c-3 nonprofit organization that provides public awareness campaigns, educational programming and tools and resources to foster inclusive sports communities. As the organization’s founder and executive director, Taylor has spearheaded campaigns to combat homophobia and transphobia in the NBA, NFL and college campuses across the country. He was heavily involved with the NCAA in authoring the first-ever handbook for college athletes, coaches and administrators on LGBTQ policies and best practices.  After graduating from Maryland, Hudson became a wrestling coach at Columbia. Taylor spreads this message of equality and inclusion through his roles at Athlete Ally, his public speaking, and his blog on the Huffington Post.

Taylor is the only three-time All-American in Maryland wrestling history, twice placing third while also finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships during his Terrapin career. He holds the school record for single season falls (24), career falls (87) and career victories (165) and was the 2010 ACC Tournament Most Valuable Wrestler. Taylor finished his career among the all-time leaders in falls in NCAA wrestling history, and was also a two-time Academic All-American.