Art + Design Students Bring Coaches vs. Cancer Vision to Life

LOGAN, Utah — The Department of Art + Design collaborated with the Utah State Athletics and Intermountain Healthcare earlier this year for an initiative called Coaches vs. Cancer, bringing creativity and community together in a meaningful way.

The initiative centered around a 12-year-old cancer patient with a passion for both art and footwear.

During planning for their annual cancer awareness game, athletics staff connected with a local patient named Xander Gunnell and aligned the effort with Coaches vs. Cancer week, a nationwide effort supported by the NCAA.

Xander designed a custom pair of shoes, and Art + Design students painted his design onto shoes for him and for the Utah State men’s basketball coaching staff, who wore them during two games.

“After hearing about Xander’s story and the project, students were eager to help,” said Art + Design Department Head Kathy Puzey. “It surprisingly took much more time and effort than expected, but they stuck with it and helped get it across the finish line.”

According to Puzey, initiatives like this align closely with the department’s core values.

“We are always happy to be involved and collaborate on community outreach projects such as this,” she said. “It’s an important part of our department’s mission.”

Tyler Thompson, general manager for Utah State Athletics, said that in the week leading up to the game Xander and his family attended practices, met players and coaches and shared their story.

During one practice, the team surprised him with his custom pair. On game day, he joined the team in the locker room before tipoff and was surprised to see the entire coaching staff wearing shoes with his design.

“He lit up,” Thompson said. “Seeing a 12-year-old put the pieces together like that was awesome.”

After wearing the shoes for two games, the coaches decided to auction them rather than keep them.

“The coaches said, ‘Hey, we love these shoes, but we don't feel like it's right for us to keep them,’” Thompson said. “‘We want to auction them off and then take the proceeds from that auction and give them back to Xander and his family for future treatment, medical expenses, anything that they could use that money for.’”

This auction generated about $2,500 in additional support for Xander’s family.

“Our students are excited that the shoes they painted have been auctioned off to supportive individuals, but more importantly, that the funds raised are going back to support Xander and his family,” Puzey said. “That’s the good stuff.”

To learn more about the Department of Art + Design and Utah State Athletics, including future events and initiatives, visit their websites.