{"id":19304,"date":"2026-01-22T08:30:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T13:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/?p=19304"},"modified":"2026-01-22T09:54:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T14:54:12","slug":"guild-and-team-usa-learning-network-celebrates-2-team-usa-luge-athletes-going-for-gold-medals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/Q1\/guild-and-team-usa-learning-network-celebrates-2-team-usa-luge-athletes-going-for-gold-medals","title":{"rendered":"Guild and Team USA Learning Network celebrates 2 Team USA luge athletes going for gold medals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. \u2014 Ashley Farquharson and Chevonne Forgan have a lot in common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both USA Luge teammates have been named to Team USA and are looking to make the podium in their respective luge competitions at the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, to be held Feb. 6-22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, they both enrolled through the Guild and Team USA Learning Network to pursue Purdue Global degrees \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.com\/profiles\/ashley-farquharson\">Farquharson<\/a> a business administration degree and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.com\/profiles\/chevonne-forgan\">Forgan<\/a> an early childhood administration degree. Purdue Global is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdueglobal.edu\/about\/guild-partnership-with-team-usa\/\">the preferred online university and degree provider<\/a> of the Guild and Team USA Learning Network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Farquharson will be competing in her second Winter Olympics; first representing the U.S. at Beijing 2022, finishing 12th in the individual women\u2019s luge and seventh in the team relay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Forgan is looking forward to being part of Team USA for the first time, especially after having a stellar 2024-25 World Cup season, ushering in a new era in luge \u2014 she will be competing in women\u2019s doubles, which will make its debut as a medal sport at Milano Cortina 2026.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meet Ashley Farquharson<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<lite-youtube class=\"youtube-lite\" videoid=\"BtjiQOHG-ck\" params=\"rel=0\"><\/lite-youtube>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A Park City, Utah, native, Farquharson moved to Lake Placid, New York, to pursue her luge career and train with USA Luge at the Lake Placid Olympic and Paralympic Training Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/Q1\/guild-and-team-usa-learning-network-u-s-olympic-luge-athlete-balances-career-and-online-business-classes\/\">Farquharson<\/a> enrolled in Purdue Global classes shortly after the partnership between the Guild and Team USA Learning Network and Purdue Global was announced to earn her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdueglobal.edu\/degree-programs\/business\/bachelor-business-administration\/\">Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in wealth management and financial planning<\/a>. She also has encouraged other luge athletes to sign up and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdueglobal.edu\/blog\/alumni-student-stories\/guild-partnership-with-team-usa-helps-athlete-plan-for-whats-next\/\">work on their next chapters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Farquharson has balanced her training and classwork \u2014 having completed 12 classes \u2014 so she can graduate by December 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In preparing for Milano Cortina 2026, Farquharson worked with a performance psychologist, sports psychologist and a goal-setting specialist to help her navigate the twists and turns of life and the highest levels of national and international competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWorking with these specialists helps prepare your mind and body for nervousness, competitive anxiety and other emotions. Another part of this was that process-based goal setting combined with self-reflection can yield significant improvements in results-based goals,\u201d she said. \u201cThis means that putting your focus on the process rather than the results can yield better performance outcomes. I\u2019ve also been working personally with a sports psychologist to try and create the best competitive mindset I can going into this Olympic season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Farquharson is looking forward to having her whole family cheering her on at the track in Italy, but she\u2019s also excited to get back to classes following the Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe best part of taking classes with Purdue Global is the flexibility. Everything is very much on your own time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Farquharson is excited to return, sharing her Purdue Global story with athletes and fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meet Chevonne Forgan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"876\" height=\"493\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ChevonneForgan-mk.jpg\" alt=\"Olympic luge athlete Chevonne Forgan greets fans following a luge run.\" class=\"wp-image-19301\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ChevonneForgan-mk.jpg 876w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ChevonneForgan-mk-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ChevonneForgan-mk-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 876px) 100vw, 876px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chevonne Forgan is a luge athlete competing in women\u2019s doubles. Forgan is taking classes through the Guild and Team USA Learning Network at Purdue Global. (Photo\/Michael Kristen)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Chevonne Forgan hails from Chelmsford, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After testing out a luge sled in 2012, Forgan began competing internationally in individual divisions in the Youth World Cup series in 2016 and then Junior World Cup series in 2018. During the summer of 2020, she switched to the women\u2019s doubles division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2024-25 doubles season has been Forgan and her doubles partner\u2019s best season yet, with seven World Cup medals, including a gold medal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe feel well prepared and excited to face the challenges that qualifying to compete for Team USA in the Winter Olympics will bring us this year,\u201d Forgan said. \u201cWe are hoping to build off the momentum from last year as we go into the qualifiers this year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Forgan is excited for the debut of women\u2019s doubles luge in the Olympic Games, a journey more than five years in the making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI still remember the feeling of finding out that it had officially been added,\u201d Forgan said. \u201cIt really solidified this goal that we had as a team to make it there. This creates so many more opportunities for women in luge, and it\u2019s incredible to be a part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Forgan also was excited to serve on a team of international athletes that tested the new Cortina Sliding Centre in Cortina d\u2019Ampezzo, Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBeing a part of the team that tested the Olympic track during the prehomologation, or precertification, stage was an honor,\u201d Forgan said. \u201cThe track has changed quite a bit since then and continues to get better and more challenging as we get closer to the Winter Olympics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When Forgan is not training, she is pursuing her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdueglobal.edu\/degree-programs\/education\/bachelor-early-childhood-administration\/\">Bachelor of Science in early childhood administration<\/a> through Purdue Global \u2014 the exact degree program she was looking for, as she has always wanted to work with young children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEarly childhood administration opens more doors for what I can do within the realm of early childhood, and I am interested in the administrative side of things,\u201d she said. \u201cThis degree allows more opportunities for me while allowing me to work on my degree online.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Forgan has found a good rhythm in working on her classes and assignments while balancing her training and preparations for the Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI set aside time for school and make sure to work it into my schedule whenever I can. Just doing a little bit every day means staying on track,\u201d Forgan said. \u201cI do love to learn, and it feels great to be back in school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Purdue Global&#8217;s flexibility allows Forgan to focus on the present while looking ahead to the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTo be able to compete in the sport that I love and pursue my dream of making it to the Winter Olympics while being able to work toward my dream job and future after sport is a blessing,\u201d Forgan said. \u201cI am grateful to have this opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About Purdue Global<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Purdue Global is Purdue\u2019s online university for working adults who have life experience and often some college credits. It offers flexible paths for students to earn an associate, bachelor\u2019s, master\u2019s or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, military service and previous college credits, no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University. For more information, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdueglobal.edu\">https:\/\/www.purdueglobal.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"note\" class=\"post-content__attribution \">\n    <div class=\"columns\"> \n                    <div class=\"column\"> \n                <p class=\"post-content__source\">\n                    <strong>Media contact:<\/strong> Matthew Oates, <a href=\"mailto:oatesw@purdue.edu\">oatesw@purdue.edu<\/a>, 765-496-6160                <\/p>\n            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"column is-narrow\">                 \n                <div class=\"post-content__editor-note\">\n                    <p class=\"post-content__editor-note--header\">Note to journalists:<\/p>\n                    <p>    \n                        Photos and b-roll video are available on <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1_NqbdED2RLjLQPEMv8Tc0MDipoSI4eJ0?usp=drive_link\">Google Drive<\/a>.                    <\/p>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. \u2014 Ashley Farquharson and Chevonne Forgan have a lot in common. Both USA Luge teammates have been named to Team USA and are looking to make the podium in their respective luge competitions at the upcoming Olympic<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":19302,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48,420],"tags":[],"department":[],"source":[333],"purdue_today_topic":[],"coauthors":[47],"class_list":["post-19304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-global","category-unlisted","source-purdue-global"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19304","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19304"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19304\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19305,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19304\/revisions\/19305"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19304"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19304"},{"taxonomy":"department","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/department?post=19304"},{"taxonomy":"source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/source?post=19304"},{"taxonomy":"purdue_today_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/purdue_today_topic?post=19304"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=19304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}