Born and raised in South Florida, Ray Shipman found the love of two sports at the age of 7. Shipman gained his determination and positive spirit from a supportive family and from a huge athletic influence by Ray Shipman Sr., whom he emulates. The past three years have been some of the most challenging and defining years of Ray Shipman's athletic career. Shipman, attended Monsignor Edward Pace High School, where he was a two sport athlete playing football and basketball. While attending, Monsignor Edward Pace High School, Shipman received many accolades including two back to back State championships in basketball in 2007 and 2008. Ray was also Florida's Dairy Farmers Mr. Basketball, which is an award that is awarded every year to Florida’s top high school basketball player.

 

After graduating from Pace in 2008, Shipman was awarded a full scholarship to play at one of NCAA power house basketball teams, The University of Florida. Shipman played for two years under head coach Billy Donovan. Shipman began to change the way people perceived athletes when it comes down to education. In 2009, Shipman was named the SEC Scholar Athlete of The Year, an award only received by one player in UF history prior to Shipman. After two years at the University of Florida, Shipman felt it was best that he parted ways and go back to his first love, by transitioning from the court to the field.

 

In 2011, Shipman received a scholarship to play football for George O’Leary and the University of Central Florida Knights. After two seasons with the Knights, Shipman was signed by the New Orleans Saints in the 2013 NFL Draft. Shipman spent the entire preseason with the Saints before being waived after a hamstring injury. Ray never lost his momentum in the game; two short months later he rose to the challenge to begin to get back healthy. Ray recently made a transition from being a professional athlete to a working professional. He is currently using the skills he learned on the field and basketball court and is applying them to business success. Ray is currently the Manager of the Sports Medicine Program at Memorial Regional Hospital and consulting as the Director of Player Development at St. Thomas University. Most importantly, Ray is the founder and CEO of ChampionShips Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to inspire youth through education and sports. Ray is committed to creating opportunities that will broaden the mindset of young athletes, by empowering them with advanced programming in education, professional development and mentoring to help them achieve their dreams.