MaryKate Carter
Jordan Levin, a Spartan from the class of 1999 who is deaf, uses his education, enthusiasm and talent to make Michigan a healthier place. The Spartan Saga, "A Relentless Road to Achievement" tells his success story.
Levin was born deaf, but his parents did not discover his hearing impairment until he was two years old. In those two years without hearing speech and language, Jordan taught himself to lip-read. With the support of his parents, he then learned to speak, but that was only the beginning of his determination to overcome challenges.
Jordan Levin at the 2011 Awards and Appreciation Reception where he was presented the Outstanding Alumnus Award.
"To sum up everything over the last 35 years, I would say that I am someone who has always been relentless; someone who has never taken no for an answer; someone who has always been able to push through any obstacle that has ever been set forth in front of me," Levin said.
Levin continued to challenge himself throughout school, staying active in many sports and playing Varsity Hockey for Andover High School.
As a Spartan, Levin studied business, but he never forgot his passion for sports. He started his own fitness facility CrossFit Bloomfield in Bloomfield, MI. He calls himself "The Coach" at the facility and sees the role of athletic trainer as more than just a workout leader.
"I like to consider myself more of a life coach," Levin said.
"The idea of fitness, I believe, means to be a well-rounded person; it's not just a physical part of the body."
Jordan is so passionate about fitness that he wants to make sure it is attainable for everyone. His not-for-profit group, the Jordan Levin Childhood Obesity Foundation, partners with local hospitals to make fitness possible for economically challenged families.
The program offers families opportunities to work out at CrossFit or in Hospital settings. According to Levin, some families may not know what to do to promote healthiness, while others may know what they need to do but do not have adequate resources to follow through. The partnership with hospitals also offers these families access to nutritionists and physiologists.
Levin knows that every family has sources of stress, regardless of their background.
"When you come into my facility, you have about one hour to let loose, forget about all that, and just focus on what we are doing and enjoy yourself," Levin said.
Jordan Levin is a Spartan who makes a positive difference in his community. Be it through his business, his foundation or his speaking engagements, the positive outlook he shares with others is inspirational.
"In terms of my deafness...I really don't consider it a handicap," Levin said.
"It is just a part of who I am."
Jordan Levin's perseverance and energy sets a great example for others. Levin happens to be deaf, but it will never be his defining feature. Levin's success and compassion for his community make him an outstanding Spartan worthy of respect and admiration.