Gray Represents AAMU as Nike Yardrunner

AAMU alum Jennifer Gray is the designer behind the first Alabama A&M Nike shoe. The 2021 graduate was recently part of a Nike Activation where she shared the journey of the project and detailed the design for fans. 

“With tremendous honor," she said. "I am very grateful and elated to be the designer behind this project.”

Nike has extended its YardRunner campaign, entering its fourth season this year. The footwear company selects five HBCUs each year to produce a sneaker for their institutions in an effort to increase exposure. Along with the project, Nike also regularly releases clothing apparel honoring the different institutions. In October, it once again offered its popular Terminator High collection, which is complete with HBCU-inspired sneakers.

“I was contacted by Richard Palmer, a Howard University alumnus and one of the Nike YardRunner founders, regarding the chance to design the Nike Terminator High for AAMU after I had previously taken part in the campaign in 2021. Being the first-ever AAMU shoe designer who collaborated with Nike was a thrill.”

This year, Nike has added five new colors to the Terminator High ensemble, gleaning inspiration from Alabama A&M University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Tuskegee University, and Tennessee State University. 

Gray, a Montgomery, Alabama native, earned an electrical engineering degree at AAMU in 2021 and is now a hardware engineer at Lockheed Martin in Atlanta.

Gray talks about her design here: https://www.facebook.com/fromthehillpodcast/videos/660895222798044