In his four years as a Terrier, Derek Stern proved to be one of the finest long distance runners in the history of Hiram Athletics.
In Cross Country from 1988 to 1991, Derek earned four varsity letters, was the Team MVP three times, and was also a three-year captain of the team. He won All-Conference honors in the Presidents' Athletic Conference in 1988 as a freshman, then won All-Conference honors again in the Ohio Athletic Conference in both 1989 and 1991. During his sophomore season, he finished 2nd in the OAC Championships, qualifying for the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Meet. There, out of almost 150 runners, he finished 13th, just missing a trip to the National Finals by three places.
Also a four-year letterman and star on the Track Team, Derek captained the team for two seasons and won All-OAC honors in the outdoor 5,000m and 10,000m races in 1990, and in the indoor 5,000m race in 1991. In the process, he set school records in both the 5K and 10K events that still stand today.
Also during his days at Hiram, he served in the Athletic Department as the Assistant to the Sports Information Director.
After graduation, Derek worked for a company in the Ohio Workers Compensation industry for over twenty years, rising to the position of Vice President of Customer Relations. For the last four years, he has served as Heath and Productivity Director for Unum, the largest disability insurer in the United States. He is a member of the Board of Trustees in York Township, Michigan, and still keeps active in athletics as the Assistant Coach for Cross Country and Track at nearby Saline High School.
