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CEDAR HILL – The Northwood University athletic program has been honored by the Red River Athletic Conference for having an exceptional group of well-rounded student athletes.
Red River recognized Northwood’s athletes with the Academic Award for the highest overall grade point average in the conference during the 2007-2008 academic year. Northwood’s cumulative GPA of 2.89 surpassed 11 other regional colleges and universities for the title, which includes about 130 Northwood athletes in 10 sports. Northwood also took home Red River’s All-Sports award for winning the most conference championships -- six -- during the 2007-2008 year. Women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, baseball, softball and women’s golf received the honors.
These same student athletes have volunteered about 500 hours with Habitat for Humanity, at a home for children affected by AIDS, and with the elderly, among other ways they gave their time.
Pat Malcheski, Northwood’s athletic director, said this is exactly what his department has been preaching for years. Academics, athletics and philanthropy go hand-in-hand, Malcheski said. One doesn’t have to take precedence over the other two.
“We’ve got kids who can win, we’ve got kids who get good grades, and we’ve got kids who serve the community,” Malcheski said. “What more can you ask?”
Dr. Kevin G. Fegan, provost of Northwood’s Texas campus, said Northwood’s athletes are every bit its scholars. He also emphasized the way Northwood’s core values of integrity and responsibility build character in its students.
“Northwood gives its students an outstanding education, and the chance to excel in sports,” Dr. Fegan said. “We have the kind of student athletes who can win conference titles with their accomplishments in the classroom and on the field.”
The Northwood Knights also were praised for having 43 athletes with a 3.0 or higher grade point average. Leading the way for Northwood were six student athletes also recognized by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athleticsas Scholar Athletes. For women’s soccer: Melody Smiley, Camile Luevano and Amber Middleton; for baseball, Chris McGuire; and softball, Tabitha Stallsworth and Katie Pfannerstill. Additionally, Northwood landed three teams on the 2007-2008 NAIA Scholar Teams List. Baseball, men’s golf and women’s soccer each earned a GPA higher than 3.1.
The Red River Athletic Conference is an association of colleges and universities within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The conference's 12 members, including Northwood University, Texas Wesleyan University and Paul Quinn College, are in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
About Northwood University:
Northwood University is committed to providing the most personal attention to prepare students for success in their careers and in their communities. It promotes critical thinking skills and personal effectiveness, and the importance of ethics, individual freedom and responsibility.
Private, nonprofit and accredited, Northwood University specializes in managerial and entrepreneurial education at three full-service, residential campuses located in southern Florida, mid-Michigan, and northern Texas. Adult Degree Programs are available in eight states with many course delivery options including online. The DeVos Graduate School offers full-time and evening master’s degree programs for entrepreneurs and executives in Michigan, Texas and Switzerland. The Alden B. Dow Creativity Center on the Midland, Michigan campus specializes in creative thinking and innovation development. International education is offered through terms abroad and in Program Centers in Switzerland, China, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Northwood University also operates the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Maine.
Media Contact:
Lauren D’Avolio
Director of Public Relations
NorthwoodUniversity
Voice (972) 293-5456
Fax (972) 291-8475
davolio@northwood.edu
