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(From gocolgateraiders.com) HAMILTON, N.Y. (5/4/11) – Colgate University Director of Athletics David Roach introduced Nicci Hays Fort today (Wednesday, May 4) at a press conference. Hays Fort becomes the ninth head coach of the Colgate women’s basketball program, after spending the past five seasons as an assistant coach at DePaul University (2006-11). She served as the associate head coach for the Blue Demons during the 2010-11 season.

Hays Fort helped guide the Blue Demons to five NCAA Tournaments and combined for an 112-54 record. Last season DePaul advanced in the NCAA Tournament to the Sweet 16 for the second time in program history, the first time since 2006. The team finished 29-7 overall and ranked in the top-10 of the national polls. The 29 wins were the most by any team in DePaul’s history.

Hays Fort has also helped mentor 14 All-BIG EAST performers, while numerous student-athletes have been honored for their academic achievements in the classroom.

Before joining the staff at DePaul, Hays Fort served as the head coach at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla., from 2002-06. After taking over the NCAA Division II program at Barry in 2002, she coached seven All-Sunshine State Conference selections, the 2004 SSC Freshman of the Year, and three other all-freshmen picks. She had 10 student-athletes named to the SSC Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll. She recruited Rebecca Segert, who became the leading rebounder and scorer with over 2,000 points at the US Merchant Marine Academy.

The Monroe City, Mo. native served as an assistant coach at Nicholls State University for two seasons from 2000-02 and was the first head coach at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy during the 1999-00 campaign.

As a student-athlete, Hays Fort was a two-sport letterwinner in basketball and softball at Truman State University (Mo.) before finishing her career at Culver-Stockton College (Mo.). She earned a bachelor of science in psychology and a minor in mathematics from Culver-Stockton in 1998. Hays averaged 4.1 points and 1.8 assists on the basketball court before moving to the diamond and hitting .300 as a shortstop at Culver-Stockton.

In addition to her coaching duties at Barry, Hays Fort was also the assistant compliance coordinator. She is married to Gregg Fort, who is Assistant Vice President for University Advancement at DePaul University.

Along with her on-the-court activities with the Blue Demons, Hays Fort is also involved with Habitat for Humanity, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the American Heart Association Jump Rope for Heart and Misericordia. She has been a member of the Women’s Sports Foundation since 2000 and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association since 1998.

“Team Zingo”, comprised of Michael Bird, Evonne Bird, Melody Jennings, and Chris Lantz,  was recently awarded the Top Step Takers award for compiling the most steps in the 1st TruFit Walking Incentive Program.

Lauren Elizabeth Jensen, BS in Health Science, BA in Psychology was selected for Phi Beta Kappa and was initiated on Sunday, April 17 to Delta of Missouri Chapter.

In January of 2001, Truman was the fourth campus in the state to receive a Phi Beta Kappa charter. Truman is only the second public Missouri university so honored and joins Phi Beta Kappa ranks with the University of Missouri-Columbia, Washington University in St. Louis and Saint Louis University.

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest undergraduate academic honor society in the liberal arts and sciences. It was founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA and now has a total of over 270 chapters.

Congratulations to Lauren on this outstanding honor!

SPHA students presented 6 Puppet Pals sessions in Missouri elementary schools this academic year to assist the NEMO AHEC fulfill a requirement of an education grant ($75X6=$450).  The students received gas cards for travel to the schools.  Because SPHA members completed this project as service to the NEMO AHEC, Michelle donated the grant money (that would have been paid to a staff member to present “The Great Hospital Adventure” sessions) to SPHA.  The individuals in the group picture from left to right are:  Megan Cooper, Gina Hansen, Rachel Bertels, Taylor McWilliams, Grace McGaughey, and Becky Dawson from NEMO AHEC.

Exercise Science Students in the Physical Education Pedagogy (Pre-MAE) track planned and implemented a Bike Rodeo in conjunction with the City of Kirksville Parks and Recreation Department on Saturday April 9th.

Students enrolled in Advanced Sport Management organized an afternoon of fishing at Spur Pond in Kirksville.  The event was co-sponsored with the Kirksville Parks & Recreation Department and the Missouri Department of Conservation.  Over 125 kids and their families attended the event which also included casting practice and a scavenger hunt.  Poles and bait were provided for free and no fishing permits were required.

Future Spring events planned by students in the class include the Hershey’s Track and Field meet on April 30^th and Aquafina Pitch, Hit and Run on May 1^st.  For more information, please contact the Kirksville Parks & Recreation Department (660) 627-1485 or http://www.kirksvillecity.com/

Ashley Ward, senior Exercise Science major, was recently awarded the J. William Fulbright award to Spain.  The Fulbright award is a highly competitive program sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.  As a Fulbright grantee, Ashley will join the ranks of distinguished participants in the program.  Fulbright alumni have become heads of state, judges, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, CEOs, university presidents, journalists, artists, professors and teachers.  They have been awarded 43 Nobel Prizes.  Congratulations to Ashley on this outstanding award!

On April 1, 2011 students from the HES Department won the AAHE (American Association of Health Education) case study competition at the 2011 AAHPERD national convention in San Diego, CA.  The HES case study team consisted of Sarah Folks, Katie Emery, and Grace McGaughey, with Gina Hansen as the alternate member.

Eastern Illinois University placed second and Ohio University was third.  There were 8 teams from across the US in the competition:  University of Florida, Eastern Illinois University, Prairie View A&M (from Texas), Truman State University, Ohio University, Ball State University, University of North Florida, University of Northern Iowa.

Each team was to work as a group of health educators who have been deployed to specifically reduce incidence and mortality due to skin cancer in San Obispo County.  They were to propose a social marketing campaign designed to increase awareness and knowledge, increase preventive behaviors and reduce the incidence of Melanoma skin cancer. Their campaign had to include measures to assist the local community in securing funds to support the campaign, training staff concerning the implementation of the campaign, and in communicating the new campaign to the San Luis Obispo community.  They were also to address the Healthy People 2020 Objectives related to Melanoma skin cancer and the four P’s of social marketing.

Three HES  students (Katie Emery, Sarah Folks, and Grace McGaughey) also presented their research in an hour-long session at the AAHPERD convention in San Diego on March 29, 2011.  Their presentation was entitled “Grabbing Red Bull by the Horns”.  This was the completion of their research on caffeinated beverages used by students at Truman State and Missouri State University.  Special thanks goes to Jerry Mayhew for helping the students with their data analysis!

Students from Advanced Sport Management were at the Career Center this week practicing their interview skills and having their resumes critiqued.  Truman Faculty and Staff and members of the community volunteered to help with the mock interviews including Dr. Minner, Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Education, Polly Matteson, Assistant Director of the Career Center, Melanie Smith, Assistant City Manager/Parks & Recreation, Sarah Riffer, Executive Director Adair County YMCA and Coach Schwegler, Truman Athletics.

The Exercise Science-Applied Track in Sport & Recreation Management prepares students for leadership in the fields of sport and recreation management such as Athletics, Aquatics, Wellness, Personal Training, Coaching and Facilities Management.   Successful completion of the specialization results in a Minor in Business Administration from an ACSB accredited program.  All students complete a required professional field experience or practicum in a supervised professional setting of their choosing for a minimum of 200 hours.

Ashley Ward, a senior Exercise Science major, is a Fulbright finalist for an English Teaching Assistantship in Spain. Fulbright Scholars are college graduates who travel abroad for a year to serve as ambassadors for their alma mater and the United States.  Congratulations and good luck to Ashley!