KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Lindsay Reeves, Athletic Director at the University of North Georgia (UNG), has been honored by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) as its recipient of the NCAA Division II Administrator of the Year Award. The awards, given in recognition of the outstanding achievements and success of women working in athletics, were announced Thursday.<br />
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The eight honorees will be celebrated on Oct. 14 in Louisville, Kentucky, at the 2014 Administrator of the Year Luncheon in conjunction with the 35th Annual NACWAA National Convention.<br />
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"I am pleased that Lindsay Reeves has earned national recognition for her leadership and professionalism as the head of our athletics program," UNG President Bonita Jacobs said. "The National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators could not have made a better choice. Through her guidance, UNG's athletics program excels on a national level in competition, academics and service to the community."<br />
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The Administrator of the Year Award is presented annually to NACWAA members for significant contributions made as athletics administrators. In addition, the Nell Jackson Administrator of the Year Award honors an administrator who exemplifies the personal qualities and professional accomplishments of Dr. Nell Jackson - courage, conviction and perseverance.<br />
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"While I am very humbled to be recognized by my peers, this award really belongs to the entire campus community including our administration, coaches, staff, boosters, alumni and, most importantly, our student-athletes," Reeves said. "It is a reflection of a group of goal-driven individuals that make up our Nighthawk team."<br />
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Reeves is the first female Athletic Director at the University of North Georgia. She has led the development and implementation of a diversity action plan to ensure and promote diversity among the university's student-athletes, staff and community. She is heralded as an advocate for all areas of athletic excellence, including team and student-athlete academic success and community engagement.<br />
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Reeves oversees a staff of more than 30 athletic coaches and staff competing in 12 intercollegiate sports at the NCAA Division II level. Under Reeves' leadership, UNG athletic programs have enjoyed prosperity on and off the playing fields and courts. She has mentored teams to both conference and regional championships while emphasizing the total student-athlete development.<br />
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One of Reeves' crowning achievements is that UNG has donated the highest amount of money to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of all NCAA Division II schools in three of her previous four years as Athletic Director.<br />
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Reeves' leadership reflects UNG's strong commitment to the overall experience of our student-athletes and to the important roles of service, leadership and respect, and how these attributes contribute to their total experiences at North Georgia.<br />
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She graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science in physical education and received her master's in exercise physiology from University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. After completing her education, she worked as the director of testing at Sports Training Institute in New York before taking over as assistant director of health and fitness at General Electric World Headquarters in Connecticut. From 1990-1999, she was the director of employee wellness and faculty member at UNC Chapel Hill.<br />
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"NACWAA is pleased to celebrate and honor these extraordinary women who are champions for their student-athletes, colleagues, institutions and conferences," said Grace Calhoun, NACWAA awards committee chair, board of directors member and athletic director at the University of Pennsylvania. "Their commitment to student-athletes, their institutions and the advancement of women in our profession is inspiring and truly remarkable. We look forward to honoring these women for their outstanding service and leadership in Louisville."<br />
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NACWAA is the premier leadership organization that empowers, develops, assists, celebrates, affirms, involves, and honors women working in all fields of intercollegiate athletics. NACWAA takes a pro-active role in advancing women into positions of influence and powerfully shapes the landscape of women leaders.
