University of Tennessee Athletics
VOLeaders Academy Honored With NASPA Gold Award
January 15, 2016 | General
By Brian Rice
UTSports.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The VOLeaders Academy, a dynamic partnership between the UT Center for Leadership and Service, the Center for Sport, Peace and Society, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and the Department of Athletics at the University of Tennessee, has been honored by NASPA as a 2015-16 Gold Award Winner.
The VOLeaders Academy was selected as the Gold Award Winner for the Athletics, Recreation, Physical Fitness, Non-Varsity Sports, and related Category. As a program recognized in the gold category, VOLeaders Academy is now be eligible to be reviewed against gold winners from the other categories for a chance to be recognized as Grand Gold, Grand Silver, or Grand Bronze winner, the highest three honors that the national organization provides.
Along with the prestigious honor, representatives from Tennessee will have the opportunity to present a poster at the 2016 NASPA Annual Conference and present a webinar to NASPA members on the program.
"We are so pleased to hear that the VOLeaders Academy is receiving national recognition in just its first year," said Dr. Joe Scogin, Senior Associate Athletics Director and Assistant Provost. "We are fortunate to work with amazing student-athletes at the University of Tennessee and the opportunity to further develop them as ethical and servant leaders has been foundational to the program. Servant leadership is part of the fabric of the University of Tennessee and student-athletes have a natural platform to lead. Their growth as individuals and as leaders not only benefits their teams, but our entire campus community. We would like to thank the NASPA awards committee for this great honor."
A unique program in the country, the VOLeaders Academy spans the boundaries of three different areas of campus, from academics to student life and athletics. It partners athletics with two of the most unique and respected programs on campus for the development of the student-athletes.
Student-athletes in the program completed the first of two three-credit-hour courses in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences in the fall and are currently enrolled in the second.
The final component of the VOLeaders Academy will be a 10-day cultural exchange providing applied leadership and service opportunities focused on community development and social change through sport. International Destinations will vary each year with the first trip planned for Brazil, site of the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in partnership with the UT Center for Sport, Peace & Society.
"Being a VOLeader has led me to guide my fellow VOLeaders and teammates into a more positive direction," said Ashlee Boles, a junior women's tennis student-athlete. "The discussions we have had in class thus far have taught me different techniques that I hope to use the rest of my college career in athletics and academics. Then, I can pass it out to the community and in my future."
The program was nominated for the NASPA Excellence Award with letters of support from Dr. Bob Rider, Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students Dr. Melissa Shivers and Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dave Hart.
Each year, NASPA recognizes the outstanding contributions of members who are transforming higher education through exceptional programs, innovative services, and effective administration. NASPA's Excellence Awards cover eleven categories crucial to the success of students and the continued growth of the student affairs profession. Winners are recognized at that year's NASPA Annual Conference.
The category that VOLeaders Academy is being awarded within recognizes excellence by highlighting new, innovative, and successful programs, best practices, or services that impact holistic student development in athletics, recreational sports, health and fitness programming, kinesiology collaborations, and intramural/sport club organizations.
