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(Efjr Sattij ®ar Uwl Academic captains lead beyond playing field Help fellow athletes with schoolwork BY MEGHAN GAMBLING STAFF WRITER Kym Orr wanted to reward ath letes for more than scoring goals, beating times or completing the perfect pass. As an athletic academic coun selor at UNC, Orr co-founded the fledgling Academic Team Captains Program with help from Robert Mercer, director of UNC’s Academic Support Program for student athletes. The program, which started a year ago, serves to honor UNC athletes who have been successful outside the playing field. “We want to recognize these stu dents as academic leaders,” said Orr, who worked with coaches and aca demic counselors to select the first academic team captains last spring. The program was designed not only to foster leadership among athletes, but also to help incoming freshmen adjust to the rigors of bal ancing college sports and classes. “We act as a liaison between the academic center and the team,” said senior Josh Lee, who serves as academic captain for the wrestling team. “We keep guys up to date on deadlines, registration. It’s an easy thing to do, but in the middle of Carrboro-Chapel Hill Transit Forum Thursday, February 12, 2004, at 7pm Carrboro Town Hall Meet representatives from Chapel Hill Transit, UNC, and Triangle Transit Authority l H 1 1 1 1\ Send your questions about bus service to Transitforum@ci.carrboro.nc.us or call us at 918-7311 Since 1990, 171 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have applied their leadership skills to the growing movement to end educational inequity in our country. Will you join them? apply online at teachforamerica.org TEACHFORAMERICA www.teachforamerica.org the season it can slip your mind.” Those selected as academic team captains hold small group meetings about once a month with their respective academic coun selors to discuss problems or con cerns about their teams. The captains also assemble as a large group to hear the success sto ries of former athletes such as Bob Love, a seven-time NBA all-star player for the Chicago Bulls, and Tony Waldrop, UNC vice chancel lor for research and economic development and NCAA record holder for the indoor mile. “It shows that you can do great in sports and do great in a career as well,” said senior Richard Treis, academic team captain for the men’s golf team. Treis emphasized that real-life academic success stories have a huge impact on college athletes. “Most people in athletics don’t make it,” he said. “College life will be over one day, and you have to pay atten tion to what is coming.... It’s impor tant to have a decent education.” Orr said he hopes the academic team captains will come away from leadership lectures inspired to con tinue in academic success and, Features thus, inspire their teammates. Junior Anne Felts, academic captain for the women’s soccer team, said it is especially hard for incoming freshmen to cope with the transition from high school. In addition to adjusting to col lege life, the players are thrown into game season immediately upon their arrival at UNC. “I like to put myself in a position to be there,” Felts said. “If they are in trouble and really need help, I like to be there to help.” Many of the academic team cap tains offer themselves as tutors for players who need assistance. Last spring juniors Katy Tran and Kelsey Keeran, academic co-captains for the field hockey team, organized an outdoor study hall session. “We got all the freshmen togeth er,” Tran said. “As students, it is important to emphasize the aca demic aspects of athletics. Kelsey and I work hard to organize our time and set a good example for the freshmen.” The program not only attempts to motivate underclassmen, but also gives team members a chance to hold a leadership position. “It is designed to be rewarding,” said senior Ben Aiken, who repre sents men’s tennis. “It solidifies an academically oriented role within Pickup Line #1: m "Your daddy must be a far heel Al * because your eyes are Carolina Blue." Dating on the Hill The Daily Tar Ned's. Valentines Day Issue February 12. 2004 Jgpl 1 c \ . lit j Mi 9p zd f DTH/JUSTIN SMITH Tiffany Flomo (right), academic team captain for women's track, attends a meeting of team captains Tuesday at the Pope Academic Support Center as part of the new Academic Team Captains Program. the team.” Having a student athlete work as the middleman between coun selors and team members also adds to the teams’ cohesiveness. The current academic team cap tains will complete their terms at TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2004 the end of this semester. Many of the captains said they will play an active role in suggesting candi dates for the position next year. Although the program has been in existence for only a year, Orr said he has high hopes for its future. Duke University Medical Center The Genetics of Environmental Asthma if Healthy non-smokers (age 18-40), with mild asthma or allergies are asked to par w ticipate in an asthma study. B9H Three visits required. Compensation offered. Contact person: Catherine Foss 919.668.3599 •fossooos@mc.duke.edu “My vision is in five years to have an academic team captains’ reunion,” he said. “It’s a crazy vision, but I know those guys can do it.” Contact the Features Editor atfeatures@unc.edu. 11
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