NCAA Names Room At New Building After Two Legendary Hoops Coaches
INDIANAPOLIS -- Among her incredibly lengthy list of career honors, Tennessee Women's Basketball Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt has two basketball courts, a gym and a campus street named after her. Now the eight-time national champion coach has a room at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Headquarters named in her honor as well.
The NCAA formally dedicated a new building at its national office as the Brand Building in honor of the late President Myles Brand, who served as the Association's chief executive from 2003-09. Located within that facility are rooms named after NCAA sports icons, and Summitt and UCLA men's basketball coaching great John Wooden were jointly honored with the dedication of the Summitt-Wooden Room on Tuesday.
Summitt amassed eight national titles and an NCAA-best (men or women) 1,098 basketball victories over 38 seasons at the helm of the Lady Vols. Wooden, meanwhile, directed UCLA to an NCAA-leading 10 hoops championship trophies and 620 wins during his 27 years leading the Bruins.
Among the dignitaries in attendance at the private event were Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.
Also recognized at the dedication were other NCAA icons with rooms named after them, including James Frank, Judy Sweet, Christine Grant, Charlotte West. Family members or representatives for Theodore Roosevelt, John Wooden, Jesse Owens and Althea Gibson also were present.
Pat Summitt
Matthew Mitchell’s days at Central Holmes Academy High School were busy.
In the mid-1990s, he was the head coach of boys and girls basketball teams, the golf teams, and the track and field teams. Mitchell was also the defensive coordinator for the football team. He even cleaned the floors.
Mitchell didn’t have time to think about Pat Summitt.
In 1996, a friend of Mitchell’s, who was also an assistant coach at Mississippi at the time, told him he could help out at a women’s basketball camp at the University of Tennessee. Always in the market to learn more about coaching, Mitchell headed to Knoxville. It didn’t take him long to find out who Summitt was. And how selfless she is.
“That’s where I first noticed how giving she was,” Mitchell said. “There were 100 coaches from all over the country, and she would spend time with all of them.”
During the summer of 1999, his fourth working at Summitt’s camp, he was offered a job as a graduate assistant on Summitt’s staff. Although his stay in Knoxville lasted just a year before his career took off, eventually landing him at the University of Kentucky’s as head coach of the women’s basketball program, the confidence he developed from working with Summitt still stays with him.
Summitt’s been a pioneer in women’s basketball longer than her players have been alive. She was hired in 1974 as a graduate assistant at Tennessee, when women’s basketball was still governed by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). Before the 1974-75 season began, the head coach quit and Summitt was quickly promoted to head coach, starting a 38-year run with the Lady Vols that included eight national championships,18 Final Fours and 16 Southeastern Conference crowns. She was named national coach of the year seven times and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2000.
If that’s not impressive enough, her career coaching record is 1098-208.
But no amount of championships, honors or statistics could keep Summitt from thinking she was above the sport that ran through her blood. It wasn’t uncommon for her to walk into Tennessee’s student union, step onto a table and promote the women’s basketball game that night – even at the height of the Lady Vols’ success. When it came to advancing women’s basketball, she was second-to-none. Often, Summitt volunteered to move the time of Tennessee’s games if it fit the TV network’s schedule better.
If a Kiwanis or Rotary club asked her to speak, Summitt never said no.
Michelle Perry, the director of the Division I women’s basketball championship, said Summitt was always available when the NCAA needed someone to speak to corporate sponsors. In 2008, the NCAA hosted its sponsors in Tampa, the site of that year’s Final Four. Summitt took the stage in front of a crowd of sponsors, the majority made up of men.
“You could hear a pin drop,” Perry said. “Every person was absolutely mesmerized. I saw grown men climb over each other to shake her hand. She transcends not just women’s basketball, she transcends sports.”
But her priority is Tennessee and her student-athletes.
“Pat has been the No. 1 ambassador for the University of Tennessee, for women’s athletics, for women’s basketball,” said Joan Cronan, the former Tennessee Lady Vols athletic director who has worked with Summitt for 29 years. “She’s always been, not only a great representative but also a person who wants everyone else to be the best they can be. The most important thing to her is the team she’s dealing with.
“The fact that we lead the nation in attendance isn’t something that just happened. Pat Summit has always been willing to get out among the student body, among the community and help promote the game.
It’s all of this that made it so much harder on women’s basketball – and sports in general – when Summitt announced in August that she was suffering from early onset dementia. Summitt coached through the 2011-12 season and then handed over the helm of the most successful program in women’s Division I college basketball history to Holly Warlick, a former player and assistant coach for 27 years.
“The team always came first,” Cronan said. “But what she’s done with other coaches is also incredible.”
Mitchell’s story is one of hundreds, if not thousands, of coaches who have benefitted from some form of Summitt’s help. Usually it’s a coach just calling about an opponent or with a question about strategy. Sometimes it’s a coach stopping by one of Summitt’s practices, which are famously open to any coach who asks.
And other times, Summitt’s selflessness extends to helping a coach ascend the ladder, as was the case with Mitchell and former players such a LSU head coach Nikki Caldwell and Warlick.
“She’s always put everybody – coaches, players – in front of her,” Warlick said. “She always puts the game and everything she does in front of her own personal success and in her life. You can’t just say it enough.”
No one has seen it happen more often than Tyler Summitt, Pat’s son.
Phone calls from coaches and game film became the soundtrack for Pat’s home. Tyler said other coaches would call often for advice on opponents, an offensive or defensive scheme or even a job. And he doesn’t remember his mother saying no when asked to recommend a fellow coach for a job.
“That’s a pretty strong recommendation,” Tyler said with a laugh.
Yet, Tyler didn’t ask her for one when he started searching for his first coaching job.
“Just call my mom, she would be a good reference,” he said with a mighty laugh.
In April he was hired as an assistant coach at Marquette University, but it was his basketball IQ, not his last name, that helped land him the job. At first, Marquette coach Terri Mitchell told Tyler she didn’t have room for another coach on her staff. After about 45 minutes on the phone about X’s and O’s and coaching philosophy, Mitchell was so impressed she flew Tyler up for an interview. She hired him on the spot.
It wasn’t quite Pat’s influence that helped Tyler land a job, but instead years of listening to his mother dissect game film as a bedtime story had an impact only the two Summit’s could share.
“That’s not all I got from my mom, there’s so much more,” Tyler said. “It’s deep down inside, the value of selflessness.
And Pat got her value of selflessness from her father.
When Pat was a child, her father, Richard, would give out loans to people around Henrietta, Tenn., their hometown, and never made them pay him back. He wanted to help them get back on their feet. At his funeral in 2005, Tyler remembers people, sometimes total strangers, telling Pat and Tyler about her father’s generosity.
“Her dad was feared among a lot of people, but he was still a very giving person,” Tyler said. “Mom brought that style to every area of her life.”
The success never changed Pat. Some of Tyler’s earliest memories were of the national championships in 1996, 1997 and 1998.
“I grew up thinking you just win a national championship every year,” Tyler said. “And then once we didn’t win there for a few years, I really saw what my mom was doing and how much she was helping others and putting herself aside for anybody who walked through the door. It really shaped me as a person.”
While Summitt would help anybody who asked, she cherished helping young women in the sport. As a high school student, Summitt had to transfer schools just to get an opportunity to play on a team, Tyler said.
Even as her coaching career came to a close last spring, Summitt isn’t going to stop helping others. And she’s certainly not going to let her pay-it-forward mentality go away.
As she combats early onset dementia, Summitt is already letting the world in to watch her cope with hopes of helping others.
“I think you can see it through her illness because she’s opened up her personal struggles and personal life for the community,” Warlick said. “She didn’t have to do that. She didn’t have to open up. She chose to do that because that’s the type of person she is.”
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Jannah Tucker chooses Tennessee
No. 8 prospect in 2013 class says she's eager to help recruit other elite players
There is a swift breeze moving across the Tennessee Valley that can unofficially be attributed to Lady Vols Nation and its collective sigh of relief. The uncharacteristic lull in recruiting that seemed to coincide with the legendary Pat Summitt's announcement of her battle with early onset dementia is officially over. And it seems what Tennessee fans thought they knew -- that new head coach Holly Warlick is more than capable of leading the program to a similar standard of excellence -- is real.
Jannah Tucker, who is ranked eighth in the ESPN HoopGurlz Super 60 for the class of 2013, verbally committed this weekend while on an unofficial visit. The commitment of the 6-foot wing ends what seemed like a considerable drought in elite recruiting.
Admittedly well aware of the drought, Tucker had no reservations of being the first underclassman to commit in the post-Summitt era.
"I had good relationships with all the coaches and I knew what the standards were," Tucker said. "I'm excited to rebuild the tradition under Coach Holly and make Coach Pat proud."
Now Tucker moves on to her final summer circuit, which includes an August trip to Puerto Rico, where she will compete for a FIBA Americas gold medal with the USA Basketball U18 national team. But she also knows there is some work to do on the recruiting front and she can be a major cog in the rest of the Lady Vols' 2013 haul.
"I don't think it's a mandatory role, but you want the best players with you," Tucker said. "Subconsciously you have pride in your team and you want to play with and against the best."
Tucker won't have as much direct contact with Lady Vols targets as she did a year ago. Her selection to the U18 team places her on a roster with primarily 2012 players and only one uncommitted underclassman, Kendall Cooper of Carson, Calif.
Tucker is aware of the Tennessee needs in recruiting and knows Mercedes Russell, the 6-foot-5 post from Springfield, Ore., along with Cooper, are considering the Lady Vols. While not on staff just yet, she has no qualms about reaching out to those standout players and putting in a good word.
In the bigger picture, Tucker's pledge means more than simply replacing the perimeter scoring of the program's upperclassmen. It stabilizes what many of the perennial SEC power program's competitors hoped was weakness and opportunity to surpass Rocky Top quickly. While one player doesn't mean that the program will ascend to the very peak of the game, it does mean passing them up will have to be earned.
There is a swift breeze moving across the Tennessee Valley that can unofficially be attributed to Lady Vols Nation and its collective sigh of relief. The uncharacteristic lull in recruiting that seemed to coincide with the legendary Pat Summitt's announcement of her battle with early onset dementia is officially over. And it seems what Tennessee fans thought they knew -- that new head coach Holly Warlick is more than capable of leading the program to a similar standard of excellence -- is real.
Jannah Tucker, who is ranked eighth in the ESPN HoopGurlz Super 60 for the class of 2013, verbally committed this weekend while on an unofficial visit. The commitment of the 6-foot wing ends what seemed like a considerable drought in elite recruiting.
Admittedly well aware of the drought, Tucker had no reservations of being the first underclassman to commit in the post-Summitt era.
"I had good relationships with all the coaches and I knew what the standards were," Tucker said. "I'm excited to rebuild the tradition under Coach Holly and make Coach Pat proud."
Now Tucker moves on to her final summer circuit, which includes an August trip to Puerto Rico, where she will compete for a FIBA Americas gold medal with the USA Basketball U18 national team. But she also knows there is some work to do on the recruiting front and she can be a major cog in the rest of the Lady Vols' 2013 haul.
"I don't think it's a mandatory role, but you want the best players with you," Tucker said. "Subconsciously you have pride in your team and you want to play with and against the best."
Tucker won't have as much direct contact with Lady Vols targets as she did a year ago. Her selection to the U18 team places her on a roster with primarily 2012 players and only one uncommitted underclassman, Kendall Cooper of Carson, Calif.
Tucker is aware of the Tennessee needs in recruiting and knows Mercedes Russell, the 6-foot-5 post from Springfield, Ore., along with Cooper, are considering the Lady Vols. While not on staff just yet, she has no qualms about reaching out to those standout players and putting in a good word.
In the bigger picture, Tucker's pledge means more than simply replacing the perimeter scoring of the program's upperclassmen. It stabilizes what many of the perennial SEC power program's competitors hoped was weakness and opportunity to surpass Rocky Top quickly. While one player doesn't mean that the program will ascend to the very peak of the game, it does mean passing them up will have to be earned.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Tennessee Lady Vols Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt has been given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition
Tennessee Lady Vols Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt has been given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition.
Summitt was unable to attend the original ceremony May 1, so the Director of PCFSN came to Knoxville to give her the award on the court that bears her name.
Here is more on the award from the University of Tennessee:
At a venue hosting youngsters engaged in the physical rigors of this week's Lady Vol Basketball Camp, Tennessee Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award Thursday afternoon at Thompson-Boling Arena from the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN).
PCFSN Executive Director Shellie Pfohl, who was appointed to her post in Feb. 2010 by President Barack Obama, made the trip to UT to personally recognize Summitt on the court that bears the hall of fame coach's name. Summitt, who was unable to attend the awards ceremony at the organization's annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on May 1, took time out from basketball camp Thursday to accept the award on her birthday.
One of five individuals chosen in honor of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, Summitt received the Lifetime Achievement Award based upon her contributions to the advancement and promotion of physical activity, fitness, sports, and nutrition-related programs nationwide. Recipients are selected by members of the PCFSN based on the span and scope of an individual's career, the estimated number of lives they have touched and the impact of his or her legacy.
"We are honored to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Coach Summitt for her unparalleled contributions to collegiate athletics as the most victorious coach in NCAA history, and a prolific advocate for equal access and opportunities for girls and women in sports," said Pfohl. "Coach Summitt is the embodiment of passion, brilliance and class, and she has left an indelible mark on the physical activity landscape for aspiring athletes and coaches across America."
Summitt won more games than any other coach in NCAA basketball history, earning eight national titles and 1,098 victories during her 38-year career as head coach at Tennessee. She also directed a program that won a combined 32 Southeastern Conference tournament and regular season championships, made an unprecedented 31-consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament and produced 12 Olympians, 20 Kodak All-Americans named to 34 teams, and 77 All-SEC performers.
The other 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include founder of Aerobic Dancing, Jacki Sorensen; FITNESSGRAM® founder Dr. Charles Sterling; SPARK co-founder, Dr. Thomas McKenzie; and Dr. Linn Goldberg, the Chief of the Division of Health Promotion & Sports Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University.
2012 PCFSN Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients
Linn Goldberg, M.D. - Dr. Goldberg is Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Health Promotion & Sports Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University. His groundbreaking programs for young athletes (ATLAS for boys and ATHENA for girls) utilize exercise and nutrition alternatives to prevent the use of alcohol, performance enhancing and illicit drugs.
Thomas McKenzie, Ph.D. - Dr. McKenzie is Emeritus professor in the San Diego State University School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences. Dr. McKenzie has authored or co-authored over 170 publications and co-founded SPARK -- a nationally recognized research-based public health organization dedicated to improve health through physical activity. In March 2012, he was awarded a Hall of Fame Award from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.
Jacki Sorensen - Sorensen is the originator of Aerobic Dancing -- the complete fitness program that combines health and toning benefits of jogging with the fun of dancing. Sorensen is the President and founder of Jacki's Inc.
Charles Sterling, Ed.D. - Sterling is Chairman of Youth Initiatives at The Cooper Institute and Chairman of the FITNESSGRAM Board of Trustees. Dr. Sterling is best known professionally as the founder of the widely-used FITNESSGRAM®, a health-related testing and feedback system for youth.
Pat Summitt - Summitt is Hall of Fame University of Tennessee Head Women's Basketball Coach Emeritus. Summitt has won more games than anyone else in NCAA basketball history, winning eight national titles and 1,098 games at Tennessee.
About the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition: The President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition educates, engages, and empowers all Americans to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and good nutrition. PCFSN is a committee of volunteer citizens who advise the President through the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Through its partnerships with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, PCFSN promotes programs and initiatives that motivate people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to lead active, healthy lifestyles. For more information about the Council, visit www.fitness.gov.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Another national award for Pat Summitt on her 60th birthday
The awards kept rolling in Thursday for Pat Summitt on her 60th birthday. Two more were recognized in campus ceremonies for Tennessee's women's basketball coach emeritus.
One came from the government, the other from ATHENA International.
The President's Council of Fitness, Sports & Nutrition bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award. Executive director Shellie Pfohl made the presentation.
"Coach Summitt,'' said Pfohl, "is the embodiment of passion, brilliance and class, and she has left an indelible mark on the physical activity landscape for aspiring athletes and coaches across America.''
Summitt was one of five Lifetime Achievement honorees are selected by the council based on span and scope of an individual's career, the estimated number of lives they have touched and the impact of his or her legacy.''
The 2012 Global ATHENA Leadership Award was presented by ATHENA International founder Martha Mertz.
The organization celebrates and advances women's leadership.
Summitt is the 28th recipient of the Global Award, which recognizes professional excellence and service to the community and assistance given to help women realize their full leadership potential.
One came from the government, the other from ATHENA International.
The President's Council of Fitness, Sports & Nutrition bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award. Executive director Shellie Pfohl made the presentation.
"Coach Summitt,'' said Pfohl, "is the embodiment of passion, brilliance and class, and she has left an indelible mark on the physical activity landscape for aspiring athletes and coaches across America.''
Summitt was one of five Lifetime Achievement honorees are selected by the council based on span and scope of an individual's career, the estimated number of lives they have touched and the impact of his or her legacy.''
The 2012 Global ATHENA Leadership Award was presented by ATHENA International founder Martha Mertz.
The organization celebrates and advances women's leadership.
Summitt is the 28th recipient of the Global Award, which recognizes professional excellence and service to the community and assistance given to help women realize their full leadership potential.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Friday, June 08, 2012
Pat Summitt Knocks In First Hole In One
Tennessee Women's Basketball Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt has turned in yet another first. The Hall of Fame hoops coach demonstrated her deft touch with a golf club Friday afternoon, knocking in her very first hole in one.
Playing the par-72 River Course at Sevierville Golf Club in a group that included Hall of Fame college and Olympic coach Billie Moore, television analyst Debbie Antonelli and former Lady Vol basketball player Lisa McGill Reagan, Summitt aced the par-three, 112-yard No. 17 with a seven iron.
Jeremy Cason, an assistant pro at the course provided confirmation, adding that Summitt's drive was over water to what he described as "an island green."
Playing the par-72 River Course at Sevierville Golf Club in a group that included Hall of Fame college and Olympic coach Billie Moore, television analyst Debbie Antonelli and former Lady Vol basketball player Lisa McGill Reagan, Summitt aced the par-three, 112-yard No. 17 with a seven iron.
Jeremy Cason, an assistant pro at the course provided confirmation, adding that Summitt's drive was over water to what he described as "an island green."
Thursday, May 31, 2012
SEC to Donate $100,000 to Pat Summitt Foundation Fund
The Southeastern Conference and its member institutions are pleased to announce the donation of $100,000 to the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund to aid in its fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
“Coach Summitt is an integral part the Southeastern Conference’s history and we will be forever grateful for her many contributions to this league and to college basketball” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. “We are pleased that the Southeastern Conference can play a part in not only honoring Pat but in helping her reach her goals for The Foundation Fund.”
The purpose of the fund is to provide education and awareness of Alzheimer's, its onset and treatment; support services to patients, their families and caregivers; and research to treat, prevent, cure, and ultimately eradicate this devastating disease.
In addition to the financial contribution, the SEC Women’s Basketball Coaches unanimously supported continued participation in an annual “We Back Pat Week” to be held each January. The week-long initiative, started this previous season and will bring awareness and recognition to the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund and the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
For more information or to make a donation to the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund, please visit www.patsummitt.org.
“Coach Summitt is an integral part the Southeastern Conference’s history and we will be forever grateful for her many contributions to this league and to college basketball” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. “We are pleased that the Southeastern Conference can play a part in not only honoring Pat but in helping her reach her goals for The Foundation Fund.”
The purpose of the fund is to provide education and awareness of Alzheimer's, its onset and treatment; support services to patients, their families and caregivers; and research to treat, prevent, cure, and ultimately eradicate this devastating disease.
In addition to the financial contribution, the SEC Women’s Basketball Coaches unanimously supported continued participation in an annual “We Back Pat Week” to be held each January. The week-long initiative, started this previous season and will bring awareness and recognition to the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund and the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
For more information or to make a donation to the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund, please visit www.patsummitt.org.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Summitt Receives Medal of Freedom
President Barack Obama Recognizes Lady Vol Legend
President Barack Obama presented Tennessee Women's Basketball Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt the Presidential Medal of Freedom Tuesday afternoon at a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. Summitt was one of 13 individuals bestowed with our nation's highest civilian honor, awarded to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.
Summitt was honored along with former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, civil rights champion John Doar, singer and songwriter Bob Dylan, physician William Foege, astronaut John Glenn, professor and human rights advocate Gordon Hirabayashi, civil rights, workers and women's advocate Dolores Huerta, Polish Underground officer Jan Karski, Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low, novelist Toni Morrison, Israeli President Shimon Peres and retired U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens.
"It was a tremendous honor to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom," Summitt said. "I felt incredibly humbled to be sitting among such a distinguished group that has positively impacted our society. It was so great to share this wonderful moment with my friends and family, and this is recognition that I want all of my current and former Lady Vol players and staff, and Tennessee fans to share as well."
COACH SUMMITT'S PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM CEREMONY INTRODUCTION
Pat Summitt's introduction, prior to receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom: Pat Summitt is an unparalleled figure in collegiate sports. Over 38 seasons she proudly led the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers to 32 SEC Tournament and regular season championships and eight national titles, becoming the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history. On the court Coach Summitt inspired young women across our country to shoot even higher in pursuit of their dreams. Off the court she has inspired us all by turning her personal struggle into a public campaign to combat Alzheimer's disease. Pat Summitt's strength and character exemplify all that is best about athletics in America.
COMMENTS FROM PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
Opening statement from President Obama:
"It is an extraordinary pleasure to be here with all of you to present this year's Medals of Freedom. I have to say just looking around the room, this is a packed house which is a testament to how cool this group is. Everybody wanted to check them out. This is the highest civilian honor that this country can bestow, which is ironic, because nobody sets out to win it. No one ever picks up a guitar or fights a disease or starts a movement thinking, `You know what? If I keep this up, in 2012 I could get a medal in the White House from a guy named Barack Obama.' That wasn't in the plan. That's exactly what makes this award so special. Every one of today's honorees is blessed with an extraordinary amount of talent. All of them are driven but we could fill this room many times over with people who are talented and driven. What sets these men and women apart is the incredible impact they have had on so many people. Not in short, blinding bursts, but steadily over the course of a lifetime. Together, the honorees on this stage and the ones who couldn't be here have moved us with their words. They have inspired us with their actions. They have enriched our lives, and they have changed our lives for the better. Some of them are household names. Others have labored quietly out of the public eye. Most of them may never fully appreciate the difference they have made or the influence they have had. But that's where our job comes in. It is our job to help let them know how extraordinary their impact has been on our lives. So, today we present this amazing group with one more accolade for a life well-led. That is the Presidential Medal of Freedom."
President Obama's introductory comments about Pat Summitt:
"When one doctor told Pat Summitt she suffered from dementia, she almost punched him. When a second doctor advised her to retire, she responded, `Do you know who you are dealing with here?' Obviously they did not. As Pat says, `I can fix a tractor, mow hay, plow a field, chop tobacco, fire a barn and call the cows, but what I'm really known for is winning.' In 38 years at Tennessee she racked up eight national championships, more than 1,000 wins. Understand, this is more than any college coach, male or female, in the history of the NCAA. And more importantly, every player that has gone through her program has either graduated or is on her way to a degree. That's why anybody who feels sorry for Pat will find himself on the receiving end of that famous glare. Or she might punch you. She still is getting up every day and doing what she does best, which is teaching. The players, she says, are her best medicine."
President Obama, reflecting on the impact Pat Summitt has made for women, including his daughters:
"When I think about my two daughters who are tall and gifted, knowing that [because of] folks like Coach Summitt, they are standing up straight and diving after loose balls and feeling confident and strong. Then I understand the impact that these people have had extends beyond me. It will continue for generations to come. What an extraordinary honor to be able to say thank you to them for the great work that they have done on behalf of this country and on behalf of the world."
President Barack Obama presented Tennessee Women's Basketball Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt the Presidential Medal of Freedom Tuesday afternoon at a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. Summitt was one of 13 individuals bestowed with our nation's highest civilian honor, awarded to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.
Summitt was honored along with former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, civil rights champion John Doar, singer and songwriter Bob Dylan, physician William Foege, astronaut John Glenn, professor and human rights advocate Gordon Hirabayashi, civil rights, workers and women's advocate Dolores Huerta, Polish Underground officer Jan Karski, Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low, novelist Toni Morrison, Israeli President Shimon Peres and retired U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens.
"It was a tremendous honor to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom," Summitt said. "I felt incredibly humbled to be sitting among such a distinguished group that has positively impacted our society. It was so great to share this wonderful moment with my friends and family, and this is recognition that I want all of my current and former Lady Vol players and staff, and Tennessee fans to share as well."
COACH SUMMITT'S PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM CEREMONY INTRODUCTION
Pat Summitt's introduction, prior to receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom: Pat Summitt is an unparalleled figure in collegiate sports. Over 38 seasons she proudly led the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers to 32 SEC Tournament and regular season championships and eight national titles, becoming the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history. On the court Coach Summitt inspired young women across our country to shoot even higher in pursuit of their dreams. Off the court she has inspired us all by turning her personal struggle into a public campaign to combat Alzheimer's disease. Pat Summitt's strength and character exemplify all that is best about athletics in America.
COMMENTS FROM PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
Opening statement from President Obama:
"It is an extraordinary pleasure to be here with all of you to present this year's Medals of Freedom. I have to say just looking around the room, this is a packed house which is a testament to how cool this group is. Everybody wanted to check them out. This is the highest civilian honor that this country can bestow, which is ironic, because nobody sets out to win it. No one ever picks up a guitar or fights a disease or starts a movement thinking, `You know what? If I keep this up, in 2012 I could get a medal in the White House from a guy named Barack Obama.' That wasn't in the plan. That's exactly what makes this award so special. Every one of today's honorees is blessed with an extraordinary amount of talent. All of them are driven but we could fill this room many times over with people who are talented and driven. What sets these men and women apart is the incredible impact they have had on so many people. Not in short, blinding bursts, but steadily over the course of a lifetime. Together, the honorees on this stage and the ones who couldn't be here have moved us with their words. They have inspired us with their actions. They have enriched our lives, and they have changed our lives for the better. Some of them are household names. Others have labored quietly out of the public eye. Most of them may never fully appreciate the difference they have made or the influence they have had. But that's where our job comes in. It is our job to help let them know how extraordinary their impact has been on our lives. So, today we present this amazing group with one more accolade for a life well-led. That is the Presidential Medal of Freedom."
President Obama's introductory comments about Pat Summitt:
"When one doctor told Pat Summitt she suffered from dementia, she almost punched him. When a second doctor advised her to retire, she responded, `Do you know who you are dealing with here?' Obviously they did not. As Pat says, `I can fix a tractor, mow hay, plow a field, chop tobacco, fire a barn and call the cows, but what I'm really known for is winning.' In 38 years at Tennessee she racked up eight national championships, more than 1,000 wins. Understand, this is more than any college coach, male or female, in the history of the NCAA. And more importantly, every player that has gone through her program has either graduated or is on her way to a degree. That's why anybody who feels sorry for Pat will find himself on the receiving end of that famous glare. Or she might punch you. She still is getting up every day and doing what she does best, which is teaching. The players, she says, are her best medicine."
President Obama, reflecting on the impact Pat Summitt has made for women, including his daughters:
"When I think about my two daughters who are tall and gifted, knowing that [because of] folks like Coach Summitt, they are standing up straight and diving after loose balls and feeling confident and strong. Then I understand the impact that these people have had extends beyond me. It will continue for generations to come. What an extraordinary honor to be able to say thank you to them for the great work that they have done on behalf of this country and on behalf of the world."
Watch Pat Summitt receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
Watch Pat Summitt receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom today at 3:25 PM.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
Pat Summitt to receive Tigrett Award at West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation gala
Collegiate sports legend and Head Coach Emeritus of the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers Pat Head Summitt will be honored with the Tigrett Award at the 23rd annual West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation’s Charity Gala on Nov. 10, foundation officials announced today.
The Tigrett Award, first given in 2006, was established to honor Jackson native John Burton Tigrett, according to a news release. Tigrett was well known for his world-renowned entrepreneurship and philanthropy. The Tigrett Award was endowed by Fred Smith of FedEx and serves to recognize a Tennessean who has greatly contributed to society through his/her talents and leadership locally, nationally and abroad.
Gala proceeds will benefit Ayers Children’s Medical Center and the Kirkland Cancer Center at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.
For reservations, contact Chris Ramey at (731) 984-2142 or Chris.Ramey@wth.org
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Summitt receives Pop Warner Female Achievement Award
Tennessee Women’s Basketball Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt was named the recipient of the 2012 Pop Warner Female Achievement Award Saturday night at the 52nd annual Pop Warner All-American Scholastic Banquet at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort.
Each year, Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc., the nation’s largest and oldest youth football, cheer and dance organization, honors more than 9,000 of its young athletes as All-American Scholars and recognizes notable professional athletes and industry leaders who serve as role models for Pop Warner’s participants. Pop Warner grants an average of $110,000 in annual scholarships, and in 2012 will award its one-millionth scholarship dollar.
The Pop Warner Female Achievement Award is presented to a woman who has demonstrated remarkable strength of character and leadership to attain achievements in her life that inspire others. Summitt has coached her teams to the most victories in NCAA basketball history over her 38-year career, with a record of 1,098-208, and will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom next week. She is courageously battling early onset dementia - Alzheimer’s Type.
Other honorees included Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who received the Pop Warner Inspiration to Youth Award; former New England Patriots offensive tackle Matt Light, who received the Pop Warner Humanitarian Award; and Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) DeMaurice Smith, who received the organization’s most prestigious award, the Warner Award, named after Glenn S. “Pop” Warner.
“We are honored to recognize such a distinguished group of awardees at this year’s All-American Scholastic Banquet,” said Jon Butler, Executive Director of Pop Warner Little Scholars. “We are proud to share their inspirational stories and hard-earned accomplishments with the Pop Warner community and commend the lasting impact each individual has made on the sports industry.”
Also honored at this year’s banquet were inspirational speaker John O’Leary; and Science Cheerleader founder Darlene Cavalier, recipient of the Pop Warner Cheer Award. NFL Network Broadcaster and Tennessee graduate Charles Davis emceed the event.
Founded in 1929 and headquartered in Langhorne, PA, Pop Warner Little Scholars is the world’s largest youth football, cheerleading and dance organization and the only youth sports organization that emphasizes academics as a prerequisite for participation. Currently there are over 400,000 children in Pop Warner organizations in 43 states, Scotland, Germany, Russia, Japan and Mexico. The NFLPA estimates that 70% of all current NFL Players got their start in Pop Warner programs. For more information on Pop Warner and its programs visit www.popwarner.com, on Facebook or follow Pop Warner on Twitter at @Pop_Warner.
Each year, Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc., the nation’s largest and oldest youth football, cheer and dance organization, honors more than 9,000 of its young athletes as All-American Scholars and recognizes notable professional athletes and industry leaders who serve as role models for Pop Warner’s participants. Pop Warner grants an average of $110,000 in annual scholarships, and in 2012 will award its one-millionth scholarship dollar.
The Pop Warner Female Achievement Award is presented to a woman who has demonstrated remarkable strength of character and leadership to attain achievements in her life that inspire others. Summitt has coached her teams to the most victories in NCAA basketball history over her 38-year career, with a record of 1,098-208, and will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom next week. She is courageously battling early onset dementia - Alzheimer’s Type.
Other honorees included Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who received the Pop Warner Inspiration to Youth Award; former New England Patriots offensive tackle Matt Light, who received the Pop Warner Humanitarian Award; and Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) DeMaurice Smith, who received the organization’s most prestigious award, the Warner Award, named after Glenn S. “Pop” Warner.
“We are honored to recognize such a distinguished group of awardees at this year’s All-American Scholastic Banquet,” said Jon Butler, Executive Director of Pop Warner Little Scholars. “We are proud to share their inspirational stories and hard-earned accomplishments with the Pop Warner community and commend the lasting impact each individual has made on the sports industry.”
Also honored at this year’s banquet were inspirational speaker John O’Leary; and Science Cheerleader founder Darlene Cavalier, recipient of the Pop Warner Cheer Award. NFL Network Broadcaster and Tennessee graduate Charles Davis emceed the event.
Founded in 1929 and headquartered in Langhorne, PA, Pop Warner Little Scholars is the world’s largest youth football, cheerleading and dance organization and the only youth sports organization that emphasizes academics as a prerequisite for participation. Currently there are over 400,000 children in Pop Warner organizations in 43 states, Scotland, Germany, Russia, Japan and Mexico. The NFLPA estimates that 70% of all current NFL Players got their start in Pop Warner programs. For more information on Pop Warner and its programs visit www.popwarner.com, on Facebook or follow Pop Warner on Twitter at @Pop_Warner.
Friday, May 25, 2012
6-3 post player Nia Moore signs with Lady Vols
One of Tennessee's new women's basketball assistant coaches has helped produce a much-needed boost to the Lady Vols' roster.
Nia Moore, a 6-foot-3 post player from Bolingbrook (Ill.) High, has signed with the Lady Vols and will join the team next season.
New coach Holly Warlick heralded the new signee on Twitter on Thursday night by writing, "All Lady Vols fans please welcome Nia Moore to our family!! Newest member of our team!!"
Moore had signed with Illinois and Illini coach Jolette Law last November. Law was fired in March and joined the Lady Vols' staff last month.
Moore said that she got out of her letter of intent with Illinois about two weeks ago.
"I talked to them,'' she said. "I wanted to get released. There was no problem with releasing me."
She signed with UT without first visiting campus.
"I wanted to play for the coach that recruited me," Moore said.
Moore is a three-star prospect who previews as a lanky, athletic rebounder and a capable shot blocker. She played two seasons at Bolingbrook with Lady Vols point guard Ariel Massengale.
Since Isabelle Harrison is UT's only returning post player, Moore will address a glaring need.
"I just want to be a part of this winning program,'' she said. "I like their style of play. I think I can add to that."
Moore is the second player to sign with Tennessee this week. Jasmine Phillips, a 5-11 junior college forward from Louisburg (N.C.) College, joined the Lady Vols on Monday.
Nia Moore, a 6-foot-3 post player from Bolingbrook (Ill.) High, has signed with the Lady Vols and will join the team next season.
New coach Holly Warlick heralded the new signee on Twitter on Thursday night by writing, "All Lady Vols fans please welcome Nia Moore to our family!! Newest member of our team!!"
Moore had signed with Illinois and Illini coach Jolette Law last November. Law was fired in March and joined the Lady Vols' staff last month.
Moore said that she got out of her letter of intent with Illinois about two weeks ago.
"I talked to them,'' she said. "I wanted to get released. There was no problem with releasing me."
She signed with UT without first visiting campus.
"I wanted to play for the coach that recruited me," Moore said.
Moore is a three-star prospect who previews as a lanky, athletic rebounder and a capable shot blocker. She played two seasons at Bolingbrook with Lady Vols point guard Ariel Massengale.
Since Isabelle Harrison is UT's only returning post player, Moore will address a glaring need.
"I just want to be a part of this winning program,'' she said. "I like their style of play. I think I can add to that."
Moore is the second player to sign with Tennessee this week. Jasmine Phillips, a 5-11 junior college forward from Louisburg (N.C.) College, joined the Lady Vols on Monday.
Pat Summitt At White House On Tuesday
Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt Will Receive Presidential Medal Of Freedom
On Tuesday, Tennessee Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt will be a guest at the White House, where President Barack Obama will award her a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
According to a release from the Office of the Press Secretary at the White House, the Medal of Freedom is our Nation's highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. The Medals will be presented at the White House in an afternoon ceremony.
At the time of her selection, President Obama said, "Coach Summitt is an inspiration - both as the all-time winningest NCAA coach, and as someone who is willing to speak so openly and courageously about her battle with Alzheimer's. Pat's gift has always been her ability to push those around her to new heights, and over the last 38 years, her unique approach has resulted in both unparalleled success on the court and unrivaled loyalty from those who know her and those whose lives she has touched. Pat's coaching career may be over, but I'm confident that her work is far from finished. I look forward to awarding her this honor."
Summitt will be one of 13 individuals honored on Tuesday. The others are Madeleine Albright, John Doar, Bob Dylan, William Foege, John Glenn, Gordon Hirabayashi, Dolores Huerta, Jan Karski, Juliette Gordon Low, Toni Morrison, Shimon Peres and John Paul Stevens.
In her tenure at the helm of the Lady Vols, Summitt produced a remarkable record of 1,098-208 (.840) that includes the most victories in NCAA basketball history. During her tenure, the Lady Vols won eight NCAA titles as well as an amazing 32 Southeastern Conference tournament and regular season championships. Tennessee made an unprecedented 31-consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament and produced 12 Olympians, 20 Kodak All-Americans named to 34 teams, and 77 All-SEC performers. Along with the success on the court, Summitt's student-athletes had tremendous productivity in the classroom, with her program maintaining a 100 percent graduation rate for all Lady Vols who have completed their eligibility at Tennessee.
2012 PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM RECIPIENTS
Pat Summitt In addition to accomplishing an outstanding career as the all-time winningest leader among all NCAA basketball coaches, Summitt has taken the University of Tennessee to more Final Four appearances than any other coach and has the second best record of NCAA Championships in basketball. She has received numerous awards, including being named Naismith Women's Collegiate Coach of the Century. Off the court, she has been a spokesperson against Alzheimer's. The Pat Summitt Foundation will make grants to nonprofits to provide education and awareness, support to patients and families, and research to prevent, cure and ultimately eradicate early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type.
Madeleine Albright From 1997 to 2001, under President William J. Clinton, Albright served as the 64th United States Secretary of State, the first woman to hold that position. During her tenure, she worked to enlarge NATO and helped lead the Alliance's campaign against terror and ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, pursued peace in the Middle East and Africa, sought to reduce the dangerous spread of nuclear weapons, and was a champion of democracy, human rights, and good governance across the globe. From 1993 to 1997, she was America's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Since leaving office, she founded the Albright Stonebridge Group and Albright Capital Management, returned to teaching at Georgetown University, and authored five books. Albright chairs the National Democratic Institute and is President of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation.
John Doar Doar was a legendary public servant and leader of federal efforts to protect and enforce civil rights during the 1960s. He served as Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. In that capacity, he was instrumental during many major civil rights crises, including singlehandedly preventing a riot in Jackson, Mississippi, following the funeral of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evars in 1963. Doar brought notable civil rights cases, including obtaining convictions for the 1964 killings of three civil rights workers in Neshoba County, Mississippi, and leading the effort to enforce the right to vote and implement the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He later served as Special Counsel to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary as it investigated the Watergate scandal and considered articles of impeachment against President Nixon. Doar continues to practice law at Doar Rieck Kaley & Mack in New York.
Bob Dylan One of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century, Dylan released his first album in 1962. Known for his rich and poetic lyrics, his work had considerable influence on the civil rights movement of the 1960s and has had significant impact on American culture over the past five decades. He has won 11 Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award. He was named a Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Art et des Lettres and has received a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation. Dylan was awarded the 2009 National Medal of Arts. He has written more than 600 songs, and his songs have been recorded more than 3,000 times by other artists. He continues recording and touring around the world today.
William Foege A physician and epidemiologist, Foege helped lead the successful campaign to eradicate smallpox in the 1970s. He was appointed Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1977 and, with colleagues, founded the Task Force for Child Survival in 1984. Foege became Executive Director of The Carter Center in 1986 and continues to serve the organization as a Senior Fellow. He helped shape the global health work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and remains a champion of a wide array of issues, including child survival and development, injury prevention, and preventative medicine. Foege's leadership has contributed significantly to increased awareness and action on global health issues, and his enthusiasm, energy, and effectiveness in these endeavors have inspired a generation of leaders in public health.
John Glenn Glenn is a former United States Marine Corps pilot, astronaut, and United States Senator. In 1962, he was the third American in space and the first American to orbit the Earth. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Glenn was elected to the U.S. Senate in Ohio in 1974. He was an architect and sponsor of the 1978 Nonproliferation Act and served as Chairman of the Senate Government Affairs committee from 1987 until 1995. In 1998, Glenn became the oldest person to visit space at the age of 77. He retired from the Senate in 1999. Glenn is a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Gordon Hirabayashi Hirabayashi openly defied the forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. As an undergraduate at the University of Washington, he refused the order to report for evacuation to an internment camp, instead turning himself in to the FBI to assert his belief that these practices were racially discriminatory. Consequently, he was convicted by . ..S. Federal District Court in Seattle of defying the exclusion order and violating curfew. Hirabayashi appealed his conviction all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled against him in 1943. Following World War II and his time in prison, Hirabayashi obtained his doctoral degree in sociology and became a professor. In 1987, his conviction was overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Hirabayashi died on January 2, 2012.
Dolores Huerta Huerta is a civil rights, workers, and women's advocate. With Cesar Chavez, she co-founded the National Farmworkers Association in 1962, which later became the United Farm Workers of America. Huerta has served as a community activist and a political organizer, and was influential in securing the passage of California's Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, and disability insurance for farmworkers in California. In 2002, she founded the Dolores Huerta Foundation, an organization dedicated to developing community organizers and national leaders. In 1998, President Clinton awarded her the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights.
Jan Karski Karski served as an officer in the Polish Underground during World War II and carried among the first eye-witness accounts of the Holocaust to the world. He worked as a courier, entering the Warsaw ghetto and the Nazi Izbica transit camp, where he saw first-hand the atrocities occurring under Nazi occupation. Karski later traveled to London to meet with the Polish government-in-exile and with British government officials. He subsequently traveled to the United States and met with President Roosevelt. Karski published Story of a Secret State, earned a Ph.D at Georgetown University, and became a professor at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service. Born in 1914, Karski became . ..S. citizen in 1954 and died in 2000.
Juliette Gordon Low Born in 1860, Low founded the Girl Scouts in 1912. The organization strives to teach girls self-reliance and resourcefulness. It also encourages girls to seek fulfillment in the professional world and to become active citizens in their communities. Since 1912, the Girl Scouts has grown into the largest educational organization for girls and has had over 50 million members. Low died in 1927. This year, the Girl Scouts celebrate their 100th Anniversary, calling 2012 "The Year of the Girl."
Toni Morrison One of our nation's most celebrated novelists, Morrison is renowned for works such as Song of Solomon, Jazz, and Beloved, for which she won a Pulitzer Prize in 1988. When she became the first African American woman to win a Nobel Prize in 1993, Morrison's citation captured her as an author "who in novels characterized by visionary force and poetic import, gives life to an essential aspect of American reality." She created the Princeton Atelier at Princeton University to convene artists and students. Morrison continues to write today.
Shimon Peres An ardent advocate for Israel's security and for peace, Shimon Peres was elected the ninth President of Israel in 2007. First elected to the Knesset in 1959, he has served in a variety of positions throughout the Israeli government, including in twelve Cabinets as Foreign Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Transport and Communications. Peres served as Prime Minister from 1984-1986 and 1995-1996. Along with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and then-PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, Peres won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize for his work as Foreign Minister during the Middle East peace talks that led to the Oslo Accords. Through his life and work, he has strengthened the unbreakable bonds between Israel and the United States. NOTE: Mr. Peres will not attend the ceremony, as he will receive his Medal at a separate event.
John Paul Stevens Stevens served as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1975 to 2010, when he retired as the third longest-serving Justice in the Court's history. Known for his independent, pragmatic and rigorous approach to judging, Justice Stevens and his work have left a lasting imprint on the law in areas such as civil rights, the First Amendment, the death penalty, administrative law, and the separation of powers. He was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Gerald Ford, and previously served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Stevens is a veteran of World War II, in which he served as a naval intelligence officer and was awarded the Bronze Star.
On Tuesday, Tennessee Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt will be a guest at the White House, where President Barack Obama will award her a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
According to a release from the Office of the Press Secretary at the White House, the Medal of Freedom is our Nation's highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. The Medals will be presented at the White House in an afternoon ceremony.
At the time of her selection, President Obama said, "Coach Summitt is an inspiration - both as the all-time winningest NCAA coach, and as someone who is willing to speak so openly and courageously about her battle with Alzheimer's. Pat's gift has always been her ability to push those around her to new heights, and over the last 38 years, her unique approach has resulted in both unparalleled success on the court and unrivaled loyalty from those who know her and those whose lives she has touched. Pat's coaching career may be over, but I'm confident that her work is far from finished. I look forward to awarding her this honor."
Summitt will be one of 13 individuals honored on Tuesday. The others are Madeleine Albright, John Doar, Bob Dylan, William Foege, John Glenn, Gordon Hirabayashi, Dolores Huerta, Jan Karski, Juliette Gordon Low, Toni Morrison, Shimon Peres and John Paul Stevens.
In her tenure at the helm of the Lady Vols, Summitt produced a remarkable record of 1,098-208 (.840) that includes the most victories in NCAA basketball history. During her tenure, the Lady Vols won eight NCAA titles as well as an amazing 32 Southeastern Conference tournament and regular season championships. Tennessee made an unprecedented 31-consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament and produced 12 Olympians, 20 Kodak All-Americans named to 34 teams, and 77 All-SEC performers. Along with the success on the court, Summitt's student-athletes had tremendous productivity in the classroom, with her program maintaining a 100 percent graduation rate for all Lady Vols who have completed their eligibility at Tennessee.
2012 PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM RECIPIENTS
Pat Summitt In addition to accomplishing an outstanding career as the all-time winningest leader among all NCAA basketball coaches, Summitt has taken the University of Tennessee to more Final Four appearances than any other coach and has the second best record of NCAA Championships in basketball. She has received numerous awards, including being named Naismith Women's Collegiate Coach of the Century. Off the court, she has been a spokesperson against Alzheimer's. The Pat Summitt Foundation will make grants to nonprofits to provide education and awareness, support to patients and families, and research to prevent, cure and ultimately eradicate early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type.
Madeleine Albright From 1997 to 2001, under President William J. Clinton, Albright served as the 64th United States Secretary of State, the first woman to hold that position. During her tenure, she worked to enlarge NATO and helped lead the Alliance's campaign against terror and ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, pursued peace in the Middle East and Africa, sought to reduce the dangerous spread of nuclear weapons, and was a champion of democracy, human rights, and good governance across the globe. From 1993 to 1997, she was America's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Since leaving office, she founded the Albright Stonebridge Group and Albright Capital Management, returned to teaching at Georgetown University, and authored five books. Albright chairs the National Democratic Institute and is President of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation.
John Doar Doar was a legendary public servant and leader of federal efforts to protect and enforce civil rights during the 1960s. He served as Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. In that capacity, he was instrumental during many major civil rights crises, including singlehandedly preventing a riot in Jackson, Mississippi, following the funeral of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evars in 1963. Doar brought notable civil rights cases, including obtaining convictions for the 1964 killings of three civil rights workers in Neshoba County, Mississippi, and leading the effort to enforce the right to vote and implement the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He later served as Special Counsel to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary as it investigated the Watergate scandal and considered articles of impeachment against President Nixon. Doar continues to practice law at Doar Rieck Kaley & Mack in New York.
Bob Dylan One of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century, Dylan released his first album in 1962. Known for his rich and poetic lyrics, his work had considerable influence on the civil rights movement of the 1960s and has had significant impact on American culture over the past five decades. He has won 11 Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award. He was named a Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Art et des Lettres and has received a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation. Dylan was awarded the 2009 National Medal of Arts. He has written more than 600 songs, and his songs have been recorded more than 3,000 times by other artists. He continues recording and touring around the world today.
William Foege A physician and epidemiologist, Foege helped lead the successful campaign to eradicate smallpox in the 1970s. He was appointed Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1977 and, with colleagues, founded the Task Force for Child Survival in 1984. Foege became Executive Director of The Carter Center in 1986 and continues to serve the organization as a Senior Fellow. He helped shape the global health work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and remains a champion of a wide array of issues, including child survival and development, injury prevention, and preventative medicine. Foege's leadership has contributed significantly to increased awareness and action on global health issues, and his enthusiasm, energy, and effectiveness in these endeavors have inspired a generation of leaders in public health.
John Glenn Glenn is a former United States Marine Corps pilot, astronaut, and United States Senator. In 1962, he was the third American in space and the first American to orbit the Earth. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Glenn was elected to the U.S. Senate in Ohio in 1974. He was an architect and sponsor of the 1978 Nonproliferation Act and served as Chairman of the Senate Government Affairs committee from 1987 until 1995. In 1998, Glenn became the oldest person to visit space at the age of 77. He retired from the Senate in 1999. Glenn is a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Gordon Hirabayashi Hirabayashi openly defied the forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. As an undergraduate at the University of Washington, he refused the order to report for evacuation to an internment camp, instead turning himself in to the FBI to assert his belief that these practices were racially discriminatory. Consequently, he was convicted by . ..S. Federal District Court in Seattle of defying the exclusion order and violating curfew. Hirabayashi appealed his conviction all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled against him in 1943. Following World War II and his time in prison, Hirabayashi obtained his doctoral degree in sociology and became a professor. In 1987, his conviction was overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Hirabayashi died on January 2, 2012.
Dolores Huerta Huerta is a civil rights, workers, and women's advocate. With Cesar Chavez, she co-founded the National Farmworkers Association in 1962, which later became the United Farm Workers of America. Huerta has served as a community activist and a political organizer, and was influential in securing the passage of California's Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, and disability insurance for farmworkers in California. In 2002, she founded the Dolores Huerta Foundation, an organization dedicated to developing community organizers and national leaders. In 1998, President Clinton awarded her the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights.
Jan Karski Karski served as an officer in the Polish Underground during World War II and carried among the first eye-witness accounts of the Holocaust to the world. He worked as a courier, entering the Warsaw ghetto and the Nazi Izbica transit camp, where he saw first-hand the atrocities occurring under Nazi occupation. Karski later traveled to London to meet with the Polish government-in-exile and with British government officials. He subsequently traveled to the United States and met with President Roosevelt. Karski published Story of a Secret State, earned a Ph.D at Georgetown University, and became a professor at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service. Born in 1914, Karski became . ..S. citizen in 1954 and died in 2000.
Juliette Gordon Low Born in 1860, Low founded the Girl Scouts in 1912. The organization strives to teach girls self-reliance and resourcefulness. It also encourages girls to seek fulfillment in the professional world and to become active citizens in their communities. Since 1912, the Girl Scouts has grown into the largest educational organization for girls and has had over 50 million members. Low died in 1927. This year, the Girl Scouts celebrate their 100th Anniversary, calling 2012 "The Year of the Girl."
Toni Morrison One of our nation's most celebrated novelists, Morrison is renowned for works such as Song of Solomon, Jazz, and Beloved, for which she won a Pulitzer Prize in 1988. When she became the first African American woman to win a Nobel Prize in 1993, Morrison's citation captured her as an author "who in novels characterized by visionary force and poetic import, gives life to an essential aspect of American reality." She created the Princeton Atelier at Princeton University to convene artists and students. Morrison continues to write today.
Shimon Peres An ardent advocate for Israel's security and for peace, Shimon Peres was elected the ninth President of Israel in 2007. First elected to the Knesset in 1959, he has served in a variety of positions throughout the Israeli government, including in twelve Cabinets as Foreign Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Transport and Communications. Peres served as Prime Minister from 1984-1986 and 1995-1996. Along with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and then-PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, Peres won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize for his work as Foreign Minister during the Middle East peace talks that led to the Oslo Accords. Through his life and work, he has strengthened the unbreakable bonds between Israel and the United States. NOTE: Mr. Peres will not attend the ceremony, as he will receive his Medal at a separate event.
John Paul Stevens Stevens served as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1975 to 2010, when he retired as the third longest-serving Justice in the Court's history. Known for his independent, pragmatic and rigorous approach to judging, Justice Stevens and his work have left a lasting imprint on the law in areas such as civil rights, the First Amendment, the death penalty, administrative law, and the separation of powers. He was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Gerald Ford, and previously served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Stevens is a veteran of World War II, in which he served as a naval intelligence officer and was awarded the Bronze Star.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Kara Lawson to help fund Pat Summitt Foundation
Former Tennessee star Kara Lawson and the WNBA's Connecticuct Sun will donate $100 to the Pat Summitt Foundation for every 3-pointer Lawson hits this season.
The 59-year-old Summitt announced her retirement from Tennessee in April, eight months after revealing that she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia.
Lawson said the donation is a way for her to honor her former coach. She said she'll donate $50 for each made 3-point shot and the team will match that donation.
Lawson hit 55 3-pointers last season, and ranks ninth in league history with 433.
She said she has not talked to the nine other former Volunteers in the WNBA, but would be happy if her donation inspired others in the league to support Summitt's foundation.
The 59-year-old Summitt announced her retirement from Tennessee in April, eight months after revealing that she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia.
Lawson said the donation is a way for her to honor her former coach. She said she'll donate $50 for each made 3-point shot and the team will match that donation.
Lawson hit 55 3-pointers last season, and ranks ninth in league history with 433.
She said she has not talked to the nine other former Volunteers in the WNBA, but would be happy if her donation inspired others in the league to support Summitt's foundation.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Graduation! :)
The incredible graduation rate celebrated by University of Tennessee Lady Vol basketball student-athletes under the guidance of head coach emeritus Pat Summitt for 38 seasons will forever remain at 100 percent.
Two senior Lady Vols hoopsters participating in Spring 2012 commencement ceremonies this week are Briana Bass (Indianapolis, Ind.) who will receive a B.S. degree in Education (majoring in recreation and sport management) and Shekinna Stricklen (Morrilton, Ark.) who will receive a B.A. in sociology. Stricklen, a rookie with the WNBAs Seattle Storm, was able to take a break from training camp and will be attending Friday's graduation festivities.
Fifth-year Vicki Baugh (Sacramento, Calif.) will earn her M.S. in kinesiology and sport studies with a concentration in sports psychology. Baugh is in training camp with the Tulsa Shock of the WNBA and is not expected to attend commencement.
The Lady Vol junior class of Taber Spani (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and Kamiko Williams (Clarksville, Tenn.) will be participating in graduation ceremonies as well. The duo joins Glory Johnson as Lady Vols completing degree requirements in just three years. Spani is a candidate to receive her B.A. in communications while majoring in communications studies and is expected to start graduate school in the Fall. Williams will graduate with a B.A. in sociology and plans to pursue a second degree in psychology as she completes her eligibility next season.
Summitt's son, Tyler, will also receive his B.A. in communications after completing his studies in just three years. Tyler begins his coaching career on May 21 when he reports to work as an assistant women's basketball coach at Marquette University.
Pat Summitt to receive Arthur Ashe Courage Award
Former Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt, who coached her team last season despite being diagnosed last summer with early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type, will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2012 ESPYs.
Summitt, 59, will be presented with the award at ESPN's annual show, set for 9 p.m. ET July 11.
Summitt, the all-time winningest coach in men's or women's college basketball with 1,098 victories, retired in April after 38 seasons, during which she led the Lady Vols to eight national championships.
Summitt was named head coach emeritus last month; longtime assistant Holly Warlick was named to replace her as coach.
"I am humbled to receive an honor bearing Arthur Ashe's name and to join an amazing group of recipients who have received the Ashe Award at the ESPYs. Besides being an incredible tennis player, I genuinely admired Arthur's honesty, integrity and conviction in all areas of his life on and off the court. I will proudly accept this award," Summitt said in the statement announcing the honor.
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is presented to individuals whose contributions transcend sports. Boxer Dewey Bozella, who was imprisoned 26 years for a murder he didn't commit, before being released in 2009, was the recipient of the 2011 award.
"Pat Summitt's accomplishments as a coach and mentor are unmatched as she has dedicated her life to serving as an inspiration and a motivator for generations of young students and athletes," ESPN executive vice president of programming and acquisitions Norby Williamson said.
"As she enters this next phase of her life focusing on transforming her personal adversity into making an impact on the fight against Alzheimer's, we could not be more proud to honor her as the recipient of the 2012 Arthur Ashe Courage Award," he said.
Summitt, 59, will be presented with the award at ESPN's annual show, set for 9 p.m. ET July 11.
Summitt, the all-time winningest coach in men's or women's college basketball with 1,098 victories, retired in April after 38 seasons, during which she led the Lady Vols to eight national championships.
Summitt was named head coach emeritus last month; longtime assistant Holly Warlick was named to replace her as coach.
"I am humbled to receive an honor bearing Arthur Ashe's name and to join an amazing group of recipients who have received the Ashe Award at the ESPYs. Besides being an incredible tennis player, I genuinely admired Arthur's honesty, integrity and conviction in all areas of his life on and off the court. I will proudly accept this award," Summitt said in the statement announcing the honor.
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is presented to individuals whose contributions transcend sports. Boxer Dewey Bozella, who was imprisoned 26 years for a murder he didn't commit, before being released in 2009, was the recipient of the 2011 award.
"Pat Summitt's accomplishments as a coach and mentor are unmatched as she has dedicated her life to serving as an inspiration and a motivator for generations of young students and athletes," ESPN executive vice president of programming and acquisitions Norby Williamson said.
"As she enters this next phase of her life focusing on transforming her personal adversity into making an impact on the fight against Alzheimer's, we could not be more proud to honor her as the recipient of the 2012 Arthur Ashe Courage Award," he said.
Monday, May 07, 2012
Miller Lite "Backs Pat" by Raising Awareness and Funds to Honor Coach Pat Summitt
Miller Lite and Lady Vol Network Give Fans Opportunity to Show Their Support and Win Big
Miller Lite is teaming up with the Lady Vol Network, the voice of University of Tennessee women's athletics, to support Pat Summitt in her fight against Alzheimer's by giving Vol and Lady Vol fans a chance to get involved in a number of ways. In conjunction with Cherokee Distributing and Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson, the "Miller Lite Bikers Back Pat" program is selling exclusive t-shirts at local retail locations across Eastern Tennessee, with a portion of the proceeds going to The Pat Summitt Foundation, a component of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
From May through the end of July, legal-drinking-age consumers can purchase Bikers Back Pat t-shirts at their local Food City, Kroger, Walgreens and Pilot convenience stores throughout Eastern Tennessee, or at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson. With a price of $14.99 plus tax, fans nationwide also have the opportunity to purchase these special t-shirts online at www.BikersBackPat.com.
The Miller Lite Bikers Back Pat program will culminate with a grand-finale party and live auction August 9, hosted by Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson and Cherokee Distributing Company. More information about the event and availability of tickets will be offered in June.
The auction will feature a "Tennessee Orange" Harley-Davidson signed by Summitt, valued at $25,000, and a pair of Lady Vol season tickets. In addition, Miller Lite will offer four VIP guest coach passes to one 2012-13 regular season Tennessee Lady Vol basketball game, including access to sit behind the bench during one of the games. For a complete list of all auction items, visit www.BikersBackPat.com.
"Miller Lite loves to give exclusive access to fans, but this program goes far beyond just the experiences," said Bob Scott, MillerCoors general manager-sales for Tennessee and West Virginia. "Coach Summitt is a true inspiration and we are honored to partner with Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson to show our support for coach and her fight against Alzheimer's."
Proceeds from the event will benefit The Pat Summitt Foundation, a component fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The Pat Summitt Foundation Fund was founded in November 2011 by Pat Summitt and her son, Tyler, to help ensure that no family hears a diagnosis like Pat's: early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. With the motto, "Together, we will win," the grant making foundation will support nonprofits that provide education and awareness; support services for patients, their families, and caregivers; and research, treat, and work to ultimately find a cure. For more information about the Fund, visit www.PatSummitt.org.
Miller Lite is teaming up with the Lady Vol Network, the voice of University of Tennessee women's athletics, to support Pat Summitt in her fight against Alzheimer's by giving Vol and Lady Vol fans a chance to get involved in a number of ways. In conjunction with Cherokee Distributing and Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson, the "Miller Lite Bikers Back Pat" program is selling exclusive t-shirts at local retail locations across Eastern Tennessee, with a portion of the proceeds going to The Pat Summitt Foundation, a component of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
From May through the end of July, legal-drinking-age consumers can purchase Bikers Back Pat t-shirts at their local Food City, Kroger, Walgreens and Pilot convenience stores throughout Eastern Tennessee, or at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson. With a price of $14.99 plus tax, fans nationwide also have the opportunity to purchase these special t-shirts online at www.BikersBackPat.com.
The Miller Lite Bikers Back Pat program will culminate with a grand-finale party and live auction August 9, hosted by Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson and Cherokee Distributing Company. More information about the event and availability of tickets will be offered in June.
The auction will feature a "Tennessee Orange" Harley-Davidson signed by Summitt, valued at $25,000, and a pair of Lady Vol season tickets. In addition, Miller Lite will offer four VIP guest coach passes to one 2012-13 regular season Tennessee Lady Vol basketball game, including access to sit behind the bench during one of the games. For a complete list of all auction items, visit www.BikersBackPat.com.
"Miller Lite loves to give exclusive access to fans, but this program goes far beyond just the experiences," said Bob Scott, MillerCoors general manager-sales for Tennessee and West Virginia. "Coach Summitt is a true inspiration and we are honored to partner with Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson to show our support for coach and her fight against Alzheimer's."
Proceeds from the event will benefit The Pat Summitt Foundation, a component fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The Pat Summitt Foundation Fund was founded in November 2011 by Pat Summitt and her son, Tyler, to help ensure that no family hears a diagnosis like Pat's: early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. With the motto, "Together, we will win," the grant making foundation will support nonprofits that provide education and awareness; support services for patients, their families, and caregivers; and research, treat, and work to ultimately find a cure. For more information about the Fund, visit www.PatSummitt.org.
Daedra Charles-Furlow not retained; Lady Vols to hire assistant to head coach
Tennessee's Holly Warlick has hired two new assistant coaches and a director of women's basketball operations. And she's still not done with her staff makeover.
Warlick, who replaced legendary coach Pat Summitt on April 18, still has to hire an assistant to the head coach, a role similar to the one held by Stephanie Glance on Summitt's staff to start the 2009-10 season.
While this position has been restored, the director of character development has been eliminated. Former UT player Daedra Charles-Furlow, who held the position, hasn't been retained. Charles-Furlow had been on Tennessee's staff for four years. She came back as an assistant coach before moving into her new role before the 2010-11 season.
Warlick said that she hoped to meet with Charles-Furlow this week.
"I think she wanted to pursue other opportunities," Warlick said Sunday. "I'm extremely supportive of Daedra. She's been good for this program."
Warlick, who replaced legendary coach Pat Summitt on April 18, still has to hire an assistant to the head coach, a role similar to the one held by Stephanie Glance on Summitt's staff to start the 2009-10 season.
While this position has been restored, the director of character development has been eliminated. Former UT player Daedra Charles-Furlow, who held the position, hasn't been retained. Charles-Furlow had been on Tennessee's staff for four years. She came back as an assistant coach before moving into her new role before the 2010-11 season.
Warlick said that she hoped to meet with Charles-Furlow this week.
"I think she wanted to pursue other opportunities," Warlick said Sunday. "I'm extremely supportive of Daedra. She's been good for this program."
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