The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s Volume 45: Issue 59 Tuesday, november 22, 2011 Ndsmcobserver.com New scholarship honors athleticism, integrity By SARA FELSENSTEIN by PLC and the Trusted Sports Associate News Editor Foundation. The second pro- gram, the High School Football Notre Dame’s Play Like a Rudy Awards, and the Soccer Champion Today (PLC) program Awards honor young athletes for will expand its scholarships that their courage in the face of dif- honor young athletes for their ficult circumstances. moral integrity instead of sheer “Very often that award would athletic ability, program direc- exemplify someone beating the tor Kristin Sheehan said. odds, a situation when an athlete Sheehan said the program had [faced] adversity in his or has partnered with the Trusted her life and continues to flourish Sports Foundation, a non-profit in [his or her] character,” Shee- organization in Oregon, to create han said. “Really, these kids are 12 new scholarships this year. heroes.” The PLC program, an initiative Sheehan said so much empha- developed through the Alliance sis is placed on physical perfor- for Catholic Education (ACE), mance today that young athletes strives to educate youth and can easily lose sight of how im- high school coaches nationally to portant personal character is to develop character and integrity sports. Photo courtesy of Kristin Sheehan in athletes physically, emotion- “In a world where we some- Clockwise from left, PLC founder Clark Power, PLC associate director Oscar McBride, South Bend ally, morally and spiritually. times have negative examples of Police chief Darryl Boykins and PLC director Kristin Sheehan pose at a boxing event. The Inspireum Soccer Awards, sports figures who are excellent initiated this year, will give at what they do physically, they “They are awarded to a high $25,000 in academic scholar- aren’t [necessarily] the best [role school student who most exem- ships to 12 high school soccer models,]” she said. plifies the ‘Rudy’ spirit,” Shee- players who best exemplify a The High School Football han said. “That is integrity … combination of athletic ability, Rudy Awards program presents perseverance, persistence, hard courage and personal character. $25,000 in academic scholar- work ⎯ all those virtues and val- Sheehan said the Soccer ships annually to 12 young ues that we would applaud from Awards would give more young football players recognized for a young athlete.” female athletes a chance to be a commitment to excellence as Sheehan said PLC began its recognized. well as demonstrated personal partnership with the Trusted “This award certainly opens character. Sports Foundation back in 2008 the field for young women to be The awards are based on the after Ruettiger, who is involved acknowledged for character this story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, with the charity, came to speak year,” she said. known for his determination at PLC’s annual sports leader- Sheehan said the Soccer to make the Notre Dame foot- ship conference. Awards program is one of two ball team as shown in the film, awards programs sponsored “Rudy.” see CHAMPION/page 4 ELISA DE CASTRO | Observer Graphic Club practices art of gongfu Students compete in evaporate, and I still want- ed to advance in the art,” Tough Mudder race Blair said. “That led me to desire to teach others and that led to the club.” By NICOLE TOCZAUER the 12-mile obstacle course. Sophomore Thomas Vout- News Writer “Tough Mudder has some crazy sos joined the club when it obstacles, but it’s worth it because first began this semester. Several Notre Dame students it’s for a charity that helps return- He said he especially enjoys participated in a race through a ing vets readjust to life back home,” the welcoming atmosphere giant obstacle course this week- Tixier said. “Our roommate, of the club and gongfu’s end, an obstacle course that ends Kevin, sent us a link on Facebook relevance in his own life. in a field of live wires that carry a about it earlier in the semester, so “Erik and the club mem- 10,000-Volt shock. we all grabbed onto it.” Photo courtesy of Erik Blair bers have been great teach- Sophomores Ryan Tixier, Dan Tixier said British Special Forc- ers and very welcoming” Yerkes and Kevin Colvin tested es designed the course to be a test Gongfu Club participants demonstrate their kicking technique for Voutsos said. “The best their endurance in the Tough Mud- of strength, mental grit and cama- a belt test. The club was founded by graduate student Erik Blair. part about participating in der course Saturday and Sunday raderie. the club is learning a com- in Attica, Ind. They joined more By AUBREY BUTTS those techniques and deep- pletely new skill that can than 6,500 other participants in see MUDDER/page 4 News Writer ens my skill. I think the re- have real life applications lationships I build out of it in the future. It is great ex- Graduate student Erik are the best part. It’s really ercise, and the body move- Blair has found the perfect a lot of fun when you have ments, combined with mental outlet for stress in the middle students who are motivated focus, create a very unique of his busy schedule. to learn and to teach others inner feeling during and af- Blair turns to gongfu, a also.” ter gongfu practices.” unique martial arts form, Blair first learned gongfu While Voutsos entered along with other members of and earned his black belt in the club with no prior mar- the Gongfu Club he founded the discipline during his time tial arts experience, he said earlier this semester. as an instructor at the U.S. his skills have quickly pro- “I get so much out of teach- Naval Academy. gressed, thanks to Blair’s ing martial arts,” Blair “Upon coming back to guidance. said. “Teaching techniques Notre Dame for a Ph.D., I strengthens my grasp of didn’t want the knowledge to see GONGFU/page 4 ELISA DE CASTRO | Observer Graphic INSIDE TODAY’S PAPER Alumna serves through ACE page 3 u Viewpoint page 6 u A new look at NYC page 8 u Irish football to face Stanford page 16 page 2 | ndsmcobserver.com The Observer u DAY-TO-DAY Tuesday, November 22, 2011 QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BATHROOM ON CAMPUS? www.ndsmcobserver.com P.O. 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