Cory Bird Is a Symbol of the True Student-Athlete
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“Cory Bird is a symbol of the true student-athlete. He earned his degree at Virginia Tech, was an excellent leader for us the past two years, and will now take his talents to the NFL as a third-round draft choice.” – Coach Jim Cavanaugh • Virginia Tech student-athletes receive outstanding • Virginia Tech’s strength and conditioning program is academic support with state-of-the-art study areas and well regarded as one of the best in the nation. over 75 tutors. • The Hokies have more than 22,000 square-feet of strength • Tech’s athletic graduation rate is higher than the average and conditioning training space. overall graduation rate for all Division I universities and has risen significantly in the past few years. • Twenty-three Tech football strength and conditioning records were broken in the spring of 2001. • More than 82 percent of all Tech student-athletes who have completed their eligibility in the past ten years (1985-86 • Fourteen Hokies achieved Super Iron Hokie status, through 1994-95) have graduated. including four first-time members for the 2000-2001 year. • For the third year in a row, a new record of 337 student- • Jarrett Ferguson was named as the first two-time selection athletes were recognized at the Athletic Director’s Honors to Excalibur Elite Level of Performance status, signifying a Breakfast for posting 3.0 GPAs or higher in the 2000 calendar predetermined performance test which measures achievement year. for the individual’s position. It comprises four tests in strength and four tests in performance. • Tech had 204 student-athletes, approximately one-fourth of the student-athlete population, named to the dean’s list, and • Eight Tech student-athletes were named to the 2001 19 achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA during the fall or spring National Strength and Conditioning Association All-America semesters of the 2000-01 academic year. team, excelling in their strength training and in the areas of leadership, academic performance and community • A total of 16 Tech athletic teams achieved a 3.0 or better involvement. team GPA — seven teams during the fall semester and nine during the spring semester. • A brand new training and medical complex is being built this year on the ground floor of the Jamerson Center. • Tech student-athletes participate in the HiTOPS program (Hokies Turning Opportunities • The “Training Edge” dining facility features a into Personal Success). HiTOPS provides a comprehensive system of eating for championship well-rounded program for student-athletes to performance. develop the individual skills necessary to lead successful and productive lives. • Tech has added a sports nutritionist to the Sports Performance Staff to help the student- • A sports psychologist has been added to athletes achieve their sports nutritional goals. Tech’s Sports Performance Staff to help meet the personal and performance needs • A new training room has been of the student-athletes. completed in Rector Field House — Tech’s indoor practice facility — to serve the football team when it moves indoors. Browning Wynn (left) personifies what being a student-athlete at Virginia Tech is all about. He has won the Ironman competition the past two years and was scheduled to graduate this summer. Achievement In the Classroom Is a Top Priority At Virginia Tech The success of Virginia Tech’s football program rests largely on the academic progress of each student- athlete. The academic performance of Tech student- athletes has improved each year due in part to the Student Athlete Academic Support Services (SAASS). The Virginia Tech graduation rate for student-athletes has risen significantly in recent years and reached 67 percent in 2001 as compared to the national average of 58 percent. The projected 2002 student-athlete graduation rate is over 70 percent which will mark the fourth time in the last nine years that Tech has reached that level. The Virginia Tech football program has been an integral part of this recent academic success. According to the American Football Coaches Association, Tech has a 65 Dan Wilkinson, a percent graduation rate as defensive tackle on this compared to the 57 percent year’s squad, graduated national average. in December of 2000. Continued on next page 2001 Virginia Tech Football 121 Academic Support To accommodate the Continued from page121 many facets of assistance needed for student-athletes, Chris Helms Additionally, African- Virginia Tech’s mission is eight Director of Student Athlete American members of the fold: Academic Support Services Virginia Tech football program have also excelled 1. To provide services to Beginning his third year at Virginia academically with a 63 percent all student-athletes, including Tech, Chris Helms is the director and is graduation rate last year, any student participating in responsible for the development and substantially higher than the any varsity sport, managers, leadership of the Student Athlete 42 percent national average. trainers, cheerleaders and Academic Support Services office. Helms oversees an office Last spring, the Athletic HighTechs. comprised of an associate director, four assistant directors, Director’s Honors Breakfast and a secretary forming a group of professionals serving the paid tribute to a record 337 2. To provide academic needs of all student-athletes. student-athletes, student support through tutoring In addition to his duties directing SAASS, Helms serves trainers, student managers, programs, computer facilities as a liaison between the academic and athletic communities cheerleaders and HighTechs and software which are and is an ad hoc member of the University Athletic who posted 3.0 or greater necessary for the individual Committee. QCAs in the 2000 calendar needs of each student. Helms came to Tech from Michigan State University, year. where he served as the assistant director of the Student Student-athletes are the 3. To require a mandatory Athlete Support Services office. most visible student study hall for students below Prior to MSU, Helms served as the coordinator of component of a university. expected QCA levels in order academic affairs for the Florida State University football They entertain thousands of that the staff might better program. Some of his other experience includes academic fans, students and alumni. assist the at-risk student- advisement for student-athletes at Central Connecticut State Their athletic ability and athletes. University. achievement is the primary Helms earned his bachelor's degree in psychology at focus for national media 4. To provide adequate Wake Forest University and received his master’s in athletic attention. Athletic events bring study facilities and a computer counseling from Springfield College. back not only faithful alumni, lab which are conveniently A native of Frederick, Md., he and his wife, Renee, have but are a welcome mat for located near the training a son, Walker, and a daughter, Meigs. potential new students. areas and coaching areas. Student-athletes devote many hours to practice, 5. To provide mentoring, the development of an 8. To encourage former conditioning and training that counseling, academic effective student life athletes to be actively are not required of all assistance, advising and to program. involved with our present students. Due to their time work closely with other athletes and to provide our commitment and their high academic offices on campus 7. To closely monitor the services to former athletes visibility, it is an obligation and for the welfare of the students. academic success of each who did not graduate and in the best interest of the student to help ensure assist them in their academic university to supply these 6. To work closely with the academic progress toward a planning toward a degree. The students with services which athletic department for the degree and maintenance of ultimate goal is for all student- will allow them to maximize academic welfare of each academic and athletic athletes to successfully their academic potential. student-athlete and to help in eligibility. complete their degree. A record 337 student-athletes were honored at the annual Athletic Director’s Honors Breakfast in the spring of 2001. 122 2001 Virginia Tech Football Student Athlete Academic Support Services Staff Lois Berg Colin Howlett Katie Ammons Renia Edwards Becky Kolenbrander Terrie Repass Associate Director Associate Director Assistant Director Assistant Director Assistant Director Secretary The expectations of the Academic facilities for environments conducive to from the sports of baseball, Virginia Tech community are student-athletes include the their success. Athletes can men’s basketball, softball, that each student-athlete Monogram Room, a large use these facilities between men’s and women's achieves their maximum room used as a study hall classes, after practice, or in swimming, men’s and academic and athletic area adjacent to the SAASS the evenings, with flexible women’s tennis, managers potential. With the proper office in Cassell Coliseum. hours tailored to make the and trainers. assistance, facilities and The HEAT (Hokies Engaging most of a student-athlete's Colin Howlett begins his encouragement, these in Advanced Technology) Lab limited time. fifth year with Virginia Tech potentials can become a houses over 26 computers on Chris Helms, in his third with the new title of associate reality. the second floor of Cassell year at Tech, is the director director in the Student Athlete Student Athlete Academic Coliseum and laptop and is responsible for the Academic Support Services Support Services provides computers are also available development and leadership office. programming for student- for Tech athletes to use when of the Student Athlete In addition to assisting the athletes from their freshman travelling to away contests. Academic Support Services director in all facets of the year through graduation. This The athletic department also office. program, Howlett oversees includes a comprehensive provides areas for private, Lois Berg, associate the advisement of football orientation to Tech, study hall, quiet study for the athletes' director, begins her 13th year student-athletes with regard to mentoring, tutoring, academic convenience.