Thursday, August 22, 2002

CARDINAL NAMED CHAMPS/LIFE SKILLS ACADEMIC COORDINATOR

BETHLEHEM, PA --- Moravian College has named Ron Cardinal NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Academic Coordinator, a part-time position.

Cardinal, who recently retired after a 33-year high school teaching career including over 20 years at Northampton High School in the Lehigh Valley, will also continue to assist Moravian's football and softball programs as a coach.  He is entering his 13^th year on the sidelines for the Greyhounds football squad and has coached five seasons with the softball team.

In his position as NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Academic Coordinator, Cardinal will be available to all Moravian student-athletes for help with their academics.

"We are pleased to have Ron join us in this capacity," stated Paul R. Moyer, Moravian's Director of Athletics & Recreation.  "His 33 years of working with high school students are invaluable and since he has been a coach on the Moravian campus for years, many of our student-athletes know him and feel comfortable working with him."

Moravian is in its first year of the NCAA/CHAMPS Life Skills program.  There are only 407 schools nationwide in the program and just 70 NCAA Division III schools.  Moravian is the first member of the Middle Atlantic Conference to join the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program.

In 1991, the NCAA Foundation initiated efforts to create a total development program for student-athletes.  Through the collaborative efforts of the NCAA Foundation and the Division 1-A Athletic Directors' Association, the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program (Challenging Athletes Minds for Personal Success) was created.

In 1994, after several years of development by the NCAA Foundation, the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program was launched to the NCAA membership.  That summer 46 NCAA institutions participated in the first orientation for administrators from around the country.  Since then, approximately 50 member institutions have joined the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program each year.

Today, the NCAA Education Outreach staff oversees the development of the program, offering services, support and programs to participating institutions throughout the year.  The CHAMPS/Life Skills Program is supported through the promotional and financial efforts of the NCAA Foundation and the NCAA national office.