U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, is pleased to announce that 12 coaches who work with student athletes who have physical disabilities have been selected to attend the 2005 National Paralympic Academy at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., August 15-18.
The National Paralympic Academy is a biennial event designed to recognize excellence in local Paralympic sport programming. This two-day celebration of sport will bring together student athletes (ages 12-18), coaches and program directors from Paralympic organizations across the country to share best practices, discuss Olympic and Paralympic ideals and to be inspired by Paralympians facilitating the Academy programs.
Coaches were selected to attend the 2005 National Paralympic Academy based on their history of success in conducting Paralympic sport programs for youth as well as recommendations from athletes and supervisors.
The Paralympic Academy is a three-tier program with state, national and international components.
State Paralympic Academies are hosted by sport organizations in each state that specialize in Paralympic programs.
The national Paralympic Academy is held in odd-numbered years at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, while the international Paralympic Academy is held at the Paralympic Games in the even-numbered years.
The next international Paralympic Academy will be held in March 2006 at the Paralympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy.
Coaches who will be attending the 2005 National Academy include:
Tom Beatty (Gardenwood, Alaska)
David Poulin (Anchorage, Alaska)
Heather Marie Pennington (Birmingham, Ala.)
Tim Orr (San Francisco, Calif.)
Mau Thompson (Winter Park, Colo.)
Vic Moore (Carrolton, Ga.)
Derrick Thigpen (Atlanta, Ga.)
Nicole Kruppa (Antioc, Ill.)
Kim Seevers (Averill Park, N.Y.)
Laura Manning (Edmond, Okla.)
Danielle Tod Hampton (Waitsfield, Vt.)
Teresa Skinner (Spokane, Wash.)
For more information, please contact Beth Bourgeois, U.S. Paralympics at (719)866-2039 or beth.bourgeois@usoc.org.
About U.S. Paralympics:
U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, is dedicated to becoming the world leader in the Parlaympic sports movement, and promoting excellence in the lives of persons with physical disabilities.