UA Women's Athletics earns 2006 Amethyst Award

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas Women’s Athletics Department was honored with a 2006 Amethyst Award. The award will be presented at a luncheon Oct. 7 at Washington Regional’s Speaking of Women’s Health Conference at the Northwest Arkansas Holiday Inn and Convention Center. In addition to the award, Arkansas Director of Women’s Athletics, Bev Lewis, is the honorary chair of the event. The Lady Razorbacks were honored for their community service commitment including the creation of the Sweat Hawgs program sponsored by the American Heart Association, Arkansas Marketing Specialties, Bank of Fayetteville, The Northwest Arkansas Times/Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Tyson and Washington Regional. Sweat Hawgs sends current Lady Razorbacks into area elementary schools to help encourage better physical fitness among the area’s youngest fans. Elementary students are presented with a series of physical fitness goals and Lady’Back athletes are often in the classroom demonstrating skills and cheering on the students. In addition to the Sweat Hawgs program, the Lady Razorbacks have been involved with "Take A Girl To The Game" and National Girls and Women in Sport Day. Both programs promote youth involvement in sport and physical fitness. The Lady Razorbacks have logged more than 1,200 hours of community service this year. Some of the other activities teams and coaches have been involved in include an Easter egg hunt with underprivileged children, missions to Honduras, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Feed the Families, Adopt a Family, Razorbacks for Christmas, canned food drives, area reading programs, Habitat for Humanity, Boy’s and Girl’s Club sport clinics, Thanksgiving hayrides, truck convoys for Special Olympics, Arkansas Children’s Hospital Outreach and various events at Butterfield Trails Retirement Community. The Amethyst Awards are presented to individuals and organizations who are found to improve the health and well-being of the Northwest Arkansas community. Criteria include outstanding and exemplary achievements in the community; being a positive role model; having a significant impact on the quality of life in the community and supporting women’s health and well-being. For more information about the Amethyst Awards and the upcoming conference, log on to www.wregional.com. For more information about Arkansas Women’s Athletics, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.