The NCAA News - News & Features

Viverito wins NACWAA award

The award, presented at NACWAA's Fall Forum in Baltimore September 23, is given annually to one of seven district winners who are nominated and selected based on length of service in women's athletics, as well as outstanding achievement in and contribution to women's athletics.

Viverito is a member of the NCAA Executive Committee and is chair of the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics. She also serves on the Special Committee to Oversee Implementation of the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse.

The six other district winners honored were Linda S. Moulton, Clark University (Massachusetts); Marilyn A. McNeil, Monmouth University (New Jersey); Mary Jo Warner, George Washington University; Fern Gardner, University of Utah; Margie H. McDonald, Western Athletic Conference; and Jeannine McHaney, Texas Tech University (presented posthumously).

NACWAA also presented its 1996 Honors Award to Norma V. Cantu, assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education. The Honors Award recognizes outstanding support for women's sports and female athletes.

Cantu, who has been assistant secretary since May 1993, is responsible for enforcing the federal civil rights statutes that protect the rights of students to an equal educational opportunity without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age.

Betsy Alden, athletics director at San Francisco State University, became president of NACWAA after serving as president-elect. Sharon E. Taylor, athletics director at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, will succeed Alden as president-elect.

Four new members of the NACWAA board of directors also were selected: Carolyn Campbell, senior associate director, Ivy Group; Dianne Murphy, associate athletics director, Cornell University; Peggy Wynkoop, associate AD, Wright State University; and Rosalyn Dunlap, assistant AD, San Francisco State.

About 300 persons participated in the annual Fall Forum to hear presentations on topics ranging from information technology to facilities, marketing, gender-equity and minority plans for NCAA certification, and legal issues. Doris A. Dixon, NCAA federal relations director, made a presentation on the Association's Washington, D.C., office.

The 18th Fall Forum will be October 12-15, 1997, in Denver.