Apr 21, 2010 9:01:53 AM

The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics announced Tuesday that Barbara Hedges, former director of athletics at the University of Washington, has been selected as the recipient of the 44th James J. Corbett Memorial Award.

Hedges, a 2009 NACDA Hall of Fame inductee and the first female president of the association in 1996-97, served as the director of athletics at Washington from 1991-2004. In 1998, she was the first woman named to the board of directors of the National Football Foundation.

The Corbett Award is presented annually to the collegiate administrator who "through the years has most typified Corbett's devotion to intercollegiate athletics and worked unceasingly for its betterment." Corbett, athletics director at LSU, was NACDA's first president in 1965.

Additionally, Hedges will receive an honorary degree from the Sports Management Institute, an educational institute sponsored by NACDA and the universities of Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Southern California and Texas.

"It is an honor and privilege to be selected as the 2010 James J. Corbett Memorial Award recipient," said Hedges. "The past recipients of this award are among the most distinguished and accomplished men and women in intercollegiate athletics, many of whom were the leaders who developed college athletics administration as we know it today. I am humbled to be in this exceptional group."

Among her accomplishments, Hedges led the Washington "Campaign for the Student-Athlete," which raised more than $100 million for capital improvements. The campaign provided funding to renovate the basketball arena (Hec Edmundson Pavilion-Bank of America Arena), create a Husky Hall of Fame, build a $29 million indoor practice facility and an $18 million academic and rowing facility (completed in 2005). Hedges also helped secure a $1 million gift from the Seattle Seahawks to install FieldTurf in Husky Stadium.

Hedges was also committed to gender equity, making the Washington campus one of the national leaders in providing equal opportunities for male and female student-athletes. With a focus on the future success of student-athletes, Hedges started the "Total Student-Athlete Program," which was devoted to leadership training, mentor programs, career opportunities and community service. She also introduced the "U-Wired" program, which allowed student-athletes access to laptop computers while travelling for intercollegiate competition.

During her career, Hedges served on numerous committees and boards and has been the recipient of awards in athletics and in the community.