General | 10/6/2010 2:31:35 PM
Atlanta, Ga. - The Savannah College of Art and Design is excited to announce it has been accepted by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). SCAD Atlanta joins the 291 member colleges and universities that compete in the NAIA – an arena that promotes competitive athletics, academic excellence and character values simultaneously.
This fall SCAD Atlanta joined SCAD Savannah’s award-winning teams in competing at the intercollegiate level in men’s and women’s cross country, golf and tennis. The program, initiated as a presidential directive, has the full support of administrative leadership in Savannah and Atlanta.
“SCAD Atlanta is proud to join SCAD Savannah and the other member institutions of the NAIA as an official member of this prestigious organization,” said Brad Iftner, SCAD Atlanta director of athletics. “Our goal is not only to successfully compete on the playing field, but also to produce Champions of Character student-artist-athletes who demonstrate values that reflect the true spirit of competition.”
“The NAIA welcomes SCAD Atlanta and looks forward to working with campus leaders to advance character-driven intercollegiate athletics,” said John Leavens, NAIA senior vice president for membership. ”SCAD Atlanta has shown great vision for combining art and design education with athletics in an environment with high standards for excellence.”
SCAD Savannah’s athletic teams have been ranked among the nation’s top 25 teams in recent years. SCAD Atlanta is prepared to uphold the outstanding legacy of SCAD athletics by recruiting talented student-artist-athletes and fielding teams in the tradition of excellence for which SCAD and the NAIA is best known.
SCAD Atlanta has already kicked off this season with an impressive list of achievements. On Sept 25., the SCAD Atlanta men’s cross country team made school history by winning the first-ever team competition at the LaGrange Invitational in LaGrange, Georgia. Genesis Henderson won the meet with an 8k time of 26:00 while Charley Harrison won the women's 5k meet with a time of 21:19.
The SCAD Atlanta tennis teams began their inaugural season by having three individuals and one doubles team represented in the finals of the SCAD Atlanta Invitational tennis tournament. Daniela Vukadinovic took top honors as she won the women’s “A” Flight singles championship. Vukadinovic outscored Mary Slade of Georgia Perimeter College 7-6 (3), 6-0, while Carolyn Kernodle won the “B” Flight singles championship as she coasted to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Georgia Perimeter’s Maria Casseras. In men’s tennis, SCAD Atlanta’s freshman standout, Jack Anton, reached the finals only to be defeated by Georgia Perimeter’s Salif Kante 6-2, 6-4.
Each year, student-artist-athletes at SCAD’s Savannah location have been recognized locally, regionally and nationally for excellence in the classroom as well as in athletics competition. With the same combination of academic, artistic and athletic talent, dedicated teamwork and the guidance and experience of a remarkable coaching staff, SCAD Atlanta is poised to follow in the same tradition.
SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
The Savannah College of Art and Design is the most comprehensive art and design university in the world, offering more degree programs and specializations than any other art university. SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution conferring bachelor’s and master’s degrees in distinctive locations and online to prepare talented students for professional careers. SCAD offers 43 majors and more than 50 minors at locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia; in Lacoste, France; online through SCAD eLearning; and in Hong Kong.
SCAD offers an exceptional education and unparalleled career preparation. The diverse student body of more than 10,000 comes from all 50 United States and nearly 100 countries worldwide. Each student is nurtured and motivated by a faculty of more than 650 professors with extraordinary academic credentials and valuable professional experience. These professors emphasize learning through individual attention in an inspiring university environment. SCAD’s innovative curriculum is enhanced by advanced, professional-level technology, equipment and learning resources and has garnered acclaim from respected organizations and publications, including BusinessWeek, American Institute of Architects, DesignIntelligence, U.S. News & World Report and Los Angeles Times.
About the NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The Association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.
Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the Association’s innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves.
To learn more visit www.NAIA.org or www.scad.edu/atlanta.
