July 12, 2012

For Immediate Release

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Indiana Tech’s Baily Tom (Monroe, MI/Jefferson), an outfielder on the Warrior softball team, was one of 15 NAIA student-athletes that had the experience of a lifetime last month in the Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program.

The student-athletes selected to participate in the program just completed two weeks of leadership training at Red Cross headquarters in Washington, D.C. There, student-athletes received mentoring and coaching from senior leadership of the Red Cross, along with a heavy schedule of leadership activities.

They also learned from civic and business leaders how to successfully organize campus blood drives, and they took part in diversity and cultural competency training. They also received a Champions of Character presentation by NAIA staff members that was designed to help them exemplify the core values of the NAIA Champions of Characters program-integrity, respect responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.

The next step of the program is for these student-athletes to go back into their communities and promote and support the Red Cross. Last year's class sponsored 10 blood drives, recruited 624 first-time donors and contributed to an overall increase of 33 percent in the number of units collected by the Red Cross.

"The work being done on campuses throughout the country as a result of this program not only saves lives but has a huge impact on these young men and women who participate," said Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO.

Now in its sixth year, the Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program continues to inspire, motivate and create a new and diverse generation of Red Cross volunteers and leaders.

To see the full release please visit http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=205498858

For more information on Indiana Tech athletics please call the Athletic Office at 260-422-5561 ext. 2262 or visit our website at http://www.indianatech.edu/athletics