SPARTAN ATHLETICS HIRES COMPLETE CHAMPION AWARD RECIPIENT

Spartan Athletics
Tuesday, July 14, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTAN ATHLETICS HIRES COMPLETE CHAMPION AWARD RECIPIENT

LANGLEY, British Columbia - The Trinity Western University Department of Athletics is very pleased to announce the hiring of Spartan alum and 2007/08 Complete Champion Award winner Erin-Marie Higgins (Surrey, B.C.) as an Athletics Intern. A TWU graduate in 2008 Higgins will be working in the areas of promotions and community relations.

"We are very excited to have Erin-Marie on board. It's always great when we can hire our own graduates of the Complete Champion Approach TM,” says Assistant Director of Athletics Operations Julie Ratzlaff. “We not only get to keep building into our athletes in this way, but we also get to reap the rewards of the many talents they contribute back to the school and community. Erin-Marie was a valuable player both on and off the pitch, and will certainly be a valuable player in our department this fall."

Higgins was a team captain and five-year starter for the Spartans women’s soccer team, including the 2004 National Championship squad. In Spartan history she is eighth all-time in matches played (85), sixth in matches started (83), and fourth in minutes played (4986).

"Higgs has been a fantastic servant to Spartan Women's soccer over the past 5 years, starting as our left back for 5 straight seasons,” says TWU women’s soccer head coach Graham Roxburgh. “She in so many ways set the standard for athletic and academic achievement, but it is who she is that makes her special. There is no doubt that Spartan Athletics has made a huge impact on her life. However, it is equally true to say that ‘EMH’ has left a special mark upon our program and indeed the Department of Athletics. As a Complete Champion Award recipient she has demonstrated what we are about here, and now that she is continuing on in a role off the field, we are blessed that her presence will do more of the same!"

It is fitting that Higgins will also be very involved in the promotion, organization and hosting of the 2008 CIS Women’s Soccer National Championships which will be held from November 6-9 at Trinity Western University.

"I am very happy and feel privileged to be working for Spartan Athletics. This department gave so much to me throughout my athletic career and I really like what they are about and the atmosphere they create,” says Erin-Marie. “The people in the department are awesome and I look forward to working with them and getting to know them on a different level.”

Higgins also received the highest honor that can be awarded to a Spartan athlete when she received the Complete Champion Award. The Complete Champion Approach TM, which is unique to Trinity Western University, calls for Spartan athletes to be committed to five key cornerstones: Academic, Athletic, Leadership, Personal, and Spiritual Development. Being a recipient of this award means Erin-Marie truly defines what living out the Complete Champion Approach TM means. She will now take this attitude from the classroom and soccer pitch to her duties in the Department of Athletics.

“As an alum of the women’s soccer program here, being involved with the team at some level is what I desired and this job enables me to do that while at the same time working with and getting to know all of the athletes,” Higgins says.

Higgins is a 2008 graduate of Trinity Western University with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Kinetics with a concentration in Biology. Her term as athletic intern began in June, and runs through the end of November.

Trinity Western University, in Langley, B.C. is an independent Christian liberal arts and sciences university enrolling approximately 4000 students. TWU offers undergraduate degrees in 40 major areas of study ranging from biotechnology, education, nursing, theatre and music, to psychology, communications and biblical studies. TWU's 16 graduate degree programs include counseling psychology, business, theology and leadership, and offers interdisciplinary studies in English, philosophy and history. TWU holds Canada Research Chairs in Biblical Studies, Biotechnology and Interpretation, Religion & Culture.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2009-09-03
Author: Jeff Kilpatrick
Email: jeffrey.kilpatrick@twu.ca