Carlow's Schatzkamer chosen as RSC FAR of the Year 2017-18
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- Carlow University's Laura Schatzkamer has been named the River States Conference Faculty-Athletics Representative of the Year for 2017-18. She was chosen for her efforts within the Celtics' athletic department after a vote of RSC athletic directors and FARs.
Schatzkamer, who is a professor of biology at Carlow, is the second recipient of the RSC FAR of the Year award, which was first established in 2016-17. Its purpose is to recognize one FAR within the conference each year for outstanding service and dedication to the role with an RSC and NAIA athletic department and campus.
The Faculty-Athletics Representative at NAIA schools is a member of the faculty who works with the athletic department to certify the eligibility of all student-athletes at that institution before they can represent the school in competition. The FAR cannot be a coach or an athletics administrator and is well versed in the rules and regulations of the NAIA.
Schatzkamer has been the FAR at Carlow for more than a decade. During that time, she has worked seamlessly with the Carlow registrar and faculty to assure that student-athletes maintain eligibility, according to her nomination. In addition, Carlow's athletic department has grown drastically during her tenure from 70 student-athletes to more than 200 this coming fall of 2018. Despite the increase, her nomination stated that she has provided excellent service to the department, faculty and student-athletes at the volunteer position.
In addition to her FAR role, she recently updated the university's absence policy related to events. She presented it to the Faculty Assembly, which voted overwhelmingly in favor of her revisions. This new policy directly affected our student-athletes and improved the overall communication between faculty and student-athletes.
RSC FACULTY-ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS (BY YEAR)
2017-18 -- Laurz Schatzkamer, Carlow University
2016-17 -- Chris Cox, IU Southeast