FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2003


Hialeah-Miami Lakes' Colby among eight ADs awarded NFHS Citation

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) will award NFHS Citations to eight current or former high school athletic administrators December 16 in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the 34th annual National Conference of High School Directors of Athletics.

NFHS Citations are presented annually to outstanding athletic directors in recognition of contributions to interscholastic athletics at the local, state and national levels. Each state association may nominate an athletic director for an NFHS Citation, and the NFHS Board of Directors approves recipients.

This year’s award winners are Michael Colby, athletic director, Hialeah (Florida) Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School; Dennis Fries, director of physical education and athletics, West Irodequoit (New York) Central School District; Rick Johnson, athletic director, Peoria (Arizona) Unified School District; David Morgan, athletic director, Vienna (Virginia) Oakton High School; Thomas Rashid, associate director, Michigan High School Athletic Association; Kelly Reeves, district athletic director, Round Rock (Texas) Independent School District; Dr. Bob Reznicek, assistant principal and athletic director, Omaha (Nebraska) Westside High School; and Larry Schwenke, assistant principal and athletic director, Coeur d’Alene (Idaho) High School.

Before starting his 30-year career as a teacher, coach and athletic director at Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School in Hialeah, Florida, Michael Colby, CMAA, began his education in Colorado. He earned a bachelor of science degree with high distinction in mathematics at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, and later earned his master of science degree in mathematics education at Florida International University in Miami, Florida.

An active member of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) for nine years, Colby attained life member status in 2002 and became the first CMAA in Florida that year. Colby has been a CAA test administrator for five years and a state Leadership Training Program (LTP) coordinator for three years.

At the state level, Colby has been an active member of the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (FIAAA) for 17 years and has served as both district director and treasurer for five years. A member of several FIAAA committees, including the Executive Committee, the Awards Committee and the Technology Committee, Colby has been chairperson of both the Membership Committee and Professional Growth Committee. In addition, Colby served on both the Florida High School Athletic Association Athletic Directors Advisory Committee and Section 4 Appeals Committee.

On the local front, Colby has directed Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) tournaments in the sports of badminton, track and field, wrestling, boys basketball, boys soccer, and boys and girls tennis. He has served on the GMAC Board of Directors as president for two years and as vice president for three years. A teacher in mathematics, computer applications and programming, he gave his time and experience as an advisor for several organizations, including the National Honor Society.

Contact:
Frank Kovaleski
NFHS
(317) 972-6900