Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Longtime Physical Education Leader Judith C. Young Inducted into SHAPE America’s Hall of Fame

RESTON, VA, April 2, 2018 — SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators inducted Judith C. Young, who as a member for more than 55 years and association executive helped develop national standards across the professions, into the organization’s Hall of Fame on Friday, March 23, during its 133rd National Convention & Expo in Nashville.

Young was honored during the Hall of Fame Banquet, during which SHAPE America recognized its National Physical Education Teachers of the Year for elementary, middle and high school and National Teachers of the Year for adapted physical education, dance and health. The banquet was sponsored by Sportime, featuring SPARK, a category of School Specialty, Inc., and Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

SHAPE America’s Hall of Fame awards are given to honor outstanding individuals who:

• Make significant contributions to maintaining sport, physical education and physical activity as an integral part of the total education program;
• Further the image of sport and healthy physical activity for all;
• Accentuate the integral relationships of sport, motor development and physical activity to the total educational process;
• Encourage involvement in meaningful competitive sport or physical activity programs by influential educators and citizens in all walks of life; and
• Symbolize the educational and developmental potentials of physical education and sport.

Past Hall of Fame inductees include golfer Annika Sorenstam; University of Tennessee Women’s Basketball Coach Pat Summitt; tennis greats Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe; NFL Hall of Famers Nick Buoniconti and Anthony Munoz; sports columnist Christine Brennan, and Olympians Tony DiCicco, Dick Fosbury, Rulon Gardner, Nancy Hogshead, Dan Jansen, Rafer Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Carl Lewis, Shannon Miller, Edwin Moses, Dot Richardson, Wilma Rudolph and Peter Vidmar.

“A passionately dedicated professional, Judy Young’s first priority has always been to build the status of physical education, physical activity, dance and sport within the school curriculum across the country,” says SHAPE America President Fran Cleland of West Chester University. “In addition to establishing the national standards, she tirelessly promoted the components of quality physical education and led advocacy efforts to establish the Carol M. While Physical Education for Progress grant programs, better known as the PEP grants.”

After leading the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) for 15 years, she was appointed Vice President of Programs for the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). After retiring in 2012, Dr. Young was invited to serve this past year as the interim executive director for SHAPE America-Society of Health and Physical Educators.

Throughout her career Dr. Young has reached out beyond the HPERD profession to educate others in business, government, and civic organizations about the value of physical and health education, healthy physical activity, sport and dance. She has represented the profession admirably as a member of various national boards of directors, including Action for Healthy Kids (board chair for six years), the Coalition for Healthy Active Americans, the Council for Corporate and School Partnerships, and the United States Collegiate Sports Council. She has also contributed to numerous collaborative initiatives on the national level, including the Healthy People 2010 Consortium, Citizenship through Sports Alliance and the American Council for fitness and Nutrition.

Throughout her career Dr. Young has reached out beyond the HPERD profession to educate others in business, government, and civic organizations about the value of physical and health education, healthy physical activity, sport and dance. She has represented the profession admirably as a member of various national boards of directors, including Action for Healthy Kids (board chair for six years), the Coalition for Healthy Active Americans, the Council for Corporate and School Partnerships, and the United States Collegiate Sports Council. She has also contributed to numerous collaborative initiatives on the national level, including the Healthy People 2010 Consortium, Citizenship through Sports Alliance and the American Council for fitness and Nutrition.

A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, she received her master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland.

For more information about SHAPE America’s National Convention & Expo, visit the website and follow #SHAPENashville.

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