MURFREESBORO – A Tusculum University junior who is excelling in the classroom and on the athletic field while leading a healthy lifestyle recently earned a statewide honor for her achievements.
Natalie Spaitis holds the James E. Ward Future Professional Honor Award from the Tennessee Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
Natalie Spaitis, a sport science major and softball player, was named the James E. Ward Future Professional Honor Award from the Tennessee Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance during the organization’s annual convention. Spaitis was nominated by the faculty in Tusculum’s sport science program – Dr. Suzanne Byrd, Dr. David Bow and Angelo Botta.
“I am honored to receive the TAHPERD award and to be able to represent Tusculum University and the sport science program at the state level,” Spaitis said. “I appreciate all of the support that I received from Dr. Bow, Dr. Byrd, and Coach Botta throughout the application process.”
TAHPERD picked Spaitis from the field of candidates nominated by Tennessee higher education institutions that offer academic programs in the disciplines the statewide organization represents. The award recognizes an outstanding student who is majoring in one of those academic fields.
In addition to her major, Spaitis is pursuing a minor in coaching and carries a 4.0 grade point average. She plans to teach physical education and coach. She has participated in a clinical and internship at Eastview Elementary School in Greeneville.
“Natalie is one of the most prepared students I know on a daily basis,” Dr. Byrd said. “She strives to achieve at very high levels and works to learn and understand instead of just memorizing content. Her preparation for class, for practice, for games and for any upcoming activity is beyond compare. This preparation shows her dedication to doing well and helping others learn.”
A record of excellence
Spaitis’ academic accomplishments are appearances in on the Dean’s, President’s and Charles Oliver Gray honors lists during her first two years at Tusculum. Honors for the fall 2025 semester have not been announced yet. She was also chosen to the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Tusculum Athletic Director’s Honor Roll as well as being named an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete as a freshman and sophomore. She made the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll again in fall 2025.
On the diamond, Spaitis is a pitcher who has already tied the program record for career saves with nine. She set a single-season program record with five saves in the 2025 season, which was the 12th most nationally in Division II. She has also won 13 games for the Pioneers so far.
“Natalie is an energetic and motivated student-athlete at Tusculum University,” Botta said. “This is evident in the way she carries herself in the classroom, on the softball field and in the community. She leads by example in all of my classes as well as by assisting any students that need assistance. She has impressed me in the classroom and during participation in athletics. It has been an honor to have known her. Natalie is a brilliant young lady with much to offer in the field of physical education and coaching.”
Activities outside the classroom include her participation in Students Pray on Thursday at Tusculum Baptist Church and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. With SPOT, she has packaged items in shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child and wrapped and packaged soap and toiletries for missions in Haiti.
During all three years at Tusculum, she has participated in the university’s Nettie Fowler McCormick Service Day, during which students assist a variety of community organizations. She has also been a volunteer reader for students at Doak Elementary School, assisted with “Glove Bugs” special needs tee-ball and has been a student supervisor for the “Tiger Time” after-school program at Tusculum View Elementary School.
“Natalie has an impressive record of volunteer service to the community,” Dr. Bow said. “She is one who applies great effort to any task which she attempts. Natalie will be an outstanding professional in our field. She is an exemplary role model for her peers. She is an outstanding athlete who is physically fit and practices good health habits.”
Demonstrating a healthy lifestyle
Spaitis described in detail the attention she pays to her health and well-being. She does not smoke, vape, consume alcohol or use drugs. Her daily regimen includes throwing in the bullpen and participating in defensive practice on her own or with her team. She also lifts weights three times a week to improve her strength.
She visits with Tusculum’s athletic training staff between her classes to ensure she is taking care of her body and healing any injuries. She has additionally purchased recovery tools so she can treat sore muscles and minor injuries on her own. When she returns home to Illinois, she works with a trainer there to maintain her strength and agility.
One other important part of paying attention to her health is monitoring her nutrition.
“I utilize my school’s meal plan in order to ensure that I have sufficient meal options and am eating enough to adequately fuel my body to meet my activity needs throughout the day,” Spaitis said. “Specifically, I like to focus on my intake of protein and carbohydrates to help support my muscle growth and recovery from my training. I make sure to always have fresh fruits in my refrigerator to have with a meal or for a quick snack.”
Her work with younger athletes also helps her mental health, which she views as an important part of leading a positive lifestyle. Sleep is also important to Spaitis.
“I put a lot of effort into managing my time well and working ahead in my coursework so that I don’t end up needing to stay up too late in order to meet academic deadlines. I carefully plan out my days to manage my time well so that I can meet all of my academic, clinical, athletic, and personal obligations each day while still getting adequate rest.”
Award history
Spaitis is the third Tusculum student to receive the James E. Ward Future Professional Honor Award. Another was Helena Walts, who won the Award in 2023 and has been accepted to physical therapy school at East Tennessee State University. Dr. Simon Holzapfel was the 2010 statewide winner, and he is now an assistant professor in the Health Science Department at Arizona State University.
Spaitis will now compete for the national Major of the Year Award presented by SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators. Dr. Bow has nominated her for that honor. Walts won that award in 2024. Alumna Mary Shepherd Hincke received the Major of the Year Award from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education in 2005.
To learn more about Tusculum’s sport science program, please visit https://site.tusculum.edu/sport-science/. Further details about the softball program are available at https://tusculum.prestosports.com/sports/sball/index. Additional information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.