{"id":32247,"date":"2026-01-13T22:23:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T03:23:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=32247"},"modified":"2026-01-13T22:59:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T03:59:34","slug":"tusculum-university-junior-who-performs-strongly-in-class-athletics-and-community-service-wins-statewide-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2026\/tusculum-university-junior-who-performs-strongly-in-class-athletics-and-community-service-wins-statewide-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Tusculum University junior who performs strongly in class, athletics and community service wins statewide award"},"content":{"rendered":"

MURFREESBORO<\/strong> \u2013 A Tusculum University<\/a> 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.<\/h3>\n
\"Natalie

Natalie Spaitis holds the James E. Ward Future Professional Honor Award from the Tennessee Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.<\/p><\/div>\n

Natalie Spaitis, a sport science<\/a> major and softball<\/a> 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\u2019s annual convention. Spaitis was nominated by the faculty in Tusculum\u2019s sport science program \u2013 Dr. Suzanne Byrd, Dr. David Bow and Angelo Botta.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am honored to receive the TAHPERD award and to be able to represent Tusculum University and the sport science program at the state level,\u201d Spaitis said. \u201cI appreciate all of the support that I received from Dr. Bow, Dr. Byrd, and Coach Botta throughout the application process.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cNatalie is one of the most prepared students I know on a daily basis,\u201d Dr. Byrd said. \u201cShe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

A record of excellence<\/strong><\/p>\n

Spaitis\u2019 academic accomplishments are appearances in on the Dean\u2019s, President\u2019s 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\u2019s Honor Roll and the Tusculum Athletic Director\u2019s Honor Roll as well as being named an Easton\/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete as a freshman and sophomore. She made the Athletic Director\u2019s Honor Roll again in fall 2025.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cNatalie is an energetic and motivated student-athlete at Tusculum University,\u201d Botta said. \u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

During all three years at Tusculum, she has participated in the university\u2019s Nettie Fowler McCormick Service Day<\/a>, during which students assist a variety of community organizations. She has also been a volunteer reader for students at Doak Elementary School, assisted with \u201cGlove Bugs\u201d special needs tee-ball and has been a student supervisor for the \u201cTiger Time\u201d after-school program at Tusculum View Elementary School.<\/p>\n

\u201cNatalie has an impressive record of volunteer service to the community,\u201d Dr. Bow said. \u201cShe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Demonstrating a healthy lifestyle<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

She visits with Tusculum\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

One other important part of paying attention to her health is monitoring her nutrition.<\/p>\n

\u201cI utilize my school\u2019s 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,\u201d Spaitis said. \u201cSpecifically, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI put a lot of effort into managing my time well and working ahead in my coursework so that I don\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Award history<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u00a0professor in the Health Science Department at Arizona State University.<\/p>\n

Spaitis will now compete for the national Major of the Year Award presented by SHAPE America \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

To learn more about Tusculum\u2019s sport science program, please visit https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/sport-science\/<\/a>. Further details about the softball program are available at https:\/\/tusculum.prestosports.com\/sports\/sball\/index<\/a>. Additional information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MURFREESBORO<\/strong> \u2013 A Tusculum University<\/a> 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.<\/h3>\n

Natalie Spaitis, a sport science<\/a> major and softball<\/a> 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\u2019s annual convention. Spaitis was nominated by the faculty in Tusculum\u2019s sport science program \u2013 Dr. Suzanne Byrd, Dr. David Bow and Angelo Botta.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am honored to receive the TAHPERD award and to be able to represent Tusculum University and the sport science program at the state level,\u201d Spaitis said. \u201cI appreciate all of the support that I received from Dr. Bow, Dr. Byrd, and Coach Botta throughout the application process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read the full article…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[131,91,7,19,142,169,146,1,6,148,147,149,163,172],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nTusculum University junior who performs strongly in class, athletics and community service wins statewide award :: Tusculum University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2026\/tusculum-university-junior-who-performs-strongly-in-class-athletics-and-community-service-wins-statewide-award\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tusculum University junior who performs strongly in class, athletics and community service wins statewide award :: Tusculum University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"MURFREESBORO \u2013 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, 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\u2019s annual convention. Spaitis was nominated by the faculty in Tusculum\u2019s sport science program \u2013 Dr. Suzanne Byrd, Dr. David Bow and Angelo Botta. \u201cI am honored to receive the TAHPERD award and to be able to represent Tusculum University and the sport science program at the state level,\u201d Spaitis said. \u201cI appreciate all of the support that I received from Dr. Bow, Dr. Byrd, and Coach Botta throughout the application process.\u201d Read the full article...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2026\/tusculum-university-junior-who-performs-strongly-in-class-athletics-and-community-service-wins-statewide-award\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY NEWS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-14T03:23:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-14T03:59:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" 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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\u2019s annual convention. 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