DURANGO, Colo. — Fort Lewis College Exercise Science Chair Paul Petersen, who is retiring at the end of the academic year, received the Director of Athletics Appreciation Award at tonight's Skyhawk Awards Banquet.

“Paul has been a mainstay in the Athletic Department and in Exercise Science at Fort Lewis for many years,” said Director of Athletics Kelly Higgins. “He will be missed by all, most especially me. He has been a calm hand and friend I could always depend on for a good conversation about difficult topics. Now I hope to catch up to him while fishing!”

Petersen, who will be retiring this year after 27 years at Fort Lewis College, has supported Skyhawk Athletics in many ways throughout his career. When he first arrived at FLC, he was head wrestling coach and assistant football coach. He continued coaching wrestling until the college dropped the sport in 1995, at which point he focused his efforts on teaching in the Department of Exercise Science.

Since then, Dr. Petersen has advised, taught and mentored thousands of students, including hundreds of Skyhawk student-athletes. As chair of the department, he's guided Exercise Science into new territory, helping it become one of the college's distinguished academic departments; one that sends countless students to graduate school and the pinnacles of their chosen careers.

He has remained a diehard supporter of Skyhawk Athletics, helping to induct former colleagues and student-athletes into the FLC Athletic Hall of Fame and rooting for the Skyhawks at home games.

The Director of Athletics Appreciation Award is presented annually to someone who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the Fort Lewis College Department of Athletics, often over many years. Past award recipients have included college administrators and employees, boosters and fans. Prior to 1997, the award was known as the Honorary Letterwinner Award.

Past recipients of the Director of Athletics Appreciation Award include:

• 2010 – Brad Bartel (Fort Lewis College president)
• 2009 – Steve Stovall (Fort Lewis College faculty athletic representative)
• 2008 – Rick Kern (Hillcrest Golf Course)
• 2007 – Michele Petersen (Fort Lewis College director of budgets), Jim Foster (Fort Lewis College Foundation Executive Board of Directors)
• 2006 – Bill Mashaw (Skyhawk Booster Club Board of Directors)
• 2005 – Ryan Preszler (Fort Lewis College equipment manager)
• 2004 – Dave Bray (Fort Lewis College play-by-play announcer)
• 2003 – Bob Dolphin (Fort Lewis College president), Rick Willis (Fort Lewis College director of financial aid)
• 2001 – Harlan Steinle (Fort Lewis College vice president for external affairs and admission)
• 1999 – Wayne Barger (Fort Lewis College head athletic trainer)
• 1998 – Ed Williams (Fort Lewis College Physical Plant Services)
• 1997 – Becky Moore
• 1996 – Anne Bartlett (Fort Lewis College Athletic Dept. administrative assistant), Steve Roderick (Fort Lewis College vice president for academic affairs)
• 1995 – Tommy Guy (scorekeeper at Fort Lewis College basketball games), Joanne Parish (Fort Lewis College Exercise Science Dept. administrative assistant)
• 1994 – Connie Mancillas (Fort Lewis College volunteer assistant volleyball coach), Everett “Scoop” Waddell (Fort Lewis College Physical Plant Services)