Murray State University Athletics
Former Racer honored by White House For Excellence in Teaching
7/13/2009 1:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Not every student-athlete can go on to play professionally, but all of them have a chance to use the skills that they learn on the court and in the classroom at Murray State to become successful in their careers. For Melissa Collins, a former Racer women's basketball player, that success has turned into a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching by the White House.
Collins, who donned a navy and gold uniform from 1994-96, is a second-grade teacher at John P. Freeman Optional School in Memphis, Tenn. She is one of 87 elementary teachers in the country to earn the honor. She will receive $10,000 from the national Science Foundation and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. for a White House ceremony.
“It is a great honor to receive an honor from the president,” said head coach Rob Cross. “We are proud to see that she has been able to have a positive impact on young people's lives. Hopefully her time at Murray State, both on the court and in the classroom, helped prepare her to become the great educator that she has obviously become.”
Collins graduated from Murray State in 1999 with a degree in elementary education and was hired by John P. Freeman Optional School, a K-8 school for college prep and enriched academics. The 6-3 center played for the Racers for two seasons after transferring from Jones Junior College in Ellisville, Miss. She averaged 2.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and added 27 blocks.
Collins, who donned a navy and gold uniform from 1994-96, is a second-grade teacher at John P. Freeman Optional School in Memphis, Tenn. She is one of 87 elementary teachers in the country to earn the honor. She will receive $10,000 from the national Science Foundation and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. for a White House ceremony.
“It is a great honor to receive an honor from the president,” said head coach Rob Cross. “We are proud to see that she has been able to have a positive impact on young people's lives. Hopefully her time at Murray State, both on the court and in the classroom, helped prepare her to become the great educator that she has obviously become.”
Collins graduated from Murray State in 1999 with a degree in elementary education and was hired by John P. Freeman Optional School, a K-8 school for college prep and enriched academics. The 6-3 center played for the Racers for two seasons after transferring from Jones Junior College in Ellisville, Miss. She averaged 2.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and added 27 blocks.
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