UM seniors earn recognition

Divisions of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance have honored two University of Maine students.

Seniors Debra McSweeney of Winthrop and Dan Wilson of Farmingdale are just the second and third Maine students to be so honored.

McSweeney, the record-holding goalie for the Black Bear field hockey team, was one of eight regional and 243 students nationwide to be named an Outstanding Physical Education Major of the Year by the National Association of Sports and Physical Education.

Wilson was named the Outstanding Physical Education Major from the Eastern District Association of the alliance.

Steve Butterfield, Maine’s coordinator of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, said the awards mean “that our best majors are among the very best in the United States.”

Butterfield’s department nominated the two for the awards based on their academic credentials, service to the university community, and athletic ability. Only one other Maine student has been honored by this organization in Butterfield’s six years at Maine.

A three-year goalie on Coach Jeri Waterhouse’s field hockey team, McSweeney holds the university record for most saves in a game (37) and most saves in a season (239).

Waterhouse said that McSweeney, after changing majors and being hampered the first half of her senior year with a hamstring injury, has another year of eligibility and will return to the university in the fall. She will student teach at Hampden and Brewer and play one more season of field hockey.

Waterhouse said the hamstring still was bothering McSweeney recently and she was only able to participate in late spring practice with the team. McSweeney captained the Black Bears as a junior.

Academically, McSweeney has been on the dean’s list eight semesters. She was a member of the Distinguished Maine Professor Committee, the Committee on Undergraduate Programs, and the Commissioner’s Advisory Board for Physical Education.

McSweeney was the student representative for the Maine Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and represented the uniorganization’s national conference in Texas. She also was involved with the Maine Special Olympics.

McSweeney plans to study sports medicine in graduate school and later coach field hockey or basketball.

Wilson was a dean’s list student for four of his five semesters at Maine, where he was a dormitory resident assistant. Working in the Preventive Medicine Program at Cutler Health Center, he was a teacher assistant in first aid and outdoor preparedness in physical education. He intends to teach and coach.