Fotti To Receive CoSIDA’s 2008 College Division Rising Star Award
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Cindy Fotti, the Assistant Director of Athletics/Media Relations and Compliance at Columbia (Mo.) College, has been named the recipient of the 2008 College Division Rising Star Award by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
The award is presented to a College Division member with 10 years of service or less whose work at their institution and service, dedication, energy and enthusiasm to the profession make that individual a “rising star” in sports information.
Fotti clearly defines the title rising star, as she has quickly moved up the ladder at Columbia College, where she began her career as a student assistant in the sports information office in 2003. In January 2005, while completing her undergraduate degree, she had a demanding but rewarding three months when she filled in as the acting Sports Information Director.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba native then served as a graduate assistant to assistant director Brad Jenks before being named the Coordinator of Athletic Information and Compliance in 2006.
In 2007 Fotti again found herself in a similar situation when Columbia’s Assistant Athletic Director/Media Relations and Development Brad Jenks accepted another position in mid September leaving Fotti to again hold the reins. Fotti was instrumental to the success of the 2007 NAIA Volleyball National Championships which were held in Columbia. She not only organized over 400 volunteers for the four-day event, but also organized media relations and was the primary contact to the national office. For her efforts, Fotti was given the service award at the championships. She was promoted to her current position in October of 2007.
Fotti earned her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2006. A former assistant coach for the Columbia softball team, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a major in education and a minor in psychology in 2005.
A stellar student-athlete, Fotti played with the Cougar softball team for two years where she was awarded All-America Scholar Athlete, All-Conference, All-Region and National Tournament All-Tournament Team.
Prior to Columbia College Fotti attended Three Rivers Junior College where she played basketball, volleyball and softball. She graduated with her Associate of Arts degree in 2002.
Fotti also coaches for Team in Training (TNT), a marathon training group that raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Fotti started coaching for TNT in May of 2006 and is a nationally certified running coach. Having run more than ten full/half/relay marathons herself, she has coached over 70 individuals to the finish line.
Fotti was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada but presently calls Columbia home.