• 2015 CoSIDA Special Awards general announcement/release
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by Tom Nelson, St. Cloud State University Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations
As a college student, Anne Abicht had an interest in sports and was a mass communications major at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Yes, the perfect combination for the beginnings of a 36-year connection with the sports information profession that will see Abicht receive a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Lifetime Achievement Award and also be inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame. The awards will be presented at the annual CoSIDA Convention, taking place in Orlando June 14-17.
“A friend of mine knew I had an interest in sports and told me that the sports information office at Minnesota Duluth needed an intern,” Abicht said. “I went down and talked to Jeff Mordhorst (UMD’s sports information director at the time) and got the job.”
The rest, so to speak, is history as Abicht went on to work in the sports information office for two more years before embarking on a long professional career in the business in 1981.
“I have always enjoyed sports and played sports in high school, and with my mass communications background the two really complimented each other…it was a great fit for this profession,” Abicht said.
Upon graduation from Minnesota Duluth, Abicht’s career began as the women’s sports information director at North Dakota State University, where she worked alongside CoSIDA Hall of Famer George Ellis from 1981 to 1984. At this time, Abicht also served as the women’s sports information director for the always-rugged North Central Conference from 1981 to 1986.
In 1985, Abicht joined the staff at St. Cloud State University as the Huskies’ sports information director – just the fifth individual to serve in that position in university history. Abicht will wrap up a sterling career with the Huskies in 2015 as she will retire as the university’s athletic media relations director at the end of June.
A tireless and committed professional with a true passion for athletics, Abicht has become an authoritative historian of Huskies athletics during her time at St. Cloud State. Her behind-the-scene work has enabled countless St. Cloud State student-athletes to earn conference, regional and national recognition in the form of media coverage, athletic and academic achievement awards, numerous All-American and Academic All-America accolades along with NCAA awards and scholarships.
A female pioneer in the world of sports information, Abicht was named CoSIDA’s Trailblazer Award winner in 2007; the award is now named after the inaugural award winner, the late Mary Jo Haverbeck of Penn State.
Abicht received her 25-year award from the organization in 2006. A member of the group’s board of directors from 2008-11, Abicht has also served on CoSIDA’s NCAA Division II-SIDA Board of Directors.
In addition to her contributions on campus, Abicht’s decorated career has seen her work at numerous NCAA Division I and Division II championship events along with hosting conference and NCAA regional events at St. Cloud State. In 1992, Abicht had the opportunity to serve as the press officer with the United States men’s hockey team in Albertville and she has worked at numerous Minnesota State High School League championships in softball, baseball, boy’s golf and girl’s golf over the years.
In the community, Abicht served on the St. Cloud Red Cross Board of Directors and was an instrumental leader with the St. Cloud State University Athletic Hall of Fame, which she will be inducted into in 2015.
Abicht’s leadership style, quiet demeanor, public relations skills and on-the-job training abilities have made her a valuable asset to the St. Cloud State campus community along with the sports information profession. She has earned the respect of her co-workers and her peers in the business throughout her career.
"Anne is one of the most ethical and honest persons I have ever met and has stood as an example to others in our profession on how to go about their business the right way,” said Paul Allan, Minnesota State University Associate Director of Athletics.
Abicht, who received her master’s degree from SCSU in 2006, has been a mentor and teacher to numerous student workers and graduate assistants who have worked in the office at St. Cloud State since 1985. Many of these SCSU graduates are now members of CoSIDA.
“Easily the best part of this job is the students-athletes and the campus community,” Abicht said. “Working on a college campus is invigorating and to watch the progress of our student-athletes throughout their academic careers is very rewarding.
“What may be even more rewarding is have the opportunity to work with the young people in our office and watch them go on to successful careers in sports information or the communications profession.”
Student workers and graduate assistants who have worked with Abicht dot the CoSIDA and athletics communications landscape, including recent SCSU graduate assistant and current Bemidji State assistant sports information director Andy Sailer.
“Anne has been an integral part of my development as a young professional in sports information as she was the first one to give me experience beyond the basics of taking sport-specific statistics,” Sailer said. “She has been a great role model for myself in the profession and a true pioneer that I have been able to learn a great deal from. To have worked for an individual that is earning the highest honors in this profession is great, as I know that I have learned from the best and will always have a great mentor as I grow my career.”
Sarah Meier, another of Abicht’s former graduate assistant now serves as an assistant athletic director at Fort Lewis College noted, “Anne has been an exceptional mentor and role model. She is the reason I entered the athletic media relations field and is a professional on every level. I have profound admiration and respect for Anne. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.”
A native of Burnsville, Minnesota and a longtime resident of St. Cloud, Abicht and her husband Denny Lorsung will soon be moving to their lake home in Alexandria.
“I have had an amazing experience here at St. Cloud State and in this profession,” Abicht said. “I have been very fortunate to work with such a great staff here at St. Cloud State and with the people in our office, including Terry Tschida, Celest Stang and Tom Nelson. Those types of relationships have really made it easy to do this job over the years.”