Southeastern's Kacey Russell selected for internship at Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center

Press Release Date: 04-08-2010

DURANT, Okla. – Kacey Russell's days on the basketball court at Southeastern Oklahoma State University are over. And her undergraduate days are nearing an end as she looks forward to graduation in May.

But the senior recreation major from Crandall, Texas, will begin the next phase of life this summer as an intern at the Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center in Dallas. The Center offers, among other things, fitness programs, personal training, and aquatics.

The 10-week internship will find Russell working in the area of cardiac rehabilitation.

"I'm really excited about the internship," she said. "It will enable me to learn more about the different fields in my major. I'm planning on working on my master's degree in a related field such as nutrition or exercise science."

In addition to being an outstanding guard on coach Darin Grover's basketball team, Russell excelled in the classroom as a regular member of the President's Honor Roll. She is also a member of the Alpha Chi national honor society. Through the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, she's been involved in a number of activities on campus, including the Special Olympics. Russell was also a 2009 recipient of the Presidential Partners scholarship.

According to Dr. Michael Reed, assistant professor of Health, Physical Education & Recreation, the Landry internship is very "elite."

"They are very selective," Reed said, noting that applications are submitted from throughout the country. "To receive this internship is a real credit to her. She's an outstanding student and is the epitome of the student-athlete."

Russell said SE and Durant have been a good fit for her.

"I came up here and liked the atmosphere," she said of her decision to attend Southeastern. "I'm from a small town and I felt comfortable here. It was also close enough to home where my family could come to our (basketball) games."

Russell says she will greatly miss the camaraderie of her friends and coaches. And according to coach Grover, the feeling is mutual.

"Kacey Russell is among the best kids I have ever had the privilege to coach," Grover said. " I cannot express how much I will miss her drive and passion for whatever she set out to accomplish. I am a better coach today for having the opportunity to work with her over the past four years."