Deanna Babcock (center) with family members at Albion
College's Young Alumni Awards 2013 ceremony.
Exercise Science Candidate Honored with Albion College 'Top
10 in 10' Young Alumni Award
ALBION, Mich. — UNC Chapel Hill exercise science graduate
student Deanna Babcock, ‘06, was recently named one of Albion
College's "Top 10 in 10" Young Alumni Award honorees for
2011.
"Current students are often inspired by the accomplishments of
alumni established in careers with many years of experience,"
said Josh Merchant, vice president for institutional advancement.
"But it is equally important for our students—and our future
students—to recognize the tremendous accomplishments of our
alumni who have achieved notable success quickly following
graduation."
While a graduate student in soil science at the North Carolina
State University, Babcock was preparing to enter her first
triathlon when her heart stopped beating during a pool workout.
She eventually spent nearly a month in a coma, and
complications required amputation of her left leg above the knee
in 2007. Nonetheless, Babcock completed her NCSU graduate
degree and in 2012, qualified for the United States Paralympic
Trials in the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle events. She is
currently completing a master's degree in exercise science at
UNC Chapel Hill and has her sights set on the paratriathlon at
the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil. Babcock also regularly
participates in swimming and distance running competitions
against able-bodied athletes.
Albion College's 2012 "Top 10 in 10" Young Alumni honorees
include a marine biologist, a Web-based entrepreneur, a
strategic adviser to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, and head
coach of the 2010 and 2011 Michigan Class A Boys’ Basketball
State Champions. To see the complete list of honorees, visit
http://www.albion.edu/alumni/alumni-awards/young-alumniawards.