Highlights

  • Sargent Alumni Go For the Gold (continued)


    • It is no surprise that students and alumni of Sargent College are committed to their health. Programs range from occupational therapy to nutrition and while vastly different, they often lead to a career in the health services. Two physical therapy alumnae decided to continue their strong commitment to a healthy lifestyle even after retirement by participating in the Senior Olympics and other competitive activities.

    Shirley Chase, '47, at the age of 82, is a retired physical therapist who worked for an orthopedic surgeon in Arlington, Virginia, for the majority of her career. Since retiring and moving to St. Augustine, Florida, years ago, she has been participating in the 50-meter swim at the Senior Games.

    "My activity level has stayed very much the same throughout my life, " explained Shirley. "I swim everyday, usually with flippers, it helps my foot speed and strength."

    Shirley has competed at the state level for 5 years and has qualified for the National Senior Competition twice. On December 1 and 2, 2007, she attended the State Senior Games in Cape Coral, Florida, for the 6th time, where she won four gold medals!

    Captain Andrew Smith, '71, is also a retired physical therapist who resides in Whittier, North Carolina. Andrew worked for the US Public Health Service and has been retired for only a few years. He has been competitively participating in race walk at the Senior Olympics for 10 years.

    "I normally walk anywhere from 5 to 6 miles, 3 days a week, all year long. I also weight train 2 days a week," said Andrew. "My general lifestyle is training for the events in which I compete; I don't typically train for individual events since my regiment is an ongoing training cycle."

    Andrew recently traveled to Italy to compete in the world championship for race walking.

    In addition to Shirley and Andrew, Carol Wood, '58, is also a Senior Olympic contender, competing in tennis.

    Carole, who is 71, after having orthopedic surgery in May 2006, did not play tennis competitively in 2007 but rather volunteered as the "coordinator" for the US Senior and "Super" Senior Tennis Teams by traveling to Antalya, Turkey, to help with the event.

    Here's to Sargent alumni staying healthy and active- even after retirement!