Smietana Earns First-Place Awards

NASHVILLE, TN (July 23, 2013) – The Tennessee Press Association recently awarded Covenanter Bob Smietana with first-place awards for articles he wrote for The Tennessean and which were picked up by national media.

Smietana, a member of the newspaper’s staff, was recognized in the features category for his article on religious snake handling and for a personal column about the changes he made in his life after being diagnosed with diabetes.

The contest, which is co-sponsored by the University of Tennessee, drew 1,485 entries from 74 member newspapers throughout the state.

Smietana is a former features editor with the Covenant Companion.

Wright Named NPU Women’s Soccer Coach

CHICAGO, IL (July 23, 2013) – The North Park Athletic Department introduced Chris Wright as the new head women’s soccer coach Monday morning. Wright succeeds Paul Thomas, who resigned late last week for family reasons.

While the 2013 season will be his first season as head coach, Wright has served with the Vikings for two years as a graduate assistant and for four months as the team’s interim head coach. Since his arrival in 2011, Wright has assisted North Park to its best overall record in six seasons and their best conference mark in nearly 10 years.

“Chris knows the players in the program and the recruiting class, and he has been an integral part of improving this program the past two years,” said Athletic Director Jack Surridge. “He has a tremendous work ethic and he is ready to continue executing a plan he helped to design. He is respected by the players and his peers on the staff.”

Prior to coming to North Park, Wright served as an assistant men’s soccer coach at Concordia University Nebraska, helping lead the Bulldogs team in 2010 to their best finish in more than eight years.