Anne Abicht Named 2007 CoSIDA Trailblazer Award Winner

Anne Abicht, director of athletic media relations at St. Cloud State University, has been named the recipient of CoSIDA's 2007 Trailblazer Award, which annually goes to an individual who is a pioneer in the field of sports information and who has mentored and helped improve the level of ethnic and gender diversity within CoSIDA.

Abicht joined the St. Cloud State staff in January of 1985 as the Sports Information Director. Since arriving on the SCSU campus, the athletic department moved its hockey program to NCAA Division I status, and added three women's sports, including women's ice hockey, soccer and nordic skiing. During this growth period, Abicht has overseen a growth in staff in the department now known as Athletic Media Relations.

SCSU has added a part-time office manager, two full-time assistants and two graduate assistants to assist in the coverage of the 21 sport program. She received CoSIDA's 25-Year Award in July of 2006.

Prior to joining the SCSU staff, Abicht was the Women's Sports Information Director at North Dakota State University, and the Women's Sports Publicist for the North Central Conference. Her experience and professional opportunities have included serving as the USOC Press Officer for the 1992 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team in Albertville, France; 1990 and 1991 U.S. Olympic Festival Staff member; 1999 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship Event Staff; 2002 CoSIDA Workshop Table Topics presenter; 2002 NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Frozen Four Media Assistant; and press conference moderator for the 2004 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championships Mideast Region First Round. Abicht has served on the CoSIDA Publications Contest Committee.

Abicht graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a degree in mass communications and a minor in journalism. The Burnsville, Minn., native holds a master's degree in sports management from St. Cloud State. Anne and her husband, Dennis Lorsung, reside in St. Cloud.

--Courtesy CoSIDA.com