Receiving Kirkpatrick Achievement Awards were Vicki Fillmann of LifeStream Services; Frank Gray, director of the Third Age Theatre at Muncie?s Community Center for the Arts; and Scott Trappe, associate professor of applied physiology in The Human Performance Laboratory at Ball State.

Fillmann and Gray received awards for achievement in service. Through Fillmann?s efforts, the Senior Games have been revitalized with a focus on involving new participants from all over the state of Indiana.

More than 130 older adults participated in the 1999 Senior Games, which included a wide range of participants from national competitors to first time enthusiasts.

In addition, Fillmann designed the "AngelWorx" recruitment campaign that has enrolled more than 100 new volunteers for the Area 6 Agency on Aging.

Gray?s productions address the challenges and myths of aging with humor and creativity. He encourages members to write original songs, poetry and scripts and persuades older adults who have never had the self-confidence to perform in public.

Gray stepped in as director following the untimely death of founding director Donald Heady, in 1997. Since then, his involvement keeps him busy with no less than 15 performances per year and a repertoire of eight different shows.

Trappe received the achievement award for research on aging for his past and continuing work on cellular adaptation of muscle to resistance training in the elderly.

In nominating Trappe, a colleague wrote: "Dr. Trappe presents a young and energetic researcher with a keen interest in the physiological and biochemical factors that are impacted by aging. I have no doubt that he will become a leader in the field of aging research. The knowledge this type of research will bring to the scientific world will greatly advance our ability to design exercise programs that will help the elderly deal with the muscle wasting that decreases their quality of life."

By Tony Barker, Communications Manager

(Note to Editors:For more information about this story, contact Royda Crose at (765) 285-1293 or rcrose@bsu.edu.)