FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 18, 2000 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 SIMPSON TO RECEIVE SPIRIT OF DRAKE AWARD Lou Ann Simpson, professor of business law at Drake University, has been named the first recipient of the Donald V. Adams Spirit of Drake Award. The newly-established award will be presented annually to the Drake faculty or staff member who best exemplifies the spirit of Drake as reflected in its mission statement and in the daily life of the University. Simpson, who has twice been named the outstanding undergraduate teacher of the year in the Drake College of Business and Public Administration, will be recognized during halftime of this Saturday's Drake-Wichita State men's basketball game at the Drake Knapp Center. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. The award, established by the Drake Athletic Department, is named in honor of Don Adams, who has been an administrator at Drake since 1969. He served as vice president of student life from 1969 to 1985 and then was named vice president of enrollment management from 1985 to 1995. Adams' current role is executive assistant to the president, director of government relations and secretary of the University. Simpson, who has been nominated for the Levitt Teacher of the Year award, earned her bachelor of science degree in business administration and her law degree from Drake before she began practicing law in Des Moines. She joined the Drake faculty in 1974. Simpson serves on the Drake Faculty Senate and will be president of the Drake Faculty Senate for the second time during the 2000-01 academic year. She has been both an assistant and associate dean of the College of Business and Public Administration as well as the director of the School of Accounting. "Lou Ann is an extraordinary teacher and an even better person who genuinely cares about students," said Drake athletic director Lynn King. "She has consistently served the institution in leadership roles, excelling in the classroom and mentoring students. She represents what Drake is all about. It gives me great pleasure to present her with the first Don Adams Spirit of Drake Award." Simpson has been a member of the Bulldog Scholarship Board and has chaired the Drake Athletic Council. She also served as Drake's faculty athletic representative to the NCAA from 1988 to 1992.