Illinois Athletics Honors Varsity I Award Winners at Orange Affair

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois Varsity I Association will honor four loyal supporters at the annual Orange Affair on September 9. Former track and field standout Beverly Washington, who was a four-time Big Ten Champion in the high jump from 1976-78 before embarking on a successful business career in the Chicago area, is being recognized with the Varsity I Achievement Award.

Washington founded her own company, Image Factor, in 1990, serving as president for her image and etiquette consulting firm. She has been recognized as an Outstanding Young Woman in America by the United States Chamber of Commerce, received the ABI Award as one of 2,000 notable American women, and is also listed in the Who’s Who in Professional and Executive Women. Washington was honored with the Outstanding Achievement Award by the University of Illinois Black Alumni Association and also received the Revlon Kizzy Award for Community Service. She received her bachelor’s degree in Teaching of Dance in the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the UI in 1978.

Long-time Fighting Illini women’s golf coach Paula Smith will receive an Honorary Varsity I. Smith led the Illini women’s golfers for 28 seasons prior to retiring at the conclusion of the 2006 season. Her coaching career with the Illini began in the fall of 1978 and spanned the entire duration of Illinois participation in Big Ten and NCAA competition, as well as the final six seasons of play under the auspices of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) prior to her retirement. She was inducted into the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Hall of Fame in 1997, where she was the 23^rd coach to receive the honor.

Additional Honorary Varsity I honorees are proud and long-time supporters Jane and John Santogrossi. Jane, a 1976 UI graduate, and John, a 1976 graduate, have been season ticket holders for Fighting Illini football, women’s basketball and men’s basketball for decades, endowed an athletic scholarship while providing campaign gifts for State Farm Center, Smith Center and the Ubben Basketball Practice Facility renovation. The couple also recently made a gift to the Karol Kahrs Women’s Excellence Fund.

The Orange Affair is the annual recognition event hosted by the Varsity I Association for all Fighting Illini varsity athletics…