CUSHING ATHLETICS RECOGNIZED FOR “EXEMPLARY” PROGRAM
Director Jennifer Viana Leads Effort to Receive Honor C ushing Academy earned recognition from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, qualifying for Quality Program Assessment at the Exemplary Level, thanks to the work of Athletic Director Jennifer Viana and her staff. Cushing was one of just 15 private and public schools from across the
country, and one of only two in New England, to hit that milestone this year. “I’m always interested in professional development and advancing my knowledge and skill set as an athletic administrator, but the idea behind doing this particular project was all about best practices,” says Viana, who is in her sixth year as athletic director at Cushing. Each month from July 2022 through May 2023, Viana met with a cohort of athletic directors from around the country who were working on assessing their programs against benchmarks deemed exemplary. The applicants looked into 10 different areas of their departments, reviewing policies and assessing how well the program met various metrics. Are facilities and equipment safe? Is the emergency action plan up to date? Are the programs offered to both boys and girls equitable? How does the school communicate about sportsmanship expectations for fans? “It provided us an opportunity to take a deeper dive into the operations
of the program, to really make sure that we’re doing things the right way,” Viana says. She is now serving as a mentor for a fellow athletic director seeking recognition for his school. Going through the process reinforced Viana’s appreciation of Cushing. She says the support that athletic programs at Cushing enjoy from the administration and from donors is invaluable. “From our top-notch athletic facilities, to our weight room, to our commitment to regularly updating our uniforms, we want our athletes to look good and feel even better,” she says. “Athletics at Cushing feels like a small college. We have awesome opportunities for our student-athletes to compete at a high level and have an experience of a lifetime.” Cushing Academy is only the second school in the New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) to qualify for this recognition, joining Cardigan Mountain School, which earned it in 2015.
From our top-notch athletic facilities, to our weight room, to our commitment to regularly updating our uniforms, we want our athletes to look good and feel even better. Athletics at Cushing feels like a small college.” —JENNIFER VIANA, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
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