ORLANDO, Fla. – Rick Meldrum of UMass Lowell Athletics Sports Performance was named the 2017 recipient of the Lance Vermeil Scholarship Award, which was presented on May 11^th at the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa) National Conference at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort.

Meldrum, who was hired in September of 2015, serves as the Sports Performance Coach for the River Hawk Track and Field team, as well as the UMass Lowell Women's Soccer and Women's Lacrosse teams.

"Rick's enthusiasm and desire to not only succeed personally, but to see his athletes succeed is a tremendous asset to our department," said Keith Vinci, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance. "Each and every day he comes ready to create an environment that betters our student athletes. It is an honor to have someone such as Rick on our staff." 

The award is presented annually to one member of the strength and conditioning community that has shown a commitment to having a career in the field of strength and conditioning and has demonstrated tremendous potential and inclination for this unique profession.

In 2012, MF Athletic/Perform Better, a CSCCa sponsor, instituted the $1500 Lance Vermeil Scholarship Award in memory of Lance Vermeil, who was an extremely qualified and dedicated young strength and conditioning coach. Coach Vermeil was committed to the profession of collegiate strength and conditioning and, most importantly, to serving and protecting the student athlete. Al Vermeil, the father of Lance and a 2007 Legend in the Field of Strength and Conditioning, presented the first inaugural Lance Vermeil Scholarship Award at the Master Strength and Conditioning Coaches Dinner and Ceremony in the Spring of 2012.