352 Lafayette Street

Salem, MA 01970

978-542-6000

EMBARGO FOR AUGUST 15, 2011

Contact:

Dr. Steven Dion James GlynnChairperson of SMS Department Director of Marketing and Media Relations978-542-6580 OR 978-542-7519Steven.dion@salemstate.edu james.glynn@salemstate.edu

World Medalists to Join Salem State University Speaker SeriesThe only American ice dancing pair in history to win the World Championships will

speak on the value of higher education

SALEM, Mass. – August 15, 2011 – Meryl Davis and Charlie White, the only World Champion pair of American ice dancers, will participate in the Salem State University Speaker Series this fall.

The duo, who are both enrolled full-time at the University of Michigan, plan to discuss the value of a higher education and hard work. Davis and White, who have been skating together since 1997, became the first American team ever to win the World Championship ice dancing competition this year, and were named USA Today’s “Champions of the Week” this past May.

“This year we wanted to get speakers that the students could relate to on multiple levels,” said Jim Glynn, Director of Marketing and Media Relations at Salem State.

Sport and Movement Science Department Chair Steven Dion agrees. “We like that they’re successful athletes while still maintaining the down-to-Earth personalities of college students,” said Dion. “It makes them much more relatable.”

The event will be held in the O’Keefe Center on September 12, 2011 at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.salemstate.edu/6081.php or by contacting Lisa McFadden, Associate Director of Development at 978-542-7554.

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