June 2, 2006

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher has announced that Samford student-athlete Laura Malnati is this year's recipient of the HCA's TriStar Family of Hospitals postgraduate scholarship.

"It gives me great pleasure to award the HCA TriStar scholarship to Laura," stated OVC Commissioner Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher. "She has had an outstanding career at Samford, personifying the term `student-athlete' with her dedication to her academic and athletic pursuits and her participation in numerous community service activities. Thanks to the generosity of HCA TriStar, she will be able to continue her studies at the next level, where I am sure she will have similar success."

The $2,500 scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating Ohio Valley Conference student-athlete or student manager/trainer who has participated at an OVC member institution for a minimum of two seasons and who will pursue a postgraduate education in the field of medicine, nursing, physical therapy, athletics training or other health sciences field. The scholarship is part of a corporate partnership between HCA TriStar and the OVC that also includes a special section on the league's web site, www.ovcsports.com, entitled "HCA's TriStar Family of Hospitals Student-Athlete Spotlight," which recognizes those OVC student-athletes who are making a difference in their communities.

Malnati, a member of the Samford women's track and field team, won the 2006 high jump event at the O'Reilly OVC Indoor Track and Field Championship. A three-time All-OVC performer, she leaves as the Bulldogs' record-holder in both the indoor and outdoor high jump events.

The Dandridge, Tenn., native received her undergraduate degree in exercise science last month after finishing with a 3.964 grade point average and will begin attending physical therapy school at Duke University this fall. Malnati has received two OVC Medals of Honor and is up for her third OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll accolade when the awards are announced later this summer.

A member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, she was named to the Samford Dean's List all eight semesters. In addition to her academic and athletic commitments, Malnati has been active in her community as well, assisting elderly neighbors with household chores and participating in various tournaments and festivals for physically disabled children and adults.

HCA's MidAmerica Division (which includes TriStar Health System), with 17 hospitals in Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana, offers more choices of hospitals and access to affordable, quality healthcare. The MidAmerica network of hospitals serves over 92,000 admissions and 344,000 emergency room visits per year division-wide, and is nationally recognized in the areas of cardiology, orthopaedics, oncology, neurology and women's health.