KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Purdue University Calumet student-athlete Alexandria Starr has been selected as one of 13 individuals to be inducted into the 2010-11 Red Cross/NAIA Youth Leadership Program. Starr becomes the first Peregrine to receive the honor, while helping the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference put at least one student-athlete in the program for the third-straight year.

Starr, a 5-foot-8 guard on the Peregrines' women's basketball team, was chosen from a nationwide search that included a record-breaking number of applicants from across the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Plymouth, Ind. native is a biology major at Purdue Calumet and is in her first season as a member of the women's basketball team. She is the daughter of Jeff and Jan Starr.

As part of its support of the Red Cross diversity initiatives, State Farm Insurance is sponsoring this partnership. The leadership program kicks off with two weeks of energetic training at the Red Cross National Headquarters located in Washington, D.C. from June 7 to June 18.

The incoming class will participate in a rare and unique opportunity to acquire first-hand coaching, mentoring and professional leadership training presented by one of the nation's largest non-profit organizations' senior leaders. In addition, Dr. Rob Haworth, NAIA Vice President for Champions of Character, will hold character workshops during the two week leadership academy.

"Athletics plays such an important role in creating a sense of community on college campuses. The partnership with the NAIA has created a rich opportunity to connect campus communities with the life saving mission of the Red Cross through the energy of NAIA student-athletes," said Brian Hamil, Red Cross National Chair Biomedical Services. "As we enter our fourth year of the program, we remain grateful for the continuing financial support of State Farm Insurance."

This once-in-a-lifetime experience allows NAIA student-athletes to be a part of a team made up of young adults from NAIA campuses throughout the country. The program is part of a larger Red Cross diversity strategy for moving the American Red Cross from awareness to action, building Red Cross capacity to serve all Americans.

"This is a tremendous honor for both Alex and Purdue Calumet," said athletic director Dr. Bob Bunnell. "She provides a perfect example of the student-athlete that our programs are trying to recruit, an individual that not only succeeds on the court but also serves as a leader in the classroom as well as the local community."

Student-athletes will learn from civic and business leaders in the field how to uncover their leadership potential off the field. The participants will learn about organizing successful campus blood drives, actively participate on a leadership board, and take part in diversity and cultural competency training. For their efforts, students will receive scholarship support provided by the American Red Cross and State Farm Insurance.

Besides Starr the other 2010-2011 Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program participants are: April Pressler (Baker University, Kan.); Joe Fitch (Central Christian College, Kan.); Jessica Lea (Eastern Oregon University); Amber Rafko (Madonna University, Mich.); Hanna Malak (Menlo College, Calif.); Jackob Fox (Oklahoma City University); Rebecca Colling (Peru State University, Neb.); Olivia Goodall (Reinhardt College, Ga.); Lark Nightengale (William Carey University, Miss.); Steve Clark (Fisher College, Mass.); Jonathan Rogers (Bethel College, Ind.); Patrick Turner (Holy Names University, Calif.).