Myelin Board Member Chris Kaag Receives Alumni Achievement Award

It gives me great pleasure to share with you today the exciting news that Penn State Berks alumnus Christopher Kaag ' 04 has been chosen by University Park as one of ten alumni to receive the 2009 Alumni Achievement Award.

The Alumni Achievement Award recognizes alumni 35 years of age and younger for their extraordinary professional accomplishments. Recipients of the award are invited to return to the campus to share their expertise with students, faculty and administrators. They are to demonstrate to students that Penn State alumni succeed in exceptional fashion at an early age.

Chris was diagnosed at the age of 21 with a degenerative nerve disorder. Since then he has maintained a positive attitude and stays focused on his goals. He has combined his passion for entrepreneurialship, fitness and charity into a successful business, charitable organization and annual triathlon.

In 2004, Chris founded, Got the Nerve?, a triathlon designed to raise money for the Meylin Project, an international scientific research organization. In it's first five years the triathlon has raised approximately $130,000. Building on the success of the triathlon, Chris created The IM Able Foundation in 2007. The goal of this organization is to provide disabled children with hand cycles - which can cost between $1500 and $2500 - through fundraising efforts.

As though what he had already done was not enough, he founded his own fitness gym, Corps. Fitness, Wyomissing, PA. A gym where Chris uses techniques he learned as a marine to inspire and motivate an active lifestyle in both able and disabled people. As you can see, Chris has made it his life goal to help other disabled individuals stay physically active, while working to raise money for myelin research.

Dr. Spanier will honor Chris for his accomplishments and award on April 3, 2009 at a dinner where Chris will receive a bronze medallion and certificate. After the new year Dr. Speece and Dave Delozier plan to invite Chris to the Berks campus so that he may share his experience and success with our students. I will provide more information on Chris's visit once the details are finalized. In the meantime please join me in congratulating Chris on his many accomplishments. You may email Chris at chris@im-able.org, I'm sure he would enjoy hearing from his former professors.

Heather L. Angstadt '04
Alumni Relations Coordinator
Penn State Berks
PO Box 7009
Reading PA 19610-6009
(610) 396-6052 Fax (610) 396-6059

For additional information on this release, please contact:

Heather Angstadt

Phone: (610) 396-6052

Source: Penn State Alumni Relations Coordinator

Website: N/A