Ford Ironman Everyday Hero

Here is what was posted on the Point Loma University website, and 2x in the Bakersfield Californian newspaper.


Corey McKenna, Ph.D., assistant professor of education at PLNU’s Bakersfield Regional Center is receiving the Ford Ironman Everyday Hero Award at Ironman St. George on May 1, 2010. The award is given to one person at each of the seven Ironman races in North America each year. The seven individuals are selected from a pool of nearly 15,000 for significant contribution to a person, charity, or organization.

Since this is the inaugural year for the Ironman in St. George, McKenna will be the first recipient of this particular Everyday Hero award. He will also be the first recognized in 2010, as the St. George race will kick off the 2010 Ironman season.

McKenna will be honored at the athlete welcome dinner on Thursday before the race and a video will be produced, which will air first at the dinner and later this year on television channel Versus.

McKenna will also receive entry into any Ironman event in the continental U.S. in the coming year – including events already full to general entry.

In addition, Ford and Ironman will make a $1,000 donation to a charity of McKenna’s choice. He is choosing Ride To Walk in honor of his late-niece, putting the money toward a memorial scholarship he and his wife have set up in her name. McKenna’s niece passed away in December at age four from cerebral palsy.

“This award is dedicated to not only my late niece, the inspiration behind this particular journey, but to all of those individuals who want to live out their dreams and to know that anything is possible as long as you set your mind and heart to do it,” McKenna said.