Ashworth College Announces Dr. Nicole Detling Miller as 2010 Graduation Speaker

Dr. Detling Miller encourages college students and Olympic athletes alike to be at the top of their game

NORCROSS, Ga., July 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ashworth College, a leader in online education, today announced that author, motivational speaker, U.S. Olympic team sports psychologist and Ashworth (http://www.ashworthcollege.edu) instructor, Dr. Nicole Detling Miller, will be the keynote speaker at this year's graduation ceremony to be held on August 7, 2010 at Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, GA.

Recently, Dr. Detling Miller served as the official U.S. Speed Skating Team sports psychologist and "mental coach" during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, assisting athletes in overcoming any confidence, composure, anxiety and distraction issues that might hinder their performance.

"Sometimes it's the difference between winning an Olympic medal and just missing out. The goal is to have athletes performing at their peak," said Dr. Detling Miller, who serves as chief instructor and subject matter expert for Ashworth's Sports Psychology program. "By the time athletes reach the Olympics they are comparable in terms of skill and physical ability. What gets them to the podium is how well they've prepared themselves mentally."

The 2010 ceremony will be the fourth annual for Ashworth College, a provider of accredited online college degrees and online high school diplomas. Attending a live graduation ceremony has special significance for Ashworth graduates. Not only does it honor a long-standing tradition shared by students worldwide, for most grads it is quite possibly the first live interaction with faculty, staff and other students. The average Ashworth student completes their education online, from home, anywhere in the world without stepping foot in a classroom or ever meeting an instructor face-to-face.

"Graduation is Ashworth's Olympics... where graduates climb up to the podium and are recognized for their hard-earned accomplishments in front of their peers and family," said F. Milton Miller, Ed.D., Ashworth College Vice President of Education. "We're looking forward to hearing Dr. Detling Miller's message at this year's ceremony. Miller acknowledged that what Ashworth graduates have learned academically is only the foundation for what will make them successful."

Dr. Miller's course, Sport Psychology for Peak Performance, is designed for coaches, trainers, exercise and fitness instructors, recreation directors and athletes who want to improve performance. Her online course teaches useful mental strategies, goal setting, maintaining concentration, handling competitive pressure, and much more.

Dr. Detling Miller holds multiple degrees in sports psychology including a BA in psychology and sports science from Ohio Wesleyan University, her MS in sport psychology from Ithaca College, and her Ph.D. in sport psychology at the University of Utah. She also completed an internship in sport psychology and sports medicine at the Mayo Clinic.

Besides her involvement with Ashworth College and the U.S. Olympics, Dr. Detling Miller is a frequent presenter at international and professional conferences, has been guest speaker at several U.S. coaching clinics and co-authored book chapters and contributed to numerous professional publications.

A three sport collegiate athlete (basketball, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field), Dr. Detling Miller maintains an active lifestyle playing soccer, rock climbing, downhill skiing, and mountain biking. She currently lives in the Salt Lake City, Utah area with her husband, John, and sons, Logan and Elias.

"We're very proud of the fact that one of our instructors is affiliated with the U.S. Olympic team and has helped numerous athletes achieve success," said Gary M. Keisling, Ashworth College Chairman and CEO. "We're also proud to have her as part of the Ashworth family and thrilled to have her participate in this special occasion."

Past Ashworth commencement speakers include two-time Ashworth graduate Didiayer Snyder, team designer on the Emmy Award-winning Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Mike Lambert, Executive Director of the Distance Education and Training Council.

About Ashworth College

Ashworth College, a leader in online education, offers students worldwide more than 100 online degrees, online certificate programs, online career training and online high school diplomas that are affordable and fit the busy schedules of working adults. Ashworth also offers specialized programs to corporate partners, active duty military personnel, military spouses, and homeschoolers.

Headquartered in Norcross, GA, Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of the DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Ashworth High School is further accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). For more information, visit http://www.ashworthcollege.edu.

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Dr. F. Milton Miller

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Gary Keisling

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SOURCE Ashworth College