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English Prof on Reality Contest

May 22, 2015

Dr. Kevin Garrison, an assistant professor of English at Angelo State University, will be appearing on the seventh season of the NBC reality TV show, “American Ninja Warrior,” which premieres at 7 p.m. Monday, May 25.

Dr. Kevin Garrison Dr. Kevin Garrison An Amarillo native and ASU alum, Garrison joined the faculty of ASU’s Department of English and Modern Languages in 2009. A lifelong athlete, he began training for the show last August, using ASU’s rock wall in the Ben Kelly Center for Human Performance. The episode featuring Garrison is expected to air sometime in June.

Born with a hearing impairment, Garrison’s goal was to demonstrate that a challenge or disability “should never limit you.” His application video can be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR6eHrMD_Ag.

A spin-off of a Japanese reality show, “American Ninja Warrior” pits contestants against increasingly difficult obstacle courses. The first rounds are regional and the finals are held in Las Vegas. Garrison participated in the Houston regional round. Contestants are not allowed to discuss how they did until after their footage has aired, but they can discuss their training and their reasons for competing.

For more information on the show, go online to www.nbc.com/american-ninja-warrior. NBC media contacts for the show are Leslie Schwartz at 818-777-3233 or leslie.schwartz@nbcuni.com and Tucker Nesbitt at 818-777-2903 or Tucker.nesbitt@nbcuni.com.