SUNY Cortland Athletics

From the time that she arrived in 1965 at Sleepy Hollow High in North Tarrytown, N.Y., Judy Forrest-Risher has continually gained the respect of students and peers alike through her consummate professionalism as a dedicated teacher and coach. Forrest, who for the past 20 seasons has directed the Sleepy Hollow field hockey and softball squads, was voted Outstanding Coach in 1986 by the State of New York National Federation of Interscholastic Coaches Association. In 1985, she was named Sleepy Hollow "Coach of the Year." The previous season, the Section I Field Hockey Coaches Association voted Forrest its Conference B "Coach of the Year." She won the same honor as a softball mentor in 1979. Forrest received the New York State Coaches Association Honor Award in 1984.

A natvie of Shenorock, N.Y., Forrest majored in physical education, biology and general science at Cortland, where she graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in 1962. "I have always held my education at Cortland to be equal to and, in some instances, better than, that of many of my colleagues who attended more prestigious institutions, " recalled Forrest, who was acitve in the Cortland women's intramural program. "I was superbly prepared to teach physical education, and the longer I teach, the more I realize how much more superior my background was than that of many of my cohorts. This helped me to understand that one must not judge by name, influence or position, but rather by individual worth." An Alumni Scholarship winner and member of Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society at Cortland, Forrest was listed in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. A member of the Cardinal Key Club, she has used the same "big brother" welcoming approach she got at Cortland with her Sleepy Hollow field hockey teams through the years.

Forrest earned a master's degree from Hunter College in 1965 and taught physical education from 1962 to 1965 at Ridge Street School in Port Chester, N.Y. Since her arrival at Sleepy Hollow in 1965, Forrest advised the cheerleaders for three years, coached volleyball for three seasons and basketball for five years. In Section I athletics, Forrest has served on the Advisory Council since 1978 and the Field Hockey Coaches Association since 1983. Having traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Caribbean and the United States, Forrest has worked on numerous committees at Sleepy Hollow High School while earning praise from her superiors for her caring and thoughtful approach in serving the best interests of her students.

UPDATE- March, 2015: Forrest retired in 1996 from Sleepy Hollow High School. Prior to her retirement she was named Softball Coach of the Year in 1991. She became the Golf Club President from 1999 to 2004 and from 2008 to present. In 2002, she achieved Golf Club Champion.