TicketsLaura Schnieder Receives Stephens Award
Contact: Tom Hathaway
2/21/2003
Jean Stephens Award Presentation: 2003 recipient Laura Schnieder, UC director of athletics Bob Goin, Sue Stephens, rowing coach Tim Royalty. |
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Laura Schnieder, a senior on the University of Cincinnati rowing team, has been named the recipient of the third annual Jean Stephens Memorial Award.
The award, annually recognizing a UC student-athlete who demonstrates commitment to team, department and university, was presented at the Feb. 18 men?s basketball home game vs. Saint Louis by Sue Stephens, sister of the late assistant to the athletics director.
Schnieder, a senior from Cincinnati who graduated from Mercy High, demonstrated leadership while serving as captain for each of the past three years.
?Laura?s leadership on our sophomore-dominated team is outstanding,? stated UC rowing coach Tim Royalty. ?She has more spirit and dedication to the school and the department than anyone I have ever had the pleasure of coaching. I could not find a person with higher ethical standards or an athlete more respected by her teammates and her coach.?
In addition to her year-around training for rowing, which has both a fall and spring season, Schnieder has found time to perform service in the community as an active member of C-PAWS, UC?s service honorary of student-athletes. She was an active worker in UC?s Habitat for Humanity home construction project last year and was commended for her efforts in Make-a-Difference Day.
A Dean?s List student, Schnieder will graduate this spring with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and is active in UC?s Society for Women Engineers chapter.
Schnieder was chosen from a field of six quality candidates. The other nominees:
? Khush Italia, co-captain on the tennis team who will graduate this spring from UC?s College of Business Administration. A native of West Hills, Calif., she has served as president of C-PAWS and played major roles in Habitat for Humanity and Make-a-Difference Day.
? John Leonard, a reserve quarterback on the football team from Huntington Beach, Calif, has served as vice president of C-PAWS and instituted the Adopt a Family Christmas program and was nominated to the National Football Foundation?s Good Works team. He has completed his degree in communications.
? Angie Kist, a captain of the cross country team for three years, is an active member of C-PAWS who taught teen strength classes at the Clippard YMCA and cares for elderly at Hillebrand Home Center. The Cincinnati native (Colerain High School) will graduate this spring with her B.S. in nutrition.
? Brad Schutz, an infielder on the baseball team from Canfield, Ohio who will graduate with a major in accounting, is another active participant in C-PAWS.
? K.B. Sharp, captain of the women?s basketball team, and has shown her leadership while playing just about every minute of every game the past three seasons. The Columbus, Ohio native is a youth mentor, volunteer for the drop-in center and participated in Habitat for Humanity and Make-A-Difference Day. She is completing her degree in criminal justice.
? Amy Simonson, formerly from Cincinnati Princeton High, completed her degree in health education prior to her senior season on the women?s soccer team, where she played a key role in the Bearcats NCAA appearances the last two years. She has served as an officer in C-PAWS.
The Jean Stephens Award was established in 2000 in memory of Jean Stephens, who was assistant to the athletics director for 15 years before her sudden death in 1999. Criteria, which embodied the characteristics Jean practiced, include:
? commitment to the team, department and the university
? integrity and high ethical standards in all situations
? respect for and equitable treatment of others
? friendship and a positive attitude in interpersonal relationships
? consummate team player