By: Meghan Donovan, Contributing Writer
On Feb. 7, the women’s athletic teams gathered to celebrate and to honor the accomplishments of girls and women in sports.
Lions sponsors, supporters, and benefactors gathered with the student athletes and coaches in the Greenfelder-Denlinger Boardrooms for a chance to meet each other, to honor those who earned awards and scholarships, and to enjoy a dinner with guest speakers for the evening. As the night opened up, Vicki Fredrickson reminded us what the night was celebrating and handed the microphone off to the Mistress of Ceremonies (MC), Lauren Eads. Eads worked as an announcer for the volleyball team this fall, and explained how joyed she was to be MC for the night.
Once dinner was served, everyone had time to mingle and to learn about athletes from other sports, coaches, sponsors, and supporters. Eads then announced the recipients of the Saint Leo University Dining Services Scholarships. This scholarship covers the tuition for a female athlete from each team that is returning next fall.
The student athletes that received this scholarship were Keishara Green (Basketball), Allison Knipe (Cross Country), Heather Petronis (Golf), Cassie Miller (Lacrosse), Jackie Carey (Softball), Katy McGee (Soccer), Kaitlyn Hite (Swimming), Samantha White (Tennis), and Tawni Warren (Volleyball).
Before Eads presented the awards, she described the requirements the recipients met.
“She supports her teammates and coaches with a positive attitude and is aware of individual responsibilities as a team player. She gives 100 percent of her effort toward her sport and her team. She is involved in some type of external community service activity. She demonstrates leadership, integrity, and a tremendous team spirit. She is a good ambassador for Saint Leo at all times, whether at home, away, in class, or in the residence halls,” said Eads.
These girls were individually welcomed to the stage and called in order of their sport to receive their awards.
Following this award, the Elaine Evans Spirit of Saint Leo Award was announced. This award, named in honor of a former Saint Leo women’s basketball player, goes to one female athlete each year, and is a highly sought award in the athletic program. This female student-athlete shows a certain level of obligation to upholding the University spirit. They are students who go beyond expectations in exhibiting the core values of the school.
Dr. Robert Cabot, hall of famer and former coach, and his wife, Mary, were called to present the award. For the first time since the award was named after a women’s basketball player, it was a women’s basketball player who received it. Chelsea Connelly recieved this scholarship as “a true role model.”
Following the award ceremonies, guest speaker Terri Steeb-Gronau took the stage. She played volleyball at Alabama and Birmingham, and now works with the NCAA National Office as the Director of Division II. As Steeb-Gronau described one of her most powerful memories from her collegiate athletic career, she relived the moment when she decided that she would take over her future. She recalled a game in which she had let another player beat her. It was in that game that she made a decision.
“Never again would I let someone else determine my choices or my fate,” said Steeb-Gronau. She left the room of female student athletes, reminding them of all the opportunities females have achieved in sports.
The night closed with a final thank you to all the sponsors and supporters, including Dr. Kirk, the Cabot’s, John Antolino, and Dr. Michael Moorman.
