LOWELL (May 8, 2007) – Senior Nicole Plante (North Adams, MA) was named the recipient of the Laurie Mann Award while senior Jason Tejchma (Muskegon, MI) received the David Boutin Award for female and male student-athletes of the year Tuesday night at UML's Athletic Awards Night.
The Mann and Boutin Awards are presented to the UML female and male student-athletes who excel in the classroom, playing field, exemplify leadership as well as give back to the community. The awards are named after Laurie Mann, a member of the UML women’s basketball team from 1993-95, who passed away in 1998 after a long battle with cancer; and David J. Boutin, a member of the baseball team from 1988-90 who also lost his life to cancer.
Plante, a finalist for the Laurie Mann Award last year, will graduate as the most decorated female student-athlete in UML history, all but booking her place in the Athletic Hall of Fame. A seven-time All-American, Plante has enjoyed a senior year for the ages, earning All-America honors in cross country as well as the 5,000 meters and distance medley relay at the NCAA indoor track and field championship in March. On the cusp of a national championship, Plante finished second at the 2006 NCAA Cross Country Championship and second in the NCAA indoor 5,000 meters championship. Should Plante earn All-America at the NCAA Track and Field Championship May 24-26, she will surpass former standout Jill Croft (1998-02) for total All-American honors in a career.
“Nicole is everything we embrace as a member of the track and field and cross country teams at UMass Lowell,” said UML head coach Gary Gardner. “Without her, the women’s teams would not have achieved as much as it has over the last four years. She has set a new bar as an athlete, a student and a teammate.”
Currently, she owns the fastest time in the country in the 10,000 meters (34:07.03) as well as the second-fastest time in the 5,000 meters (16:32.56). She has also qualified for the NCAA Championship in the 3,000 meters (9:55.03), but will likely forego the event to concentrate on the 10,000 and 5,000. In the track record books, Plante owns every indoor and outdoor distance record, which she has set several times over.
A nursing major, Plante has been an exemplary student and has maintained a 3.221. Outside of her athletic and academic commitments, Plante has been active in community service in her native North Adams, MA, where she volunteers at a local homeless shelter and offers free babysitting. In Lowell, Plante has been a volunteer track and field instructor and has assisted in UML athletic department projects such as the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Plante is the daughter of Richard and Betsy Plante of North Adams, MA.
No comments:
Post a Comment