May 05, 2008
Clark honors student athletes
Clark selected David Blum '08 as the Fred Hebert Award winner and Heather Warren '08 was selected as the M. Hazel Hughes recipient at the 2007-2008 Athletic Awards program held at the Higgins University Center, Tilton Hall, on Tuesday night. Both awards are given annually to the male and female athlete who have made a significant contribution to the intercollegiate athletic program and whose dedication and performance have enriched the tradition of Clark Athletics.
In addition, D.J. Brinn '08 and Sarah Brooks '08 were presented with the Russ Granger Award and the Alice Higgins honor, respectively, while Shyamal Asher received the Athletic Department's first-ever Senior Scholar-Athlete award. The Senior Class Award, given annually to the senior athlete who best exemplifies class, spirit and integrity in his or her athletic endeavor, was presented to Sarah Hunsucker '08 (women's volleyball), Dan Rosenak '08 (men's lacrosse) and Marc Labbe '08 (men's soccer) this year.
Emily Zoback '08, who served two terms on the athletic board and sang the national anthem at home athletic events, was presented with the Richard Fairbanks Service Award for outstanding contribution to the athletic program.
A four-year starter for the men's soccer team, Blum capped his career last fall by becoming Clark's all-time points leader (38 goals, 11 assists, 87 points). The senior striker from Irvington Park, N.Y., was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America second team as a sophomore after setting a new school record in season goals (23) and points (50). A two-time NEWMAC All-Conference selection, Blum helped Clark to a national top-20 ranking in 2006 and an impressive 42-21-10 record during his four-year career. Blum, a psychology major, earned scholar-athlete honors his senior year.
Warren garnered the Hazel Hughes Award by excelling on the softball field. The Upland, Calif., native had an exceptional 2007 season, earning the NCAA Division III RBI Championship, Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and New England Intercollegiate Softball Association (NEISA) All-New England first-team, and ECAC All-New England second team honors. She also earned the program's first-ever NFCA Player of the Week. Additionally, Warren, a shortstop, was a NEWMAC first-team All-Star her junior and senior year. She established Clark single-season records in homeruns (12), total bases (113) and slugging percentage (.934) and concluded her career as the second all-time leader in career runs (22) and career RBI (117) and fifth all-time in hits (160). Warren is a two-time scholar athlete majoring in sociology.
Brinn was named the Granger Award recipient for academic excellence and athletic achievement by a male athlete. A management major, Brinn, originally from Madison, Conn., competed for the men's basketball program all four years. A four-year scholar-athlete and two-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honoree, Brinn captained the team as a senior. A pure shooter and three-point threat, Brinn helped the team tie a school record in three-pointers made with 18 in a win versus Ramapo College (N.J.) this winter. His contribution off the court was just as remarkable as he was a four-year participant in the men's basketball reading program at Woodland Academy (formerly The All School) and a Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Executive Board Vice President for the past two years. Brinn will return to Clark in the fall for the fifth year MBA program.
Brooks was recognized with the Higgins Award for academic excellence and athletic achievement by a female athlete. A double-major in biology and studio art, Brooks was a four-year member of the women's rowing team. The three-year captain from Gloucester, Mass., was a four-year scholar athlete and Dean's list member, as well as a three-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honoree. Additionally, Brooks was a member of the Varsity Four boat that placed second in the New England Championships sophomore season and earned All-Conference honors freshman to senior year. Brooks has been accepted into the medical illustration program at the Medical College of Georgia.
Asher was awarded with the Athletic Department's first-ever Senior Scholar-Athlete Award, created to recognize the senior athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average over four years or who will have completed his/her undergraduate requirements in three years. A senior captain of the men's swimming and diving team, Asher, from Mombassa, Kenya, completed his degree in biochemistry and molecular biology in three years with honors. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Gryphon and Pleides, a three-year recipient of both NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honors and the Scholar-Athlete Award, as well as president of the International Students Association, where he organized the largest student-run event of the year, the International Gala. Asher will attend medical school at Brown University next fall.
Prior to the Athletic Awards program, more than 100 student-athletes were honored at the Scholar Athlete Reception.