March 4, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Marshall University's Rachel Folden was selected as a candidate to the 2008 Lowe's Senior Class Award softball division, the organization announced Tuesday.

"It's an honor for Rachel Folden to be selected for such a prestigious award and for her commitment to the classroom and her services in the community to be recognized," Marshall Head Coach Shonda Stanton said. "She has always been acknowledged as one of the country's elite catchers, but it's her character that sets her apart."

The award, presented to NCAA® Division I student-athletes each year in eight sports, focuses on the "Four C's" of classroom, character, community and competition. Folden is one of thirty Division I softball student-athletes to be named as a candidate.

The Baldwin Park, Calif., native has exemplified the role of a student-athlete during her four years at Marshall. She was a 2007 Cam Henderson Scholarship Recipient and was named the 2006 FCA West Virginia Athlete of the Year. She's qualified for the Dean's List six times and was selected as a NFCA Academic All-American.

Folden has also donated many hours to the Huntington community with projects such as the Sweetheart Clinic for National Women in Sports day along with National Read to Me day, where Folden read to grade school students. She's spent time in clean-up projects and has spent time with the Point Pleasant girl's softball team working in camps and clinics.

She's worked in Lend a Hand Foundation Service, passing out gifts to underprivileged children in Los Angeles, Calif., and has been a "Big Sis" to girls in Huntington, serving as a positive role model.

The All-American catcher has also excelled on the field, as she'll leave Marshall as one of the most highly decorated players in the program's history. She has a career batting average of .405 and is the all-time record holder in home runs (44) and RBIs (172).

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched in 2001 to honor the attributes of college basketball seniors who fulfill their entire athletic eligibility and pursue their degree. Since that time, Lowe's, an official corporate partner of the NCAA®, has expanded the award to include other NCAA sports and the award has developed into the nation's premier tribute to college seniors.

From the list of 30 nominees, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in late March 2008. Those ten names will be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote that will include coaches, media and fans. The award winner will be announced and recognized at the 2008 NCAA® Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.