April 28, 2008

EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette Athletics recognized its senior student-athletes on Monday afternoon in Pfenning Alumni Center. The Athletics Department presented the Class of 1913 and Charles L. Albert awards, which are given annually to honor those who have excelled academically as well as athletically. Soccer's Scott Hawkins and track and field's Ashley Harbin took home the Charles L. Albert Award while swimming's Jaryd Freedman and track and field's Katie Schultes won the Class of 1913 Trophy.

The Class of 1913 Trophy is presented annually to the senior male and female student-athletes who have attained the greatest distinction both as an athlete and a scholar, as voted on by the head coaches and administration.

Freedman was honored as the male recipient of the Class of 1913 Trophy for his numerous accomplishments in the classroom. The Biochemistry major holds a 3.96 grade-point average and is a three-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll recipient. The Ambler, Pa. native is a Trustee Scholar who has received the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and the James F. Bryan '40 Excellence Award in 2007. A member of the Student Advisory Athletic Committee, Freedman is also the founder and president of the Health Professions Preparatory Club. He has earned a spot on the Dean List all seven semesters.

In the pool, the senior captain has held top-five spots in several events in his career and has been a Patriot League Championship participant in each of his three years as a Leopard. In recognition of his leadership skills he was given the 2007 Lafayette Swim Team Spirit Award.

Schultes was the second track and field athlete to be recognized as she picked up the 2008 Female Class of 1913 Trophy. The middle-distance runner is the school recordholder in the 5,000 meters with a time of 17:09.33 and has earned All-Patriot League honors in cross country, 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters and 4x800 relay. She served as both the cross country and track and field team co-captains.

The Biology major has a 3.7 cumulative GPA and has been on the Dean's List every semester she has been at Lafayette. She was honored as the Maroon Club's 2007 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and will be attending the Robert Wood Johnson medical school in affiliation with Rutgers University after graduation.

The Charles L. Albert Trophy is awarded to the senior male and female student-athletes who are judged to be the most outstanding athletes.

The Athletic Department chose Hawkins as the male recipient of the Albert award for his ability to come through in clutch situations, scoring 10 game-winners over his four years as a Leopard. The team co-captain leaves College Hill fourth in Lafayette history with 26 goals. He was named to the All-Patriot League Second Team as well as the NSCAA All-Mid Atlantic Regional Second Team. It was the third straight year Hawkins earned both honors.

The Whippany, N.J. native appeared in 73 games at Lafayette, starting 69 contests. In addition to his 26 goals, Hawkins also recorded six assists for 58 career points. Following a freshman season in which he scored five goals and had three assists, Hawkins was selected as the Patriot League Rookie of the Year.

Harbin was chosen as the female recipient of the Charles L. Albert Trophy in recognition of her numerous accomplishments in the throws. The Clarksville, Tenn. native added to her long list of accomplishments on April 24 where she won her second consecutive hammer title in the championship division at the Penn Relays. Her throw of 201' 3" broke the previous school record, which she had set last year and improved her NCAA Regional qualifying mark.

She is a three-time NCAA Division I Championship qualifier in the hammer, making history as a sophomore by becoming the first Lafayette woman to ever qualify for the championships. Harbin also holds the school record in the 20-lb. weight (66' 2¼") and was the first Leopard to qualify for the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships this past year.

The athletic department honored all senior athletes at the reception, as each was presented commemorative plaques for their time spent in a Lafayette uniform.

Katie Schultes