IRVING, Texas – Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky announced Wednesday afternoon the 14 student-athletes that received the C-USA Spring Spirit of Service award, which included Old Dominion junior rower Lauren Wright for the second consecutive year.
The C-USA Spirit of Service Award is designed to recognize the community service efforts of the league’s student-athletes, based upon significant community service, good academic standing and participation in their elected sport.
“Lauren is one of the best examples of what it means to be a student-athlete here at Old Dominion and she has been an absolute joy to coach,” said rowing head coach Dan Garbutt. “It makes total sense that she would have the same impact on the community as she does in our locker rooms. It is my hope that other student-athletes, other teammates of hers, will follow in her footsteps and take the initiative to set an example for others to follow. I couldn’t be more proud of Lauren.”
A native of Atlantic City, New Jersey, Wright is involved in Care Now, an after-school program for youth, and coordinated the ODU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s Canned Food Drive and Fashion Show to benefit the Roc Solid Foundation. Wright volunteered with the local Rotary Club to benefit Stop Hunger Now and Fear 2 Freedom, a foundation dedicated to redeeming and restoring the lives of those wounded by sexual abuse.
Additionally, she provided community service support at the ODU Alzheimer’s Awareness Walk, the Human Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness, the ODU Triathlon, the ODU Blood Drive, Hoops for the Cure and the Special Olympics Little Feet Meet. Wright also volunteered to do the Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics.
On the water, she competed as a part of the Second Varsity 8 this spring that placed sixth at the San Diego Crew Classic (7:22.99), fourth at the Knecht Cup in the Third Level Final (7:11.91) and second in the Petite Final at the 2015 Big 12 Rowing Championships (7:26.97). At the end of the season, she was named to the Big 12 All-Academic First Team and was named a Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association National Scholar-Athlete by maintaining a 3.51 GPA as a recreation tourism studies major with a psychology minor.
2014-15 SPRING C-USA SPIRIT OF SERVICE HONOREES
Erin Crissman, Charlotte, Women’s Track & Field
Julius Gaines, FIU, Baseball
Bianca Biglione, Florida Atlantic, Women’s Tennis
Kristen Miles, Louisiana Tech, Softball
Korakot Simsiriwong, Marshall, Women’s Golf
Ronnie Jebavy, Middle Tennessee, Baseball
Madison Thompson, North Texas, Softball
Lauren Wright, Old Dominion, Women’s Rowing
Solomiyo Zinko, Rice, Women’s Tennis
Danielle Block, Southern Miss, Softball
Catherine Ragon, UAB, Women’s Tennis
Monica Lopez, UTEP, Women’s Track & Field
Stephanie Wangui, UTSA, Women’s Track & Field
Brandon Beckham, WKU, Men’s Golf