The Lake Forest College Athletic Department recognized the women's soccer, men's soccer, volleyball, cross country and football teams during the annual Fall Sports Awards Ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 7 at the First Presbyterian Church in Lake Forest
Of note, the first Forester Commitment Award in school history was presented at the Awards Ceremony to the following student-athletes: Joey Kropp (football), Ellen Rogers (women's soccer), Brianne Honda (volleyball), Tanner Bednar (cross country), Andrea Lorch (cross country). The recipients of the Forester Commitment Award were chosen by the Director of Athletics, in consultation with the respective team sport coaches, and presented at the fall, winter, and spring award ceremonies.
The Forester Commitment Award, established in 2014 by Lake Forest College alumni Denise Frieder Carr ’71 and Tom Carr ’70, honors student-athletes who have made a positive impact on their team and the Lake Forest College community through their commitment to team engagement, campus involvement, and community service. Recipients should demonstrate consistent and significant leadership in the threefold spirit of this award:
- Team Engagement – Display extraordinary devotion to their team; earn and enjoy the respect of their peers; encourage and inspire team building.
- Campus Involvement – Provide opportunities for themselves and their teammates to serve as ambassadors, helping to create a positive campus reputation; promote the highest standards of character and integrity in themselves and in others.
- Community Service - Engage in service activity to both the campus and surrounding community, as team members and independently.
Fall 2015 Recipients:
Joey Kropp – Senior, Football - A team captain, two-year member of the Leadership Board, named the third recipient of the Football Pride Award and has been a member and officer in Athletic Council. Joey has been a dedicated mentor to several of his teammates and works with great effort to help grow them not only as players, but as community members at Lake Forest College. Joey continues to find ways to be active not only in his role as a captain, but as an initiator of service.
Ellen Rogers – Junior, Women’s Soccer - A member of Athletic Council and has worked as a tutor and volunteered with the team at Feed My Starving Children and other events on campus. Even though Ellen was not a captain, she showed tremendous leadership and continued to help the captains with team activities and making sure everyone on the team was included in everything they did. She has represented the team at various speaking engagements and always been a shining example of what Forester Soccer is all about.
Brianne Honda - Junior, Volleyball - An Athletic Orientation Guide for the last two years, Bri has been elected captain for the 2015 volleyball season. She includes everyone on her team and wants the best for all of her teammates. Bri is also one who will round up her teammates for home games to go support other teams. She has volunteered for National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Special Olympics, North Chicago Community Partners, and Feed MyStarving Children.
Andrea Lorch - Sophomore, Cross Country - Andi is a fantastic ambassador for the college in setting such as last winter's Los Angeles recruiting reception. Andi is involved not only on the club track team, she is a member of Delta Gamma, Vice President of Hillel and is an RA on campus. Outside of her help volunteering the Chicago Marathon the past two falls, as well as the Shamrock Shuffle downtown with the cross country teams, Andi has volunteered with Delta Gamma through such services as Our Philanthropy, The Delta Gamma Foundation and Service for Sight.
Tanner Bednar - Sophomore, Cross Country - A very involved student-athlete, Tanner has an ability to reach any and all teammates. Tanner's campus involvement includes Vice President of student government, work with the campus's Mock Trial group, The Stentor school newspaper, Delta Chi Fraternity, Circle K, Lake Forest college Men's quartet (chorus) as well as being a member of the club track team. Outside of his help volunteering the Chicago Marathon the past two falls, as well as the Shamrock Shuffle downtown with the cross country teams, Tanner has organized a benefit concert in his hometown of Elgin for two charities, as well as participated in Feed My Starving Children and Youth United Way.
Click here to see a full list of photos for all award winners.
Click here to watch the fall sports highlight film by Matt Weidner '17.