Chris Edmonds, Colorado College, Men's Soccer

CHRIS EDMONDS OF COLORADO COLLEGE, a senior defender on the men's soccer team, has been selected the SCAC Character & Community Male Student-Athlete-of-the-Week for the week ending Sunday, November 10.

Since soccer defenders do not normally show up near the top of the individual statistics, the best way to quantify their contributions is by looking at goals-against average or the number of shutouts a team has recorded.

Defenders are more concerned with their team’s success than their own individual accomplishments and that is exactly how Edmonds approaches his career at Colorado College, both on the pitch and on campus. He is all about defending his turf and empowering others.

During his three seasons as a Tiger, Edmonds recorded one point in the 4-0 victory over Fredonia State on Sept. 14, 2012. But during the 27 games in which he has played, CC has recorded 13 clean sheets.

Keeping things clean has been one of Edmonds’ primary goals, especially when it comes to environmental issues.

When he isn’t practicing or training, the native of Portland, Ore. devotes his time to several environmental and sustainability programs at Colorado College.

Edmonds currently serves as co-chair of the school’s Energy, Environment and Security Project, which helps the campus engage in energy and environmental discussion and promotes involvement in other issues such as hydraulic fracturing in Colorado.

He also is the Community Service Coordinator for the President’s Council, helping the organization plan a community kitchen to provide holiday meals and gifts for the neediest members of the Colorado Springs community.

Since September of 2012, Edmonds has been a volunteer voting member on the college’s Campus Sustainability Council and the Strategic Plan Implementation Committee, focusing on environmental stewardship and innovations.

Has participation in social causes has gone far beyond the campus walls.

Edmonds won a Colorado College Venture Grant for his research “Environmental Inequity in Southern Spain: Drawing and Mapping the Racial Divide.”

He also has been involved in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as a team representative and by participating in the organization’s events such as the “Parents' Night Out” fundraiser and the First Year Orientation Events designed to integrate athletes with new students.

Edmonds completed a Public Interest Fellowship Program, where he did public health research for the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Edmonds, who also ran track during his freshman and sophomore seasons, owns a 3.7 grade-point average as a political science major, with a minor in art studio.

After graduating in May, he is considering working as a fellow at a liberal arts school overseas or beginning a career in the public policy sector in Denver.