LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Chris Edmonds of Colorado College and Catherine Dowgwillo of the University of Dallas have been selected as the SCAC Male and Female Character & Community Student-Athletes of the Week, respectively, for the week ending Sunday, November 10.
The SCAC Character & Community award was created in 2009 to
honor and recognize the efforts of the
extraordinary student-athletes of the conference who not
only excel athletically on the field, course, court, pool or
track, but also by serving their campus and community.
To view past winners of the award, click here.
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.
CATHERINE DOWGWILLO OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
DALLAS, a sophomore middle blocker and outside
hitter on the women's volleyball team, has been selected the SCAC
Character & Community Female Student-Athlete-of-the-Week for
the week ending November 10, 2013.
A two-year letterwinner and starter on the volleyball team,
Dowgwillo shows a strong devotion to her craft on the court, while
also maintaining a 3.89 grade point average. Additionally, she
finds time to give back to the community.
In the 2013 season, Dowgwillo’s Top 20 SCAC rankings include
63 block-assists (10th), 70 total blocks (10th) and seven
block-solos (16th). Additionally, her 146 kills and 46 assists rank
fourth, respectively, on Dallas.
Dowgwillo noted leadership skills gained through volleyball have
positively translated into a number of facets of her life.
She received the University of Dallas Presidential Scholarship, and
it is no surprise she made the Dean’s List for fall 2012 and
spring 2013.
“Academic success is not optional, it is mandatory,”
Dowgwillo said. “I hold myself to a certain standard, and
expect everyone else to do the same.”
With this mindset, the Business major wants to pursue
education as well.
“I thoroughly enjoy helping people learn and study,”
Dowgwillo said. “I feel like this translates into possibly
pursuing education. My dream job is to be the boss, whether it is
climbing to the top of the corporate ladder, opening my own small
business, teaching, or even all three.”
After the completion of her freshman campaign, she landed an
internship at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, while also keeping a
job at Bed Bath and Beyond in summer
2013. Additionally, she participates in campus life as a
member of the Rotaract club, and is an accounting tutor.
Off campus, Dowgwillo volunteers at the church she attends --
organizing fundraising events -- and has attended a yearly mission
trip to Nicaragua since 2007.
During these trips, she has visited hospitals and schools,
distributed clothing, painted, landscaped and made a number of
friends along the way.
“This trip is very near and dear to my heart,”
Dowgwillo said. “Having attended for six years, I have been
able to see children grow-up as they make a better life for
themselves, and I could not ask for a better blessing."