For Immediate Release
May 12, 2011
Written by Michael Kobylanski, Associate Director of Athletics / Communications
Lentz and Peterson Claim Henry Barnard Award
South Easton, Mass. – Back in the fall of 2007, Logan Lentz and Jennifer Peterson arrived on the Southern Connecticut State University campus as decorated scholastic standouts looking to make an impact with their respective athletic programs. However, they also entered that fall as just two students among a class of roughly 1,300 that was foraying into the collegiate landscape for the first time.
Lentz, a guard from Chambersburg, Pa., joined a women's basketball program that was coming off a NCAA Division II National Championship just a few months prior. Peterson, a defender from Canton, Conn., signed up to play with a field hockey squad that was a year removed from a NCAA Tournament appearance.
Four years later, the pair will walk up to the stage for graduation as not only two of the most decorated students in the class, but as two of the most decorated all-around student-athletes in the proud history of the Owls' athletic department. Both were selected as recipients of the 2011 Henry Barnard Award from Southern Connecticut State University. Only four students are selected from the So. Connecticut campus, while just 12 are tabbed from across the Connecticut State University system.
Each year, So. Connecticut chooses four outstanding students for the award who have at least a 3.7 GPA and have demonstrated outstanding participation in university and/or community life.
"Logan and Jennifer truly epitomize the term 'student-athlete' and have been outstanding ambassadors for Southern Connecticut State University on the field, in the classroom and in the community over the course of the past four years," said Director of Athletics Patricia Nicol. "I am thrilled for their selection as Henry Barnard Award recipients. This honor is the culmination of four years of dedication and sustained excellence in all facets of college life. They are truly deserving of this prestigious award."
Students must apply for the award being going through a formal interview process with members of the selection committee. The pair learned of their selection in late March and was officially recognized at an event on May 11.
"I was blown away," Lentz said of her reaction when hearing the news. "I didn't believe it at first. I almost didn't apply because I didn't think that I'd have a chance. Alex Fiola (fellow women's basketball captain) convinced me to apply. I knew a couple of people that had either been nominated or had won it before, so I had an idea of what was expected. To be one of the people chosen for the award is a real honor."
Peterson shared a similar reaction when learning of her selection.
"I was so excited," she said. "I knew that a lot of people were going to apply and were going to interview for it. When they called me, I was so excited to be honored as one of the few."
Lentz started every game at the point guard position in her collegiate career as a member of the Owls' women's basketball team. A three-year team captain, she ranks second all-time in program history in assists and finished just shy of the 1,000 point scoring mark for her career.
"It is a true testament to Logan and her character to be named one of the recipients of the Henry Barnard Award," Owls' women's basketball coach Meghan Brown said. "Logan has truly made the most of her time at So. Connecticut. Her positive attitude drives her desire to take pride in everything that she undertakes. Her willingness to learn along with her dedicated and honest attitude makes her a pleasure to coach. A true example of a 'student-athlete', I couldn't be more proud of Logan and her accomplishments over the past four years. She is an amazing team player and role model for our university."
A Northeast-10 Conference All-Rookie Team selection as a freshman,
she was also recognized for her work in the classroom as a
three-time Northeast-10 Conference Women's Basketball All-Academic
Team pick and a two-time Division II Athletic Directors Association
Academic Achievement Award recipient. Lentz also qualified for the
Northeast-10 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll in each of her
four seasons with the team.
"I used to be a procrastinator in high school, but I knew that wasn't going to fly here," Lentz said of balancing academics and athletics. "I had to find ways to stay on top of things."
Lentz has also been an active participant in community outreach, both on and off-campus. She assisted with campus events such as The Big Event and Friends of Rudolph. Lentz has also served as a tutor at weekly reading programs at several New Haven public schools as well as a skills clinician at the New Haven public schools and the Wallingford Boys and Girls Club. Her outreach efforts also include participation in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides against Breast Cancer event and the National Bone Marrow Registry's 'Be the Match' initiative.
"The community service has been the most rewarding thing that I've been a part of since I've
"Looking back, I've always been busy all of the time, so you could say that it (the four years) has flown by. I tried to get actively involved in as much as I could while I was here."
An exercise science major who carries a 3.95 GPA, Lentz will attend graduate school at George Washington University in the fall.
Peterson was a starter and a mainstay of the defensive unit for the Owls' field hockey team for the past four years. A team captain as a senior, Peterson helped guide the program to three Northeast-10 Conference Tournament appearances and a NCAA Tournament berth in 2008.
"I am very excited that Jen is one of the recipients for the Henry Barnard Scholarship Award," said Owls' field hockey coach Kelley Frassinelli. "She has an amazing character that defines the hard work she has put into her collegiate career. She has made many contributions to Southern Connecticut State University as a student and an athlete and those contributions go beyond the classroom and the playing field. I am very proud of her accomplishments and know that she will do great things."
Peterson has also been lauded for her academic success as a
four-time National Academic
Team pick by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.
She is also a two-time Division II Athletic Directors Association
Academic Achievement Award winner and qualified for the
Northeast-10 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll in each of her
four seasons with the team.
"I wasn't sure if I wanted to play field hockey in college," Peterson said. "Looking back, if I didn't, I don't know what I would have done. It was a great balance for me. I loved always having something to do after class every day to keep me going."
Peterson has also been active with numerous community outreach efforts, including work benefitting St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and Special Olympics. She has also participated in the Southern Day of Service event and assisted with an annual area cleanup event sponsored by the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. She has also been involved with food drives for the Connecticut Food Bank and has baked pies during the Thanksgiving season for the Springfield (Mass.) Rescue Mission.
"I owe it all to field hockey because field hockey gave me a sense of a schedule," Peterson said. "That was huge for me. I know that if I didn't have field hockey, it would be a lot different. A lot of the community service was also because of opportunities through field hockey."
A double major in psychology and elementary education who carries a 3.78 GPA, Peterson will pursue a master's degree in special education in the fall.
- NE-10 -
