March 9, 2009
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Georgia Tech senior first baseman Whitney Haller has been named one of 30 candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for softball. This award recognizes student-athletes who excel not only on the playing field but also in the classroom and in their community.
Haller, a two-time ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American, earned All-ACC honors each of the past three seasons. Earlier today, she was awarded an ACC Postgraduate Scholarship. The former ACC Rookie of the Year and second team All-American holds the ACC and Georgia Tech record for home runs and RBI, while ranking in the top five in school history for batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, doubles, fielding percentage and on-base percentage.
“I am absolutely honored to be considered for this award,” said Haller. “It is such a special and prestigious award that considers not only softball performance but also your character, your academics and your heart. Some of the past and present nominees are the best women that have played college softball, and I am thrilled to have my name be used in the same sentence as all of them.”
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages those leaders to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact.
“Whitney is very deserving of this great honor,” said head coach Sharon Perkins. “She’s dedicated to her academics as well as softball and is also an excellent role model on and off the field.”
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: Classroom, Character, Community and Competition.
The list of 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. The ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans. The award winner will be announced and recognized at the 2009 Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
2009 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award Softball Candidates
Name, Position (School)
Val Chapple, Third Base (University of Kansas)
Ashley Charters, Shortstop (University of Washington)
Kristi Cunningham, Outfield (University of Louisville)
Lissa Fehlman, Third Base (University of Evansville)
Mollie Fowler, Designated Player (Western Carolina University)
Kalyn Fox, Pitcher (Eastern Kentucky University)
Whitney Haller, First Base (Georgia Tech)
Lillian Hammond, Outfield (University of Tennessee)
Staci Hemingway, First Base (University of Utah)
Ashley Holcombe, Catcher (University of Alabama)
Lisa Kingsmore, Outfield (Winthrop University)
Danielle Kinley, Outfield (Pennsylvania State University)
Karen Korb, Outfield (Valparaiso University)
Jenae Leles, Third Base (University of Arizona)
Jessica Mapes, Outfield (Arizona State University)
Colleen McGlaughlin, Utility (University of Iowa)
Michelle Moses, Pitcher (Brown University)
Stacey Nelson, Pitcher (University of Florida)
Amber Patton, Third Base (DePaul University)
Ashton Payne, Utility (University of South Carolina)
Missy Penna, Pitcher (Stanford University)
Brittany Puzey, Outfield (University of Nevada)
Samantha Ricketts, First Base (University of Oklahoma)
Brittany Rogers, Outfield (University of Alabama)
Megan Shupp, Centerfield (Texas Tech University)
Amber Smith, Pitcher/Utility (Illinois State University)
Laurie Wagner, Outfield (University of Houston)
Jessica Wakasugi, Centerfield (Creighton University)
Hayley Wiemer, Pitcher (Bowling Green State University)
Tammy Williams, Shortstop (Northwestern University)
