Feb. 7, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame baseball shortstop Brett Lilley (Sr., North Canton, Ohio) and lacrosse midfield/attack Caitlin McKinney (Sr., Lafayette Hill, Pa.) were each awarded $2,000 toward graduate studies as institutional winners of the 2007-08 BIG EAST /Aéropostale Scholar-Athlete Award.

Lilley is a three-time all-BIG EAST performer and leading candidate for 2008 Academic All-America of the Year honors, after completing his undergraduate requirements as an accounting major in the fall of 2007 with a 3.74 cumulative GPA – highlighted by three straight semester of GPAs above 3.9 (4.0 in ’06 spring/18 credits; 3.91 in ’06 fall/21). Currently enrolled in Notre Dame’s one-year accelerated masters in accountancy program, Lilley takes a .349 career batting average and .485 on-base percentage (2nd all-time at ND) into his final season (his other career stats include 214 hits, 74 RBI, 150 runs, 18 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 19 SB, 91 BB, 85 Ks, 28 sacrifice bunts and 438 fielding assists).

Lilley started all 176 games spanning the 2005-07 seasons (the 4th-lonest streak in ND history). His career plate-discipline ratio is nearing +100 (+84; 91 BB+78 HBP-85 K) and he has logged 149 career error-free games (including two different 21-game errorless streaks). Lilley also is one of two Irish players ever to have both a 5-hit and 5-run game during his career.

McKinney turned in a 3.522 grade-point average as both a sociology major and a film, television and theatre major at Notre Dame. A three-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star, McKinney is a two-time IWLCA All-American, taking third team honors in 2006 and second team honors in 2007 as she finished second on the team in scoring with 44 goals and 21 assists for 65 points. She finished the season with a 39-game point streak that started on April 24, 2005 during her freshman year.

During her career, the speedster has started 50 of 51 games and already ranks fourth all-time in goals scored (114), fifth in assists (55) and fourth in points with 169. A unanimous first team All-BIG EAST selection in each of the last two seasons, McKinney is a three-time IWLCA all-region selection. Besides taking IWLCA All-American honors last season, the Irish attack standout was also named third team Inside Lacrosse All-America and second team by All-America by womenslacrosse.com. She and teammate Jillian Byers (So., Northport, N.Y.) became the first Irish players to be named to all three All-American teams twice in their careers during 2007.

The BIG EAST/Aéropostale Scholar-Athlete Awards were established to recognize student-athletes who have achieved success in the classroom and on the field. Aéropostale sponsors all of the conference’s academic awards for graduate or professional school studies and has provided apparel items to all participants at men’s and women’s BIG EAST Championship events. In addition, the BIG EAST/Aéropostale Administrative Fellowship Program provides a qualified former student-athlete the opportunity to work at the BIG EAST Conference office to learn the essential elements of athletics administration. Aéropostale and the BIG EAST have been partners since 1999.

2007-08 BIG EAST/Aéropostale Institutional Male Scholar-Athlete Awards
School        Name              Sport(s)                      MajorCincinnati    Randall King      Cross Country/Track & Field   Electrical and Computer EngineeringConnecticut   Avigdor Arad      Soccer                        Nutritional ScienceDePaul        John Kornfield    Soccer                        FinanceGeorgetown    Matt Debole       Cross Country/Track & Field   PsychologyLouisville    Marco Terminiesi  Soccer                        Exercise ScienceMarquette     Kyle Saginus      Cross Country                 Mechanical EngineeringNotre Dame    Brett Lilley      Baseball                      AccountingPittsburgh    Jeremy Stultz     Swimming & Diving             PharmacyProvidence    Douglas Coffed    Cross Country/Track & Field   Health Policy ManagementRutgers       Jonathan McCue    Baseball                      CommunicationsSt. John's    Jeffrey Stepan    Soccer                        ChemistrySeton Hall    Kyle Morris       Golf                          Finance/Sport ManagementUSF           Anthony D'Oyley   Soccer                        Biomedical SciencesSyracuse      Ramon Sosa        Track & Field                 Computer ArtVillanova     Bobby Curtis      Cross Country/Track & Field   EconomicsWest Virginia Nick Delic        Swimming & Diving             Finance
2007-08 BIG EAST/Aéropostale Male Scholar-Athlete Of The YearJeremy Stultz, Pittsburgh, Swimming & Diving
2007-08 BIG EAST/Aéropostale Institutional Female Scholar-Athlete Awards
School        Name                 Sport(s)                     MajorCincinnati    Jill Stephens        Basketball                   Communication Sciences and DisordersConnecticut   Meghan Schnur        Soccer                       Physical TherapyDePaul        Sandy Vojik          Softball                     Physical EducationGeorgetown    Elizabeth Maloy      Cross Country/Track & Field  PsychologyLouisville    Joanna Haig          Soccer                       MarketingMarquette     Kimberley Todd       Volleyball                   Biomedical EngineeringNotre Dame    Caitlin McKinney     Lacrosse                     Sociology/Film Television and TheatrePittsburgh    Kelly O'Hara         Swimming and Diving          Social WorkProvidence    Mary Nelle Trefz     Cross Country/Track & Field  Health Policy ManagementRutgers       Meghan Ryan          Soccer                       CommunicationsSt. John's    Wioleta Leszczynska  Volleyball                   Sports ManagementSeton Hall    Kelly Widders        Volleyball                   English Honors and Classical StudiesUSF           Kristina Fabris      Volleyball                   Exercise ScienceSyracuse      Jillian Drouin       Track & Field                Health and Exercise ScienceVillanova     Frances Koons        Cross Country/Track & Field  MathematicsWest Virginia Kiley Harris         Soccer                       Sport Management
2007-08 BIG EAST/Aéropostale Female Scholar-Athlete Of The YearJillian Drouin, Syracuse, Track and Field

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