May 1, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame women’s lacrosse player Molly Shawhan (Shawn) has been named one of five finalists for the Yeardley Reynolds Love Unsung Hero Award, the One Love Foundation in honor of Yeardley Reynolds Love announced Wednesday.
Established in 2011, the YRL Unsung Hero Award celebrates the selfless acts of initiative and commitment performed by Division I lacrosse players. These outstanding student-athletes are recognized based on the following criteria: dedication, integrity, humility, hard work, community service, leadership, kindness and sportsmanship. The award winners (one female, one male) will be announced in late-May, leading up to the culmination of the NCAA lacrosse season.
Formerly given to lacrosse players in the ACC Conference, the award became open to all Division I programs this year. The award recognizes accomplishments of student-athletes who help their team achieve success in ways that may not be measured in goals, saves or ground balls. The honor is meaningful because it places value on characteristics that are often undervalued in the competitively charged environment of college athletics.
The organization had this to say about Shawhan:
“Molly’s community service extends far and wide from South Bend, to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Uganda. She spent two weeks in the summer of 2012 in Uganda teaching lacrosse to young women in order to help instill values of confidence and independence. While in Uganda, Molly and her fellow student-athletes also helped build a school and assist the people living there in everyday life. During her time in South Bend, Molly is a part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Counsel (SAAC) where she has assisted in a variety of service projects including the Irish Experience League, Pediatric Christmas Party and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation fundraising walk. Molly played in all 16 regular season games for the Irish this season and has been a solid contributor throughout her playing career.”
This year Shawhan has seen an increased role for the Irish on the field as she has played in all 16 games with 10 starts, while collecting 18 ground balls and three draw controls, causing six turnovers and dishing out one assist.
Shawhan is one of five finalists along with Temple’s Jackie Mercer, William & Mary’s Ellen Shaffrey, North Carolina’s Zoe Skinner and Delaware’s Alex Zaugra.
“We would like to thank every lacrosse program that submitted a nomination,” said Sharon Robinson, a member of the YRL Unsung Hero Award selection committee. “We were so impressed with the student-athletes that were nominated and wish we could reward them all. It is so reassuring to see how these future leaders are contributing to their communities in a positive manner. Our goal is to continue growing this award as well as its prestige in college athletics, so we can celebrate the good in college athletics and continue to honor Yeardley’s legacy.”
Five women and five men have been selected as finalists for the 2013 YRL Unsung Hero Award. These finalists will be represented on the award’s website, www.JoinOneLove.org/UnsungHeroes, and in the June issue of Inside Lacrosse magazine, the award’s media partner.
About the One Love Foundation:
The One Love Foundation was co-founded by Sharon and Lexie Love in May 2010 to honor their daughter and sister, Yeardley Reynolds Love, a University of Virginia student-athlete who was killed by her ex-boyfriend. The One Love Foundation’s primary mission is to end Relationship Violence through education and technology. In September 2012, One Love launched its “Be 1 for Change” campaign to heighten public awareness and perception of the Relationship Violence epidemic in the United States. The organization supports its mission through core values Yeardley exemplified; Education, Service, Kindness, Dedication, Humility and Sportsmanship. For more information, visit www.JoinOneLove.org or follow www.Twitter.com/JoinOneLove
Women’s Finalists
Jackie Mercer – Temple
Ellen Shaffrey – William & Mary
Molly Shawhan – Notre Dame
Zoe Skinner – North Carolina
Alex Zaugra – Delaware
–ND–