CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Lafayette men’s lacrosse student-athlete Scott McAvoy and Bucknell softball student-athlete Meghan Kovac are the Patriot League’s recipients of the 2017-18 Outstanding Leadership and Character Award, in a vote by each League member institution’s Senior Woman Administrator (SWA), as announced by the League office on Wednesday.
The Patriot League established an Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character to recognize and honor those who demonstrate excellence in leadership and service while participating in Patriot League athletics. One male and one female have been honored since the awards inaugural season in 2011-12. Any Patriot League student-athlete is eligible for the award, provided the minimum conduct standards are met.
Scott McAvoy
Lafayette College Men’s Lacrosse
During his career at Lafayette McAvoy demonstrated leadership in the classroom, locker room, and in the community. In the classroom, the Wyomissing, Pa. native has been a model student and graduates with a degree in economics and 3.8 cumulative grade point average (GPA). Upon graduation, McAvoy will begin a full-time job in Corporate and Investment Banking at Citi Group in New York City. As a captain of the Lafayette men’s lacrosse program, McAvoy was looked upon for advice and guidance, not only by his teammates but other students in the Lafayette community. Twice a week, he tutored Lafayette students in a writing course, while serving as a writing assistant. Throughout the 2017-18 academic year, he took the time to guide teammates in navigating the career process, one where he has found success.
“I don’t think a week has gone by where Scott was not helping with resumes, offering advice on upcoming interviews, and even helping with networking connections by attending our Lafayette Lacrosse Career and Networking event at NY Law School in November,” former Lafayette coach Ed Williams said.
In the community, Scott has been actively engaged with the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley by participating in many community service projects over the course of the year and encouraged many to follow. Some of these events included being a member of the “Boo Who Crew” in Bethlehem during Halloween, volunteering at the New Bethany Ministries and Paxinosa Elementary School, as well as participating in a Sunday program for the March of Dimes at a local CrossFit gym. “Scott is truly an ambassador of Lafayette Lacrosse and a fantastic role model for younger players to look up upon and emulate,” Williams said.
“It has been quite a journey for Scott’s senior captain season,” Williams said. “In the fall we tragically lost a young freshman on our team. This is a situation that you should never have to be asked to lead but that is exactly what Scott did.”
In his first month as a captain, McAvoy dealt with a hardship that some people never have to face. He was the person that the 42 student-athletes on the team looked to and turned to for strength, comfort, and guidance. He and his other senior roommates welcomed underclassmen into their homes and were in constant contact with guys on the team to check up on them and make sure they were well. McAvoy dealt with another hardship during his senior season, coming earlier in the spring. During the first week of practice in January, he tore his ACL for the second-straight time in two years.
“This easily could have been the end of Scott’s involvement with the team and program,” Williams said. “However, he decided he was going to treat the injury as an opportunity and that opportunity was helping his teammates as a student assistant coach. The first words out of his mouth after his injury where “how can I still help the team.” In my opinion, bringing him on as a member of the coaching staff was an easy decision.”
Since January, McAvoy served as a vital part of the Lafayette men’s lacrosse program’s day-to-day operations, performing tasks in the office, preparing for games and practice planning, coordinating travel, and taking on the responsibility for film upload and breakdown. With the added duties McAvoy maintained a position among teammates as a leader and captain. While the senior captain may not have envisioned this type of leadership role for his final season on College Hill, it is one he embraced. Through all this hardship and adversity Scott has still found a way to impact the team in such a great way that he probably doesn’t even realize yet and that speaks volumes to his true character.
Meghan Kovac
Bucknell University Softball
During her time at Bucknell Kovac has proven herself as a leader on her team, campus, and in the community. Within athletics, the Warren, N.J. native served as team captain of the Bucknell softball team, President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), and member of the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute - Principal Leader Track. Kovac is a two-time All-Patriot League selection while earning First-Team All-ECAC. The senior first baseman earned League player of the week honors twice while breaking the Bucknell single-season and career doubles and home runs records. She also holds the school’s career RBI's record. Kovac was recognized by the University President’s Office to serve on the Bucknell Athletic Director Search Committee in addition to being a student-athlete representative on the Patriot League’s Sports Management Committee.
On campus, Kovac has been a member of the Bucknell Student Affairs Community Conduct Board, attending hearings regarding academic misconduct of students on campus. She was also Resident Advisor for two years, where she mentored first-year students and organized programs to support the safety, health, and overall experience of her residents. She also served as a member of Bucknell’s Senior Gift Drive Committee, which is responsible for raising funds from Bucknell seniors for the campus community.
In the community, Meghan is an active volunteer and leader for Mostly Mutts, which is a no-kill animal shelter that houses over 100 animals in the local community. She spearheaded a $500 fundraising drive for Mostly Mutts, as well as working with SAAC to bring volunteers to the shelter. Kovac also led "The Little Things Project" for the Bucknell Athletics Department, collecting and dropping off toiletries from student-athletes through their travels to give back to the local community. "Heel the Sole" and "One Shirt, One Body" has also come to fruition at Bucknell through Kovac’s vision, leadership and work with SAAC at the Patriot League and NCAA level. She also organized her team to volunteer at Elmcroft - a senior assisted living community and the local food bank.
“Meghan has the incredible ability to connect athletics with the world and make it better,” Bucknell Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator Maisha Kelly said. “Her leadership is one that is felt not just in our department, but across campus and the community.”
In addition to her service to the local community, Kovac was also instrumental in connecting groups on campus. This was demonstrated at the highest level during Bucknell’s Martin Luther King Jr. Community Dinner, conducted in collaboration with the school’s Black Student Union. The event brought together faculty, staff, and students for a dinner discussion on,
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“The event was a tremendous success and Meghan's strong levels of responsibility and character allowed her to pull individuals from different walks of life together for a special cause and event,” Kelly said.
“Meghan is genuine, sincere, caring, compassionate, and one of the most determined young women we ever met,” Kelly continued. “She went from overcoming a frustrating start to her collegiate career to emerging as a team leader personally, athletically, and in the community.”
Upon graduation, Kovac is headed to Northeastern University where she will begin work toward a master's degree in Sports Leadership.
“Meghan has been a leader of character for us at Bucknell both in her sport and for the entire campus community and we are honored to nominate her for this award,” Kelly said.
Other nominees for this honor included Brian Begley (Loyola Maryland men’s lacrosse), Olivia Blakeman (Loyola Maryland women’s lacrosse), Rachel Bloznalis (Boston University women’s soccer), Maureen Connolly (Holy Cross field hockey), Zach Duffy (Lehigh football), Shannon Exley (American women’s swimming), Jules Malachin (Lehigh women’s rowing), Conor Okmin (Boston University men’s lacrosse), Arno Rupp (Holy Cross men’s soccer) and Clare Shea (Army West Point women’s soccer).
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.