Aug. 18, 2011
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame’s Greg Klazura and Melissa Henderson have been named Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award Candidates in the men’s and women’s soccer divisions, respectively. They are among 30 candidates in each group up for the prestigious award.
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 – community, classroom, character and competition.
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 students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Klazura (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic) returned to the Irish for a fifth season after turning down a chance to take part in the 2011 Major League Soccer draft combine. Klazura, one of three captains for the Irish this season, started all 20 games at left back during the 2010 campaign and tallied three points on one goal and one assist. He helped the Fighting Irish defense post six shutouts in 2010.
Klazura graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in pre-professional studies (pre-med). He finished his undergraduate career with a 3.583 cumulative grade-point average. He currently is taking courses that emphasize service and or medicine to boost his resume for medical school. Klazura was named to the 2010 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar All-Region first team. He also is a two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star (2009 & 2010).
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Henderson (Garland, Texas/Berkner), who was unanimously voted as the BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, earned the 2010 Honda Sports Award, was the only women’s soccer player nominated for an ESPY Award (“Best Female College Athlete”) and was a consensus first-team All-America selection last year, in addition to taking home the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year award and Most Outstanding Offensive Player honor at the 2010 NCAA College Cup after leading Notre Dame to its third national championship.
A year ago, Henderson scored 17 goals and dished out a career-high 11 assists (good for a career-best 45 points) to wind up as one of only 10 players in the country with double-digit goal and assist totals in 2010. The speedy striker also ranked among top 20 in five year-end NCAA statistical categories — points (4th), goals (6th), points per match (6th – 1.80), goals per match (12th – 0.68) and assists (20th) — and also led or placed second in the BIG EAST in every major offensive statistical department.
A two-time All-American, Henderson currently stands among the top 15 in Notre Dame history in seven career categories –goals (11th – 52), goals per match (6th – 0.68), points (15th – 122), match-winning goals (2nd – 20), match-winning points (4th – 48), first goals (2nd – 15) and hat tricks (6th – 3). What’s more, the Fighting Irish are unbeaten in Henderson’s career when she scores a goal (35-0-2) or registers a point (44-0-2).
Klazura and Henderson are heavily involved in the South Bend/Michiana community and their respective home communities.
Each of the 30 candidate classes will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplify excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
Click here for more information on all the candidates.
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