EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette athletics kicked off its nominee announcements for the PARDees on Monday morning, unveiling five women up for the Charles L. Albert '08 Award. The nominees include softball's Paige Grover, women's cross country and track and field's Ainsley Jacobs, women's basketball's Natalie Kucowski, women's soccer Sophie Saldivar, and field hockey's Anna Steps.

The PARDees is an annual awards show that recognizes Lafayette's senior student-athletes for their accomplishments and contributions to their programs. This year's show will take place on Friday, May 28 with a red carpet walk beginning at 7 p.m.

Four graduating seniors will receive special recognition as the Charles L. Albert '08 Awards and the Class of 1913 Trophies will be presented one male and one female each. The winners are determined by a vote from Lafayette's head coaches and athletic administration.

The Albert Award is presented annually to the senior male and female student-athletes who are judged to be the most outstanding athlete. The 1913 Trophy is presented to those who have attained the greatest distinction both as an athlete and a scholar.

The male nominees for the Albert Award, as well as the male and female nominees for the Class of 1913 Trophy, will continue to be released throughout this week, leading up to Friday's event. Information on the 2021 female nominees for the Albert Award can be found below.

Paige Grover, Softball: Civil Engineering major...played and started 131 career games as an outfielder...ranks 10th all-time at Lafayette in career slugging percentage (.414)...hit 13 home runs and 25 doubles with 54 walks in her career...hit .327 during the 2021 season...posted a .969 fielding percentage and .342 on-base percentage for her career...served as team captain for the last two seasons.

Ainsley Jacobs, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field: Government and Law major…holds school record for the outdoor 5,000-meter run...ranked third in school history in the 10,000-meter run...placed third in the 10,000-meter run at the 2021 Outdoor Patriot League Championships...finished fourth in the 10,000 at the ECAC Championships to earn All-East honors...placed eighth in the 2021 Patriot League Cross Country Championships...named to All-Patriot League Second Team...placed seventh in the 10,000-meter run at the 2019 Outdoor Patriot League Championships...served as team captain for cross country for two years and track and field for one year...selected to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll six times...made the Dean's List three times...member of Lafayette College's chapter of Best Buddies International, serving as a family aide for a young adult with developmental disability and working with developmentally challenged adults on multiple life skills to improve daily happiness.

Natalie Kucowski, Women's Basketball: Chemical Engineering  major...became the first player in program history to be selected in the WNBA Draft, chosen by the Seattle Storm with the 35th pick...finished as the Patriot League's all-time leading rebounder with 1,197 rebounds...named the 2020-21 Patriot League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the second player in conference history to win both awards in the same season...became the first player in program history to record over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds...finished fourth on Lafayette's all-time scoring list with 1,415 points...reset the program's single-season rebounding record at 372...led the Patriot League in rebounds per game, defensive rebounds per game, and blocks per game during the 2020-21 season...ranked second in the NCAA in rebounds per game and defensive rebounds per game...became the first player in program history to earn the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year award in 2018-19...selected to the All-Patriot League First Team two times (2020-21 and 2019-20)...named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in 2019-20.

Sophie Saldivar, Women's Soccer: Engineering major...played 49 career games with 42 starts in the midfield...selected to the All-Patriot League First Team in 2020-21...named to the All-Patriot League Third Team in 2019...tied for second in the Patriot League with team-leading six goals and tied for fifth in points with 13 in 2019...earned spot on Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in 2018...made the Dean's List.

Anna Steps, Field Hockey: Neuroscience major...played 56 career games with 54 starts in the midfield...helped Leopards reach Patriot League Tournament final in 2019...selected to All-Patriot League Second Team two times (2020-21, 2019)...named the 2020-21 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year...selected to the  2019 Patriot League All-Tournament Team...served as team co-captain...member of the team's leadership council...selected to the 2020-21 Academic All-League Team...selected to the NFHCA Division I Senior Team...earned spot on NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad two times (2020 and 2019)...made the Dean's List two times...member of Delta Phi Alpha (German Honor Society).

About the PARDees

The PARDees is an annual awards show that recognizes Lafayette's senior student-athletes for their accomplishments and contributions to their programs. There are five honors that will be awarded this year:

●      Class of 1913 Trophy represents the scholar-athlete award.  This award is presented to a distinguished senior class male and a distinguished senior class female for stellar academic achievement and outstanding athletic performance.  
●      Charles L. Albert '08 Award represents the Athlete Award and this award is presented to a distinguished senior class male and a distinguished senior class female for outstanding athletic performance.  
●      Oaksie Award is named in honor of Dr. Wilbur Oaks '51 (Oaksie) whose life was dedicated to service, his family, and Lafayette.  The Community, Leadership, and Service Award recognizes a student-athlete who has made significant contributions to the community by demonstrating leadership and a commitment to service and/or volunteerism. This award, presented annually to one student-athlete, recognizes graduating seniors whose multi-year commitments have made lasting contributions to the Lafayette community.
●      The Courage Award is given to one student-athlete who possessed strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to display positivity following a hardship. The recipient has influenced his/her program on-and-off the playing field with a positive attitude, a willingness to help in any capacity and a commitment to excellence following a hardship.
●      The PARDS Award recognizes one student-athlete for striving towards the values Lafayette Athletics embodies, being a Leopard! PARDS: Passionate, Accountable, Resilient, Driven, and Selfless. This award is given to a student-athlete who promotes the athletic department's mission, vision and values through their actions, demonstrates exceptional leadership ability, and fosters a positive and motivating environment for their team and the athletic department as a whole. The recipient will always exhibit enthusiasm, spirit, and leadership while helping to cultivate a championship culture that drives success.