ECAC Tabs Sileo as Scotty Whitelaw Award Recipient
CENTERVILLE, Mass. (Sept. 4, 2014) - On Thursday, Eastern College Athletic Conference Commissioner Dr. Kevin T. McGinniss announced LIU Post women's lacrosse standout
Jackie Sileo (Wantagh, N.Y.) as the winner of the 2014 ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Sportsmanship Award.
She will be recognized for the honor on Sept. 28 at the ECAC Honors Dinner in North Falmouth, Mass. The Scotty Whitelaw Sportsmanship Award, named after the former ECAC commissioner, exemplifies positive traits in intercollegiate sports. It honors student-athletes for their virtues, such as fairness, integrity, selflessness, respect, and a sense of fellowship with opponents.
"Jackie's accomplishments clearly establish her credentials as an elite athlete, but she is so much more than that," Head Coach
Meghan McNamara (East Northport, N.Y.) said. "She is an exceptional, selfless leader who always put her team first."
In addition to her excellence on the field, Sileo displayed outstanding merit in the classroom and the community. Finishing her undergraduate studies in three years with a 3.68 grade-point average, she was a two-time Capital One Academic All-District selection. The Wantagh, N.Y. native was also part of many charitable drives and organizations throughout her four years, including: the Island Harvest Food Drive, Relay For Life, Walk-Along For Lupus, Out of the Darkness Walk and Hurricane Sandy Relief initiative.
As part of the Island Harvest Food Drive, Sileo, along with other LIU Post student-athletes, assisted in supplying food to the hungry and less fortunate. Island Harvest is the largest hunger relief foundation in Long Island. In 2013, Sileo served as a volunteer at the Out of Darkness Walk at Westbury Gardens to help raise money and awareness for Suicide Prevention. Sileo participated in the 20th-Annual Walk Along for Lupus as well, which helped raise money in hopes of finding a cure for the disease.
Amongst her many accolades on the lacrosse field, Sileo was a four-time IWLCA All-American, three-time East Coast Conference Player of the Year and IWLCA Attacker of the Year, and a two-time Division II Women's Lacrosse Honda Player of the Year. Furthermore, she was recently chosen as a Top-30 honoree for the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. As a junior, Sileo, a two-time national champion (2012 & 2013), broke the NCAA Division II all-time assist record, and this past year shattered the career points record across all divisions. She rounded out her storied career with 195 goals and 369 assists.
For more information on the ECAC and the Scotty Whitelaw Sportsmanship Award, please visit ECAC.org.