Leigh Bonkowski of Ithaca Named Empire 8 Woman of the Year
July 13, 2006
ROCHESTER, NY - Leigh Bonkowski, a recent graduate
of Ithaca College and a member of the softball team,
has been named the inaugural winner of the Empire 8
Woman of the Year award. Bonkowski will represent the
conference in national balloting for the NCAA Woman
of the Year. The honor is given to a student-athlete
who excels in academics, athletics, leadership, and
service.
"I am so pleased that Leigh has been selected for
this award," said Ithaca Director of Intercollegiate
Athletics and Recreation Ken Kutler. "Leigh's commitment
to excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and
service was evident in all that she accomplished at
Ithaca College. She contributed willingly and with great
enthusiasm to many activities during her undergraduate
years. I know that Leigh will be successful in life
because her work ethic and attitude will lead to nothing
less."
Bonkowski
is the Empire 8's only four-time first-team all-conference
softball player and was named the 2005 Player of the
Year. The outfielder received the school's Iris Carnell
Award as the top female athlete in the senior class
and earned All-Region honors from the National Fastpitch
Coaches Association for the fourth consecutive year.
She was also named 2005 ECAC Upstate Player of the Year
and earned NCAA Division III World Series All-Tournament
honors each of the past two seasons.
Bonkowski, who graduated Summa Cum Laude in May with
a degree in recreation management, was a two-year captain
and a three-time selection to the District I All-Academic
Team, earning first-team honors this past season. She
served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee from
2003-2006 and also served on the Captains Council and
Student Board of Advocates.
Bonkowski participated in the Ithaca Breast Cancer
Walk-A-Thon all four years and was this year's co-coordinator
of the Cure Autism Walk. She received the School of
Health Science and Human Performance Leadership Award
and the school's Academic Excellence Award.
"Leigh is an individual who has excelled in all
facts of collegiate life, including academics, athletics,
campus activities, and community service," said
Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. "She has certainly
set the bar high for future award winners."
Bonkowski finished her career with school-record totals
of 40 doubles and 43 stolen bases, hitting .350 (sixth
all-time) with 189 hits (second), 146 runs (second),
24 home runs and 128 runs batted in (third). This season,
Bonkowski hit .357 with 16 extra-base hits, 33 RBI,
39 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases as the Bombers posted
a 40-7 record and a fifth-place national finish.