Three NESCAC Skaters Among Finalists for 2010 Hockey Humanitarian Award

Courtesy Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Three NESCAC skaters highlight the seven outstanding collegians named as finalists for the 2010 BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award, given annually to the college hockey player that most personifies true community spirit through the selfless commitment of leadership, effort and time. The three players are Amherst senior Kirsten Dier, junior Brigid O'Gorman of Connecticut College, and Williams senior Zach Miller.

The Hockey Humanitarian Award is awarded annually to college hockey’s finest citizen and seeks to recognize college hockey players, Division I, II or III, male or female, who give back to their community in the true humanitarian spirit. In 2008, Will Bruce of Williams earned the award, becoming the first NESCAC player to be honored with the Humanitarian.

This year's recipient will be introduced on Friday, April 9 in an evening ceremony at Ford Field in Detroit as part of the 2010 Men's Frozen Four and NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge.

Joining the trio from the NESCAC are Colgate senior Ethan Cox, Alaska senior Dion Knelsen, Adrian junior Sam Kuzyk, and Denver senior Brandon Vossberg.

More information on the seven finalists can be found at the Hockey Humanitarian website. A description of the three NESCAC finalists is provided below, courtesy of the Humanitarian Award Foundation

Kirsten Dier, Senior, Amherst College
A native of Appleton, Wisconsin, Kirsten is a champion on and off the ice. What did she do as a follow up to leading her team to the NCAA D-III Women’s title last year? How about volunteering in West Africa over the summer, where she acted as a medical assistant taking vitals, administering immunizations, and performing procedures under physician supervision. She even made time to help build a new foundation and roof for a school classroom. Back at Amherst, when not performing brilliantly on the ice and in the classroom, Kirsten has served as a soup kitchen volunteer, worked with Habitat for Humanity on five different occasions, and helped with Amherst's annual Change for Change drive, which raises funds for local charities. Said her coach Jim Plumer: "A coach can go an entire lifetime without meeting someone of Kirsten's caliber; I truly feel blessed to have the opportunity to work with her. She embodies compassion for all of God's creatures."

Zachary Miller, Senior, Williams College

Zachary Miller is a high achiever both on and off the ice, so it’s no surprise that he was the recipient of his high school’s Crocker Prize, which recognizes excellence in extracurricular activities and commitment to service. His on ice and academic achievements notwithstanding, the Bridgeton, NJ native has made an impressive impact when it comes to community service. Among his accomplishments: organizing a pledge drive to raise tuition assistance for the children of United States soldiers who've lost their lives; creating and directing ASPIRE---a program pairing students with disadvantaged local children to provide friendship and mentoring; and starting a program called Best Buddies -- which has men's and women's hockey teams engaging the local handicapped population in skating and hockey sessions. He’s even made time to help low income families fill out their tax returns.

Brigid O’Gorman, Junior, Connecticut College
Brigid’s humanitarian efforts reach across borders. Last spring, she traveled to Uganda to deliver medical and school supplies, clothing, money and much needed medical care to orphaned children. She even provided soccer balls. Ever creative, Brigid also took tree branches and made hockey sticks out of them for the children. “I had hockey sticks in Africa,” said a joyous O’Gorman, a native of Eden, New York. “I taught the kids to play hockey, and they had never seen anything like it before. That was one of my favorite moments of the whole trip.” Back home, Brigid stays every bit as active in her collegiate community by volunteering to assist the disabled at the High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center in Old Lyme, Conn. Further proof that Brigid is a leader: she was selected team captain though she’s still a junior. Seems her own teammates know a winner when they see one.