It was recently announced that senior goalkeeper Hannah Menk (Pleasanton, CA) of the University of Redlands women's soccer team was named one of four finalists for the prestigious Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup. Now in its 14th year, this award recognizes one intercollegiate student-athlete who best exemplifies character, teamwork, and citizenship, while exuding excellence in sport and in life.
The finalists were selected from an elite list of 29 semifinalists from a variety of sports and schools across the country. Menk is joined by fellow finalists Ashley Marcus (University of Pennsylvania, Fencing/Foil), Patrick Mohorcic (College of Wooster, Football), and Steven Rizzo (Marist College, Cross Country/Track). The winner will be announced on April 25 at the Athletes for a Better World awards banquet in Atlanta, Georgia.
Academically, Menk is studying Communicative Disorders and Liberal Studies as a double major while also pursuing her teaching credential at the University of Redlands. She plans to complete her Master of Arts for Learning and Teaching in the Spring of 2019. She has made the Dean's List every semester of her undergraduate career as an outstanding student. This four-time recipient of the Martha J. and Barbara C. Thorman Endowed Education Scholarship looks forward to becoming a four-time Redlands Scholar-Athlete as well.
As a member of the Bulldog women's soccer team, Menk earned three All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) selections and landed on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-West Region Second Team. She currently ranks second all-time at Redlands with 279 career saves and sits third for minutes played and starts. She served as a two-time captain for the team, volunteered as a staff worker for a local lacrosse tournament, and gave her time as a goalkeeper coach for a boys' team.
According to her teammate, junior Madison Mills (San Ramon, CA), "Hannah's passion for her team's success is unrivaled. She constantly strives for improvement and never reaches a point of complacency. Her leadership has been crucial to our team's success because she not only leads while on the field but continues to hold that responsibility off the pitch as well. Hannah Menk embodies what it means to be a Bulldog and I could not be any prouder to step on the field with her."
A significant part of the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup is service to the campus, community, and the world. Along with her undeniable success as a student-athlete, Menk prioritizes helping others in a variety of settings. She has amassed more than 150 hours of volunteer work with Franklin Elementary School as a classroom helper. She serves as a CHAMPS Mentor for a high school student with disabilities and remains consistently active with her sorority Alpha Theta Phi as the housing coordinator and intramurals chair. Menk also gives her time to the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, with projects like creating cards for Veterans, making bookmarks for Totally Kids Outreach, and decorating local venues for the holidays.
"It is ingrained in her being to serve and give back. I believe it is due to her strong upbringing and her innate need to help others," commented Head Women's Soccer Coach Suzette Soboti. "Hannah is a most deserving nominee for the Coach Wooden Award. She embodies all of what Coach Wooden preached and Hannah would represent this award with class and reverence."
For more information about the Wooden Cup, please visit the organization's website.