Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/1/16
Staff Report
Downingtown West 2016 defender Heather Camden has been named the season’s first winner of the Pansini Law Group Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
The award recognizes senior and junior lacrosse players that excel in academics, service and athletics.
Heather Camden in Ethiopia
Heather Camden profile:
Academics
GPA: 4.24
Honors: Distinguished Honor Roll/Honor Roll 2012-2016, Lacrosse Academic All-American 2015
Service
Honors: National Honor Society 2013-2016
Projects: Work Trip Rural Ethiopia, Africa (SIM, Langano Harvest Foundation) 2009
Work Trip Rural Ethiopia, Africa (Langano Farms) 2014
Lacrosse
Position: Defense
Club Team: Phantastix
Heather Camden on the field
Honors: National Tournament, Team 3, 2015; Dowingtown West High School Team Captain 2016
Other
Sports: Basketball Downingtown West Team Captain; All Ches-Mont League, 2nd Team 2016; Daily Local All-Area Team, Honorable Mention 2016
Future Plans: Drexel University to play Lacrosse and major in International Business
Comments from Honoree
How do you describe leadership based on your service projects in Ethiopia?
Camden: “I learned that leadership is about bringing people together to work towards a common goal. On my first trip, I witnessed two hundred men of different faiths and communities come together to till a large plot of land to provide food for their village. Upon returning on my second trip a few years later, the results were astounding. Fruit trees and rows of crops fed not only their village, but there was enough to sell to the neighboring villages. I saw many fights break out on that first visit, as people from different beliefs tried to work together, however, the leaders drew upon this common purpose to create a thriving, life-sustaining farm.”
How do you balance academics and athletics?
Camden: “I don’t think there’s any magic to it, it’s simply hard work. It’s sacrificing sleep and social life when need be. When you set goals, it’s doing what has to be done until you achieve them.”
Coaches may nominate players for the Pansini Law Group Scholar-Athlete award by e-mailing us at golax@phillylacrosse.com. The e-mail should provide all information on academics, service and lacrosse and a photo must be provided or arranged. All weekly winners will receive a $50 gift card and be eligible for the end-of-year overall winners.