DePaul University Athletics
Morocco a National Finalist for Prestigious Honor
2/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Feb. 16, 2011
CHICAGO - For the fifth year in a row, a DePaul softball player has been selected a national finalist for one of the sport's most prestigious awards.
Alex Morocco was notified on Wednesday that she is among the 30 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award that recognizes notable achievements in community, classroom, character and competition.
Kate Sheaks was a Lowe's national finalist in 2007 and was followed in that distinction by Sandy Vojik in 2008, Amber Patton in 2009 and Becca Heteniak in 2010.
Morocco was the only student-athlete chosen from a BIG EAST Conference school.
"I'm really proud because this is such an awesome award," said Morocco, whose five hits (including one double and one triple), four runs and four stolen bases last weekend helped the Blue Demons finish 4-1 at the FIU Combat Classic in Miami. After that fast start, ESPN.com/USA Softball ranked DePaul No. 25 in the nation.
"I'm excited because it's recognition for being an all-around person as well as an athlete."
Morocco was an All-BIG EAST First Team selection and second-team NFCA Great Lakes All-Region last year. The psychology major carries a 3.65 grade-point average.
She has done volunteer work the last four years with Make Strides Against Breast Cancer and has devoted her free time to work as a Misericordia Heart of Mercy fundraiser and hospital volunteer.
Morocco has served with DePaul's Voice For Animals and been a volunteer for Adults with Mental Disabilities. She was also a volunteer coach for the Humboldt Park Hearts, a girls' inner-city youth softball organization.
"At DePaul, we are students before we are athletes," she said. "I have learned from being around here to get good grades, promote community service and to try and live my life according to the ideals of the university."
Ten national finalists for the Lowe's award selected by a national media committee will be announced in late March. Those 10 student-athletes will have their names placed on a national ballot for fan voting. The voting by fans along with coaches and media will determine the winner, who will be announced in early June at the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.
"My coach, Eugene Lenti, always tells us that schoolwork comes first before everything else and that softball comes second," said Morocco, winner of the American Eagle Outfitters BIG EAST Institutional Scholar-Athlete Award.
"You have to put the same amount of work into softball and academics, and sometimes that can be tough.
"What Eug (Lenti) tells us is to follow everything the university values and try to apply that to the real world."
