Nick Johnson Named as a Lowe's Senior CLASS Candidate

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Dartmouth men's hockey captain, Nick Johnson (Calgary, Alta.) is one of twenty collegiate hockey players who have combined excellence in athletics, academics and community service as the official candidates for the men's hockey division of the 2007-08 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.

The award ? presented annually to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete of the Year in eight sports ? focuses on the “Four C's” of classroom, character, community
and competition.

Johnson, a psychology major, is one of six student-athletes from ECAC Hockey among the 20 candidates for the men's award.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched in 2001 to honor the attributes of college basketball seniors who fulfill their entire athletic eligibility and pursue the many rewards of a senior season and complete college education. Since that time, Lowe's an official corporate partner of the NCAA?, has expanded the award to include other NCAA sports and it has developed into the nation's premier tribute to college seniors.

This marks the second year for the hockey division of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Notre Dame goaltender David Brown was the inaugural winner in 2006-07.

From the list of 20 nominees, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in late January 2008. Those ten names will be
placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote that will include coaches, media and fans. The award winner will be announced and recognized at the 2008 NCAA Frozen Four in Denver, CO.

“At Lowe's, we take pride in acknowledging hard work and outstanding accomplishments both on and off the court,” said Bob Gfeller, Lowe's senior vice president of marketing and advertising. “That commitment extends beyond our employees and customers and into the communities we serve where these student-athletes become real-life mentors. We're thrilled to honor each candidate's contributions and look forward to recognizing the award recipients at the Frozen Four .”

Sportscaster Dick Enberg, Honorary Chairman of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, first conceived the idea of an award for seniors in 2001 in response to the
growing trend of men's basketball players leaving school early for the NBA.

Lowe's has expanded the Senior CLASS Award program in 2007 to include men's hockey, men's lacrosse, baseball, softball and men's and women's soccer.

Joining Johnson as candidates are Robbie Bina (North Dakota), Ryan Cruthers (Robert Morris), Mark Dekanich (Colgate), Nick Dodge (Clarkson), Matt Fornataro (New Hampshire), Bryce Hollweg (Army), Landis Stankievech (Princeton), Peter Mannino (Denver), Marty Mjelleli (St. Cloud), Jake Morissette (Rensselaer), Justin Pesony (St. Lawrence), Kevin Porter (Michigan), Travis Ramsey (Maine), Dale Reinhardt (Holy Cross), Frank Schiavone (Air Force), Topher Scott (Cornell), Matt Smith (RIT), Mark Van Guilder (Notre Dame) and Jesse Winchester (Colgate).

For more information on the award and Lowe's, please visit www.seniorclassaward.com.

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