Riverdale, N.Y. (May 2, 2007)- Senior catcher Nick Derba is featured in the May 2 issue of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Baseball Newsletter. Derba was announced as a candidate for the award on April 17.
To read about Derba's candidacy, CLICK HERE. The read the May 2 newsletter, click on the PDF at the top or bottom of this page.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award is designed to honor the attributes of college senior student athletes who stay in school and pursue the many rewards that a senior season can bring.
Candidates are selected based on personal qualities that define a complete student athlete. While the on-the-field performance during their collegiate baseball careers is a factor in determining candidates and the eventual winner, their personal character and off-the-field achievements in the classroom and community are major areas of focus.
Derba, a biology/chemistry double major with a minor in psychology, is a Dean's List student, a member of Phi Delta Epsilon (biology honor society), and a two-time MAAC All-Academic honoree. The three-year team captain was inducted into Manhattan College's Pen and Sword Society, and is a nominee for the College's Joseph J. Gunn Alumni Medal. On the field, the senior is a two-time First Team All-MAAC selection, and will graduate among the program career leaders in at bats, runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, and RBI. He also played for two summer for the Chatham A's of the prestigious Cape Cod League, serving as team captain and being honored with the team's Veteran's Award during the summer of 2006.
A national media committee will select 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in May. Those ten names will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote beginning May 9 and concluding June 6. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches, media and sponsors to determine the recipient of the award. The award winner and the college baseball All-Senior All-America Team will be announced this June during the 2007 NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
The tribute for seniors was conceived by sportscaster Dick Enberg, who continues to serve as Honorary Chairman of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. It was inspired by the remarkable story of former Duke star Shane Battier, who could have been an NBA lottery pick but returned to college for his senior season, led the Blue Devils to the national championship in 2001 and earned his college degree. Former Jasper men's basketball player Luis Flores was a candidate for the CLASS Award for men's basketball in the 2003-04 season.
