ITHACA, N.Y. – Sophomore softball student-athlete, Allison Kerce, has been awarded the Jeff Stenstrom Memorial Award by Andy Noel, the Meakem*Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education.
The Jeff Stenstrom Award is presented to the freshman student-athlete (current sophomore) who best exemplifies leadership qualities through dedication and strength of character. A memorial award, the Jeff Stenstrom Award was established in honor of former Big Red football player, Jeff Stenstrom, who passed away as a freshman in the spring of 1994 from meningitis.
A graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Kerce played her freshman season with the motto of "playing for the ones that can't" and wears #17 on her jersey as a representation of the 17 lives lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in February 2018.
"Allison sees the big picture," said The Jan Rock Zubrow '77 Head Coach of Softball, Julie Farlow. "For a freshman to be looking beyond herself, to make others better, to make others comfortable and to make decisions for the long-term benefit of a program is quite exceptional."
Kerce excelled on the field for Cornell, posting a .324 batting average to lead the team and garnering an All-Ivy League honorable mention. In conference games, Kerce hit .403 with five home runs and 20 RBI in 21 games, and her .731 slugging percentage ranked second only to the conference Player of the Year.
Off the field, Kerce owns a 3.8 grade point average as an economics major and was recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association as a scholar athlete. Kerce is also involved with the Cornell Catholic Community and is a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative.
Recent winners of the Jeff Stenstrom Award include Yianni Diakomihalis (wrestling), Katherine McGahan (women's lacrosse), Mackenzie Gagliardi (field hockey) and Hayden Stewart (men's ice hockey).
This article originally appeared in the Cornell Big Red news.
