March 6, 2009

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina senior softball player Mollie Fowler was selected as a candidate for the 2009 softball division of the Lowe's Senior Class Award, making her one of the top thirty elite collegiate softball student-athletes who excel not only on the playing field but also in the classroom and in their community. This is the first time a Catamount softball player has been recognized by this award.

Check out her profile HERE.

The King, N.C. native has a 3.75 GPA in Elementary Education and was a 2008 recipient of the Coleman Lews & Associates Leadership Award, recognizing scholar athletes who typify the best in leadership, academics and athletic skill. Named to the NCCSIA 2008 All-State team at DP, Mollie was a member of the 2009 Preseason Southern All-Conference Second Team and was tabbed First Team All-Conference in 2007. She also has participated in numerous community service projects and is the treasurer of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

Fowler is the second Western Carolina University student-athlete to be named a candidate for the Lowe's Senior Class Award. Earlier in the year senior standout Brooke Johnson was on the list for the women's basketball edition.

Lowe's, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, expanded the award program in 2007 to include six additional NCAA Division I sports - men's and women's soccer, men's ice hockey, men's lacrosse, baseball, and softball. With the addition of football this past fall, the number of sports encompassed by the nation's premier award for seniors increased to nine.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: Classroom, Character, Community, and Competition. Twenty-nine NCAA colleges and universities are represented among the 30 candidates for the 2009 award, with the University of Alabama being the lone school with two selections.

The list of 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. The ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans. The award winner will be announced and recognized at the 2009 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.

"These 30 young women represent the tremendous opportunities offered by collegiate athletics," said Bob Gfeller, Lowe's senior vice president of marketing and advertising. "We at Lowe's are pleased to highlight student-athletes of this caliber and help lead the way in building our nation's future leaders."

Western Carolina softball's season opener is Saturday as the Catamounts host rival UNC Greensboro in the first Southern Conference series of the year. First pitch in the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. and the athletic department is offering free admission for both Saturday and Sunday's games.

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