Sept. 17, 2008
DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis senior midfielder Dylan Curtis has been named one of 30 candidates for the 2008 Men's Soccer Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, it was announced Wednesday morning. The award is presented annually to senior student-athletes across nine NCAA Division I sports who best exemplify dedication and achievement in four areas: classroom, character, community and competition.
Curtis, a native of Pleasanton, Calif., is one of two Big West Conference student-athletes up for the award and becomes the first UC Davis student-athlete to qualify for consideration. Curtis exceeded all four standards needed to be considered for the award.
"Dylan is an outstanding soccer player and an even better student," said UC Davis head coach Dwayne Shaffer. "He has been a pleasure to coach and has proven to be a motivated student-athlete both in the classroom and on the field. Dylan is a quiet leader who leads by example. He trains extremely hard and shows that same dedication and commitment in the classroom.
Athletically, Curtis excels as the Aggies starting right winger and currently leads the nation in assists per game as his six assists in five games give him a 1.20 average. In addition, Curtis was named team captain for the second straight season following his team MVP honors last season. UC Davis is currently 4-1 on the season and ranks No. 23 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) rankings.
Academically, Curtis was the 2007 UC Davis Big West Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and owns a 3.38 CPA as a managerial economics major with only one semester remaining until he completes his degree. He has also been a member of the Intercollegiate Athletics Honor Roll since his freshman year while making the Dean's list in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the College of Letters and Sciences.
Finally, Curtis's character and community efforts have been evident with a long list of volunteer efforts, one of which includes co-founding the Davis High School chapter of Young Life, which is a Christian ministry club that reaches out to adolescents in more than 2,500 high schools with weekly meetings and various other activities. He has also volunteered for numerous events that benefit UC Davis Athletics, including the Aggie Auction and Aggie Idol.
From the list of 30 candidates, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the 2008 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in both men's and women's divisions in October. Those 10 names from each division will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote beginning Oct. 9 and concluding Nov. 19. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award. The men's winners will be announced during the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championships in Frisco, Texas, scheduled for Dec. 12-14.
