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2023 Luteys Celebrating Lute student-athlete success on the field, in the classroom, and in the community

George Fischer Scholar-Athlete Award

The George Fischer Scholar-Athlete Award celebrates the senior Lute student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average. This year the award was won by swimming senior Claire Cranch and track & field senior Larson Fairbairn.

Newcomer of the Year Award

Newcomer of the Year celebrates the Lutes that have hit the ground running and made an immediate impact for their team in their first year on campus. This year's winners were Paola Garcia from softball and Tyler Tanaka from swimming.

Laurie Turner Leadership Award

The award is named after former Lute athletic director Laurie Turner who helmed the PLU athletic department from 2005 to 2020. This year's winners are Ava Edmonds from basketball and golf and Ryan Griffith from soccer.

Distinguished Alumnus Award

Ken Flajole won this year's Distinguished Alumnus Award. A 1977 Lute graduate and a member of the football team, Flajole was an assistant coach for PLU from 1977-1978 before embarking on a long coaching career that has included working in the NFL since 1998. Flajole helped the Philadelphia Eagles win Super Bowl LII as their linebackers coach and helped the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII as the team's outside linebackers coach.

Frosty Westering Inspiration Award

The Frosty Westering Lute Inspiration Award is presented on a non-annual basis to PLU individuals who, through their action and involvement, inspires athletes, coaches, and the campus community. The award is named after legendary Lute football coach Frosty Westering who coached at PLU from 1972 to 2003 and won four national titles. This year's winner was swimming's Henri Coronado-Volta.

Lutes Impact Award

The LUTES Impact Award was created in 2022 to recognize a student-athletes that embody the spirit of the PLU Athletics Department, living out the core values of leadership, unity, teamwork, excellence, and service. This individual is a star on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. This year's winner was Danny Samson, the President of SAAC and a member of the cross country and track & field teams.

Unsung Lute Award

The Unsung Lute Award is presented to a student-athlete who has positively influenced their program from behind the scenes with a positive attitude, a willingness to help, and a commitment to excellence. This year's winner is Anthony Adams from baseball.

Lute Service Award

The Lute Service Award is given to an individual who contributes to the PLU athletic program in special ways. This year's winner is football manager Hunter Briggs.

Athlete of the Year Award

This year's Athlete of the Year winners were Halle Hetzler from volleyball and Ryan Stracke from cross country and track & field. Halle was the NWC Libero of the Year and the NWC Player of the Year this fall while Ryan was the NWC Champion in cross country and the NWC Champion in the 10,000-meters.

Career Achievement Award

These three Lutes have broken records and left a huge impact on PLU over the course of their careers. This year's Career Achievement Award winners are Erin McGrath from softball, Ava Nelson from track & field, and Andy Schmitz from baseball.

On the Red Carpet...

Senior Recognition

Credits:

Lindsey Clark

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