Boston College Athletics
Kelly Henderson And Ben Smith Named Eagles Of The Year
May 07, 2010 | Women's Soccer
May 7, 2010
CHESNUT HILL, Mass. - Kelly Henderson, an All-America defender and co-captain of the women's soccer team, and Ben Smith, an assistant captain on the men's hockey team and the NCAA Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player, earned Eagle of the Year Awards at Boston College's All-Sports Banquet on May 7.
The Nathaniel J. Hasenfus '22 Eagle of the Year Award is given annually to one male and one female senior student-athlete who are outstanding citizens, leaders, scholars and athletes. It is the most prestigious honor that the athletics department bestows upon a student-athlete.
Henderson served as co-captain of the women's soccer team. She earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team recognition and National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America second-team honors as senior defender in 2009. Henderson registered 31 points - nine goals and 13 assists - in 89 career games. She ranks first among all players in school history in games played.
Henderson was recently named a recipient of the ACC's Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Scholarship. A member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Henderson also volunteers as a mentor to underprivileged children at local hospitals and schools and served as a teacher's aide in the North Shore School District.
A native of Baldwin, N.Y., Henderson earned Dean's List honors from the Lynch School of Education as an elementary education and human development major. She is a two-time recipient of the Athletic Directors' Award for Academic Achievement.
Smith served as assistant captain of the hockey team that won the Beanpot title, the Hockey East Tournament title and the NCAA Championship. He registered 37 points - 16 goals and 21 assists - in 42 games. The Avon, Conn., product captured the Frozen Four's Most Outstanding Player honor after he tallied four points - three goals and one assist - in victories over Miami (April 8) and Wisconsin (April 10) in Detroit, Mich.
A 5-foot-11, 207-pound forward, Smith also earned the conference's Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award, the program's William J. Flynn Coaches Award and shared the Academic Excellence Award with Matt Price as the seniors with the highest grade point average this season.
A four-time recipient of the Athletic Director's Award for Academic Achievement and the school's freshman male scholar-athlete of the year in 2007, Smith concluded his collegiate career with 122 points - 57 goals and 65 assists - in 165 games, including an amazing 33 points - 16 goals and 17 assists - in 27 postseason games. The Eagles went 25-2 in 27 postseason games in the last four years.
The Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Awards were also presented at the banquet. These awards are given to a male and female student-athlete from each class for excellence in both the classroom and on the playing field. The winners were Jillian King of track & cross country and Chris Kreider of men's hockey from the freshmen class; Emily Charnowski from rowing and Brian Like of fencing from the sophomore class; Carolyn Swords of women's basketball and Anthony Castonzo of football from the junior class; and Caitlin Bailey of women's track and Tim Ritchie of men's track from the senior class.
Also honored were 379 BC student-athletes, who earned the Athletics Director's Award for Academic Achievement. The must have an overall grade-point average of 3.0 to garner the honor.
Also honored were 379 BC student-athletes, who earned the Athletics Director's Award for Academic Achievement. Students must have an overall grade-point average of 3.0 to garner the honor.
