In honor of NCAA Division III Week (April 7th-11th) and the 40th anniversary of Division III sports, SUNYIT will be spotlighting one senior athlete each day this week across the campus's video boards. Each athlete selected embodies the philosophy and spirit of Division III athletics, and has demonstrated outstanding leadership both in the classroom and on the field of play. For more information on Division III Week, check out the Division III Week page on NCAA.org.
Today's featured SUNYIT senior athlete is Brittani Howell (Whitney Point, N.Y. / Whitney Point). Brittani is a senior two-sport athlete, playing midfield for the women's soccer team and starting on defense for the women's lacrosse team.
Howell recently received the very prestigious SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence – 1 of only 2 SUNYIT students to receive the award.
An outstanding student majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies, Howell's active involvement in student life makes her an almost perfect model of the quintessential Division III athlete. Of course, "quintessential" belies just how unique a student-athlete Howell is – after all, how many college students find the time to play two sports at a high level, be a Resident Advisor, a member of S.A.A.C, serve as president of the Student Association, and get accepted into Syracuse University Law School?
"Brittani is obviously a very hard-worker," according to SUNYIT Head Women's Soccer and Lacrosse Coach Erin Schurr, "She has an incredible ability to balance everything."
A two-year player after transferring from Broome County, Howell started 7 games for the Wildcats on the soccer pitch this fall, and has started all 5 games so far for the 5-0 women's lacrosse team. Howell is currently 4th on the squad in ground balls.
Of course, Howell's influence extends far beyond what she does between the lines:
"She serves as a great role model," said Schurr, "she has more on her plate than most and yet you would never know because she's the first one to volunteer to do more if needed."