Four NEC Student-Athletes Honored at Commencement

Two female student-athletes, Amanda Lester and Elizabeth Ross, were named this year’s co-recipients of the Danforth Award. The award was created in 1975 and is given annually to a graduating female who over their four years have shown outstanding athletic ability and sportsmanship.

Field hockey/softball student-athlete Amanda Lester (Columbia, Conn.) was one of the 2008 recipients of the Danforth Award.  Lester picked up several honors for her performance on the field hockey field this season including, TCCC Player of the Year and NFHCA First Team All-American. On the softball diamond Lester was named to the TCCC First Team finishing the season with a .346 batting average, leading  the team in doubles with 10 and finishing second on the team in runs batted in with 20.  Lester was also named the Student Athlete Advisory Committee Female Athlete of the Year.  Lester leaves NEC as the all-time leading scorer in field hockey history and finished with the most career doubles in softball history finishing with 37.

Women’s ice hockey/softball student-athlete Elizabeth Ross (West Hartford, Conn.) was also named a recipient of the Danforth Award.  On the ice Ross finished third on the team in scoring and fourth in the conference in assists finishing the season with 15 goals and 21 assists.  Ross was named the team’s coach’s award recipient and leaves NEC as the all-time leading scorer in women’s hockey history with 130 total points on 60 goals and 70 career assists.  On the softball diamond Ross was named to the TCCC Honorable Mention Team. Ross anchored the Pilgrim defense playing in 32 of NEC’s 34 games, finishing with a fielding percentage of .969.  At the plate Ross hit .311 for the season including a team-high 27 runs scored and 19 stolen bases.  

Two male student-athletes, Ryan Jazirir and James Palumbo, were named this year’s co-recipients of the Parmenter Award. The award was created in 1975 and is given annually to a graduating male who over their four years have shown outstanding athletic ability and sportsmanship.

Men’s basketball student-athlete Ryan Jaziri (Norwich, Conn.) was one of the 2008 recipients of the Parmenter Award.  Jaziri finished his career as the all-time leading scorer in NEC history and picked up TCCC Second Team honors this season. Jaziri led the Pilgrims in almost every offensive statistics in the 2007-08 season, including points per game averaging 24.3 and assists finishing with 54. Over his career at NEC Jaziri was twice named all-conference and picked up the team MVP award twice.

Men’s soccer student-athlete James Palumbo (E. Kingston, N.H.) was also named a recipient of the Parmenter Award.  Palumbo picked up TCCC Second Team honors for his performance this past fall and was also named to the New England Intercollegiate Soccer League All-Star Team.  Palumbo helped create much of the Pilgrim offense while stifling opposing offenses throughout his four-year career.  Palumbo scored one goal this past fall and was tied for the team lead in assists with five.