MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The Hockey Humanitarian Award, presented by BNY Mellon Wealth Management, today announced the 18 finalists for the 2010 award. Williams senior forward and assistant captain Zach Miller (Bridgeton, NJ) has been named a 2010 finalist. Miller is the third Eph to achieve finalist status. Will Bruce and Caralyn Quan were recognized as finalists in 2008 and Bruce was named the winner of the 2008 award.
The Hockey Humanitarian Award is awarded annually to college hockey's finest citizen and seeks to recognize college hockey players, Division I or Division III, male or female, who give back to their community in the true humanitarian spirit. It has been said of the Hockey Humanitarian Award that we seek not to celebrate Hall of Fame athletes, but rather Hall of Fame human beings.
Miller, a four-year letterman, has appeared in 70 games for the Ephs (3rd highest on the team) and has netted 4 goals and 2 assists for 6 points. A true scholar-athlete Miller is a double major – economics and history and is pursuing a minor in leadership studies. He has been named to the Dean’s List (minimum GPA of 3.5) all seven semesters and has been named to the NESCAC All-Academic team the maximum two years.
Miller is a member of Phi Beta Kappa (in the top 5% of the Class of 2010 based on cumulative GPA), is a Class of 1960 Scholar in both economics and history as one of the top 10 performing majors. Additionally he is a recipient of the Class of 1953 Scholarship that is awarded to one student based on financial need, academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and demonstrated campus leadership.
Will Bruce and Zach Miller were teammates at Williams and Miller credits Bruce with getting him involved in community service at Williams. "Will was a not only a great guy, but also a close friend and mentor, so it is an honor to be nominated for the same award that he went on to win," stated Miller. "He really showed me how to get involved with the community and encouraged me to try to make an impact however I could, so if anything my nomination is a part of his legacy." Recently Miller was selected as the recipient of the Williams College Martin Wilson Fellowship that will cover most of his expenses as he attends England’s Oxford University from 2010-2012. It is interesting to note that Will Bruce is completing his second and final year of his Williams College Martin Wilson Fellowship at Oxford this spring before heading to Harvard Law School in the fall.
For three consecutive years Miller has received a Community Recognition Award from the Northern Berkshire community Coalition for his meaningful contributions to the community, which have included organizing an annual baseball clinic and cookout for local children and directing a program that paired Williams student-athletes with underprivileged youths to provide them with mentoring and encouragement. During this academic year Miller organized a pledge drive to raise money for the Massachusetts Soldiers’ Legacy Fund, a charity, which provides tuition assistance to the children of soldiers who have lost their lives serving overseas. Outside of Williamstown, Miller has also volunteered for work with the U.S. Department of State, where he was selected to serve as a civilian ambassador on a trip to Iraq.
Four Repeat Nominees from 2009
Four repeat nominees are among the 18 college hockey players nominated for the 2010 BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award.
Colgate senior Ethan Cox, Denver senior Brandon Vossberg, St. Cloud State senior Caitlin Hogan and Brockport senior Todd Sheridan are on the list again; all were nominated last year as well.
The other nominees:
• Bobby Butler, senior, New Hampshire
• Kevin Deeth, senior, Notre Dame
• Kirsten Dier, senior, Amherst
• Jon Globke, sr. New England College
• Barry Goers, sr., Massachusetts-Lowell
• Dion Knelsen, sr., Alaska
• Sam Kuzyk, jr., Adrian
• Shareef Labreche, sr., Buffalo State
• Zach Miller, sr., Williams
• Mario Mjelleli, jr., Augsburg
• Brigid O’Gorman, jr., Connecticut College
• Jordan Pietrus, sr., Brown
• Garrett Raboin, sr., St. Cloud State
• Brett Watson, sr., Massachusetts
