Published: 5/26/2021 10:42:15 PM
Modified: 5/26/2021 10:42:13 PM
WATERVILLE, Maine — Hanover High graduate and Colby College women’s lacrosse midfielder Amelia Lubrano has been chosen the women’s NCAA Division III winner of the Yeardley Reynolds Love Unsung Hero Award.
The honor goes to three women and three men across the NCAA’s three lacrosse divisions for demonstrating “dedication, integrity, humility, hard work, community service, leadership, kindness and sportsmanship,” according to a Monday news release. The award, determined by the One Love Foundation, was created in 2011 to honor University of Virginia women’s lacrosse player Yeardley Reynolds Love, who was killed by her ex-boyfriend three weeks shy of her graduation in 2010.
Lubrano and her older sisters, Georgia and Sophia, all home from work or school in April 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, banded together to organize Sweat2Support, a virtual running event seeking to raise money for the pandemic relief efforts of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Disease Philanthrophy. The event had an initial goal of raising $10,000; it ultimately topped out at nearly $28,000.
“This award is such a great fit for the type of person Amelia is,” Colby head women’s lacrosse coach Karen Henning said in a news release. “While we will certainly miss her on-field contributions, what we will remember most about Amelia is her support and care for others. She has shown up every day with a smile on her face, and if one of her teammates didn’t have one on theirs, she would be sure to check in and do whatever she could to change that.
“Her compassion for others is unmatched, and her efforts to organize and help raise funds for COVID relief last spring is a true testament to who she is. We are so proud of all she does for those around her.”
All three Lubranos competed in multiple sports at Hanover, and all played at least one sport in college.
An English and environmental studies double major, Amelia Lubrano played in 29 games over her four Colby seasons, the last two of which were shortened by the pandemic.