KANSAS CITY, Mo. - University of Denver men’s senior attackman Brett Koll (Fort Collins, Colo.) is a candidate for the men’s lacrosse division of the 2008 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. Koll is among 20 collegiate lacrosse players who have combined excellence in athletics, academics and community service.

The award - presented annually to NCAA Division I student-athletes each year in eight sports - focuses on the “Four C’s” of classroom, character, community and competition.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched in 2001 to honor the attributes of college basketball seniors who fulfill their entire athletic eligibility and pursue the many rewards of a senior season and complete college education. Since that time, Lowe’s, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, has expanded the award to include other NCAA sports and the award has developed into the nation’s premier tribute to college seniors.

This marks the second year for the men’s lacrosse division of the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. Cornell goaltender Matt McMonagle was the inaugural winner in 2007.

From the list of 20 nominees, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in late March 2008. Those ten names will be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote that will include coaches, media and fans. The award winner will be announced and recognized at the 2008 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships in Foxboro, MA.

“Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in America and we’re pleased to recognize these outstanding individuals who are among the nation’s finest collegiate student athletes,” said Bob Gfeller, Lowe’s senior vice president of marketing and advertising. “In looking at these twenty candidates, their list of achievements is very impressive, not only as lacrosse players, but also in the classroom and their respective communities.”

Sportscaster Dick Enberg, Honorary Chairman of the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, first conceived the idea of an award for seniors in 2001 in response to the growing trend of men’s basketball players leaving school early for the NBA.
Lowe’s has since expanded the Senior CLASS Award program to include men’s hockey, men’s lacrosse, baseball, softball and men’s and women’s soccer.

ABOUT THE AWARD
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award honors the attributes of senior student-athletes in four areas: classroom, community, character and competition. The award program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards that a senior season can bring. For more information, visit www.seniorclassaward.com.

ABOUT LOWE’S
With fiscal year 2006 sales of $46.9 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 company that serves approximately 13 million customers a week at more than 1,425 home improvement stores in 49 states. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit www.Lowes.com.

ABOUT THE NCAA
The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 380,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaasports.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes. NCAA is a registered trademark of the National Collegiate Athletic Association

Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award
2008 Men’s Lacrosse Nominees
Name, School, Position, Height, Weight, Conference
Mike Ammann, University at Albany, M, 6′2, 210, America East
Steve Ammann, University at Albany, M, 6′2, 215, America East
Josh Back, Colgate University, M, 6′0, 180, Patriot League
Michael Corbolotti, Cornell University, M, 6′0, 190, Ivy Group
Fletcher Gregory, University of North Carolina, M, 6′2, 195, Atlantic Coast Conference
Pat Grimm, Yale University, D, 6′2, 185 Ivy Group
Cam Howard, University of Delaware, A, 5’11, 185, Colonial Athletic Association
Brett Koll, University of Denver, A, 5′10, 165, Lacrosse America
Mike Leveille, Syracuse University, A, 6′3, 204, Independent
Jordan Levine, University at Albany, M, 5′8, 170, America East
Craig Massie, Army, D, 6′3, 200, Patriot League
Danny Nathan, Cornell University, M, 5′11, 200, Ivy Group
Ryan O’Donnell, Towson University, D, 6′0, 180, Colonial Athletic Association
Paul Rabil, Johns Hopkins University, M, 6′3, 225, Independent
Brad Ross, Duke University, M, 6′0, 180, Atlantic Coast Conference
Ben Rubeor, University of Virginia, A, 5′11, 177, Atlantic Coast Conference
Tommy Scherr, University of Delaware, GK, 5′6, 155, Colonial Athletic Association
Corey Spuler, Robert Morris University, M, 5′9, 170, Colonial Athletic Association
Kevin Unterstein, Hofstra University, M, 5′11, 175, Colonial Athletic Association
Mike Unterstein, Hofstra University, M, 5′11, 170, Colonial Athletic Association