Joeanna Glantz & Samantha DiGiovanni Presented with Skookum Awards

DiGiovanni (left) and Glantz (right) were among 14 Western New England students honored

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 20, 2016) – Seniors Joeanna Glantz (Agawam, Mass.) of the women's tennis team and Samantha DiGiovanni (Shirley, N.Y.) of the softball team were among 14 Western New England University students to be presented with the Alumni Association's prestigious Skookum Award during a ceremony at Rivers Memorial Hall on Sunday (Oct. 16).

The Skookum Award of Excellence was established in 1989 by the Western New England University Alumni Association as a way to recognize the outstanding achievements of students. The Skookum Award recognizes the commitment and dedicated service of Western New England University students throughout their college career by their demonstrated leadership roles on campus, community service/volunteer experiences, and participation in athletics and co-curricular programs. The word Skookum means excellence in the Chinook Indian culture. This annual award process takes place each spring semester to prepare for the Skookum Awards dinner the following fall.

Glantz, a two-time All-Commonwealth Coast Conference selection, was recently named the CCC's Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women's tennis. A marketing and business analytics double major with a 3.88 cumulative grade point average, she is extremely active both on campus and in the community. 

She is a four-year member of Western New England's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and is also a member of numerous honor societies in addition to serving as the vice president of marketing for the Management Association. Glantz has completed internships with MassMutual Financial Group and the Springfield City Council, and she has volunteered with St. Anthony's Maronite Church in Springfield since 2007.

DiGiovanni, a pitcher for the softball team, is a marketing communication/advertising major with a 3.4 cumulative grade point average. She is enrolled in the College of Business honors program, and is an Alpha Lambda Delta honor society inductee. DiGiovanni is also a member of Western New England's SAAC, serving as vice president. She is active in community service, volunteering her time with several charity organizations including Tomorrows Children's Fund.

"I am so very proud of Joanna and Samantha for receiving the very prestigious Skookum Award," Director of Athletics Dr. Mike Theulen said. "It is an incredible honor to be recognized for all that they do. In their own way, they have excelled in the classroom, in their sport, and in leadership, representing the VERY best of our Athletic Family and of our University.  It is what we call the Western New England Way.  These young women are exceptional role models for their teammates and for our community.  It has been our privilege to have them as STUDENT-athletes here and their futures are, indeed, golden!"