Eastern Michigan Athletics
Lombardi Named MAC's 2016 Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award Recipient
8/23/2016 10:18:00 AM | Soccer
Lombardi is the first EMU student-athlete to earn the award since 2009
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — Recent Eastern Michigan University women's soccer graduate Julia Lombardi has been named the female recipient of the 2016 Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award by the Mid-American Conference Faculty Athletics Representatives, as announced by the league office today, Aug. 23. On the men's side, Kent State University's Jordan Italiano earned the honor.
In its 28th year, the Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award recognizes one female and one male student-athlete who have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.50 and have displayed good character, leadership and citizenship. The students are nominated during the year in which they complete their final season of eligibility. The $5,000 post-graduate scholarship is awarded in honor Bob James, the second commissioner in Mid-American Conference history (1964-71).
With Tuesday's announcement, Lombardi becomes the first Eagle to earn the award since Jillian Wolosiansky did so in 2009. Lombardi was one of seven nominees, ultimately edging out Carolina Hasse (Akron), Michaela Hull (Ball State), Alyssa Nocella (Bowling Green), Roseanne Erickson (Kent State), Emily Naegele (Northern Illinois), Hayley Stegmiller (Ohio), and Samantaha Richart (Toledo).
Lombardi was a four-year letterwinner for the Eagles, and was named Teammate of the Year twice. A stout outside back for the Green and White, Lombardi was a part of EMU's 2013 MAC Regular Season Championship Team and the 2014 MAC West Division Championship squad. In her final season on the pitch, Lombardi started a career-high 17 matches for the Green and White and helped the Eagles to a pair of shutouts. The Oakville, Ontario native played at least 80 minutes in 11 matches, including two in which she played a career-high 110 minutes. Lombardi recorded the first goal of her career, Sept. 20, at home against Green Bay. With her team trailing, 1-0, Lombardi was called upon in a penalty kick opportunity and delivered an equalizer. Weeks later, she dished out a helper, assisting on the game-winner in EMU's 3-1 win over Ohio, Oct. 16. At the conclusion of the season, Lombardi was named to the Academic All-MAC Team for the second consecutive season.
Academically, Lombardi excelled, boasting an impressive 3.99 GPA in biology and chemistry, en route to Summa Cum Laude honors. She was on the Dean's List all eight semesters of her academic record and earned the Perry S. Brundage Award for excellence in general chemistry, given annually by the EMU chemistry department. A two-time MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete, the Oakville, Ontario product was also a two-time MAC Commissioner's Award honoree. In 2014, she was named Capital One Academic All-District and in 2016, she was named a NCAA Woman of the Year nominee. Lombardi was named EMU's Female Athlete of the Year as a senior and also received the MAC Medal of Excellence Award, while Eastern Michigan renamed its leadership award the Lombardi Leadership Award in her honor.
Lombardi served as the President of EMU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was a member of the MAC Mental Health Task Force. As President, Lombardi helped organize numerous projects such as: #MoreThanASport, The Ypsi Awards, Jock Jamz, Campus Sweater Exchange, Kleats for Kids, and Building Bright Futures at The Factory.
Outside of EMU, Lombardi volunteered at St. Jospeh Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor in the Emergency Deparment and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She also volunteered for the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life.
Having graduated from EMU in April, Lombardi will begin pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor this fall as student at the University of Ottawa (Ontario) in the Faculty of Medicine.
Past Bob James Award Winners
2016 Julia Lombardi, Eastern Michigan (Soccer); Jordan Italiano, Kent State (Football)
2015 Stephaine Haugh, Kent State (Soccer); Dustin Page, Northern Illinois (Soccer)
2014 Lindsey Butterfield, Bowling Green (Volleyball); Kyle Smith, Central Michigan (Track & Field)
2013 Skylar Chew, Ball State (Soccer); Nabal Jefferson, Northern Illinois (Football)
2012 Kristin Hoffman, Northern Illinois (Volleyball); Briggs Orsbon, Ball State (Football)
2011 Christine Chiricosta, Bowling Green (Tennis); Jon Edgington, Miami (Baseball)
2010 Megan Chronister, Bowling Green (Gymnastics); Tim Hiller, Western Michigan (Football)
2009 Gonzalo Barinaga, Ball State (Football); Jillian Wolosiansky, Eastern Michigan (Volleyball)
2008 Wynn Michalak, Central Michigan (Wrestling); Stephanie Swiger, Bowling Green (Volleyball)
2007 Matt Lefeld, Bowling Green (Basketball); Jody Yednock, Northern Illinois (Gymnastics)
2006 David Mitchell, Miami (Cross Country/Track & Field); Marie Zidek, Northern Illinois (Volleyball)
2005 Burke Badenhop, Bowling Green (Baseball); Robin Davidson, Toledo (Soccer)
2004 Travis Barclay, Ball State (Football); Andrea Kremer, Miami (Track & Field)
2003 Brett Faustman, Central Michigan (Wrestling) and Katrina Kerns, Bowling Green (Track & Field)
2002 Anthony Malik, Bowling Green (Soccer); Kate Miller, Kent State (Basketball)
2001 Nick Iagulli, Miami (Track & Field); Jennifer Jarjosa, Bowling Green (Swimming)
2000 Cato Coleman, Miami (Track & Field); Laura Szczepanski, Ball State (Gymnastics)
1999 Wendy Feldman, Central Michigan (Volleyball); Justin Millard, Akron (Soccer)
1998 Desmond Johnston, Akron (Soccer); Janelle Tranquillo, Ball State (Field Hockey)
1997 Joseph Burch, Bowling Green (Soccer); Sarah Mikrut, Ball State (Gymnastics)
1996 Kristin Gaddis, Bowling Green (Cross Country/Track); Dustin Swinehart, Miami (Soccer)
1995 Dana Drew, Toledo (Basketball); Stephen Fetyko, Eastern Michigan (Swimming)
1994 Bob Dudley, Bowling Green (Football); Kris Parks, Ohio (Cross Country/Track)
1993 Sander Scott, Central Michigan (Basketball); Kelly Weir, Ohio (Basketball)
1992 Jeff Bender, Central Michigan (Football); Julie Young, Western Michigan (Volleyball)
1991 Pat Jackson, Bowling Green (Football); Kristin McDaniel, Kent State (Track & Field)
1990 Linda Popovich, Bowling Green (Volleyball); Danny Rieman, Ball State (Baseball)
1989 Kim Keenan, Kent State (Cross Country/Track); Rick Winegardner, Ball State (Swimming)
In its 28th year, the Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award recognizes one female and one male student-athlete who have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.50 and have displayed good character, leadership and citizenship. The students are nominated during the year in which they complete their final season of eligibility. The $5,000 post-graduate scholarship is awarded in honor Bob James, the second commissioner in Mid-American Conference history (1964-71).
With Tuesday's announcement, Lombardi becomes the first Eagle to earn the award since Jillian Wolosiansky did so in 2009. Lombardi was one of seven nominees, ultimately edging out Carolina Hasse (Akron), Michaela Hull (Ball State), Alyssa Nocella (Bowling Green), Roseanne Erickson (Kent State), Emily Naegele (Northern Illinois), Hayley Stegmiller (Ohio), and Samantaha Richart (Toledo).
Lombardi was a four-year letterwinner for the Eagles, and was named Teammate of the Year twice. A stout outside back for the Green and White, Lombardi was a part of EMU's 2013 MAC Regular Season Championship Team and the 2014 MAC West Division Championship squad. In her final season on the pitch, Lombardi started a career-high 17 matches for the Green and White and helped the Eagles to a pair of shutouts. The Oakville, Ontario native played at least 80 minutes in 11 matches, including two in which she played a career-high 110 minutes. Lombardi recorded the first goal of her career, Sept. 20, at home against Green Bay. With her team trailing, 1-0, Lombardi was called upon in a penalty kick opportunity and delivered an equalizer. Weeks later, she dished out a helper, assisting on the game-winner in EMU's 3-1 win over Ohio, Oct. 16. At the conclusion of the season, Lombardi was named to the Academic All-MAC Team for the second consecutive season.
Academically, Lombardi excelled, boasting an impressive 3.99 GPA in biology and chemistry, en route to Summa Cum Laude honors. She was on the Dean's List all eight semesters of her academic record and earned the Perry S. Brundage Award for excellence in general chemistry, given annually by the EMU chemistry department. A two-time MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete, the Oakville, Ontario product was also a two-time MAC Commissioner's Award honoree. In 2014, she was named Capital One Academic All-District and in 2016, she was named a NCAA Woman of the Year nominee. Lombardi was named EMU's Female Athlete of the Year as a senior and also received the MAC Medal of Excellence Award, while Eastern Michigan renamed its leadership award the Lombardi Leadership Award in her honor.
Lombardi served as the President of EMU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was a member of the MAC Mental Health Task Force. As President, Lombardi helped organize numerous projects such as: #MoreThanASport, The Ypsi Awards, Jock Jamz, Campus Sweater Exchange, Kleats for Kids, and Building Bright Futures at The Factory.
Outside of EMU, Lombardi volunteered at St. Jospeh Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor in the Emergency Deparment and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She also volunteered for the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life.
Having graduated from EMU in April, Lombardi will begin pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor this fall as student at the University of Ottawa (Ontario) in the Faculty of Medicine.
Past Bob James Award Winners
2016 Julia Lombardi, Eastern Michigan (Soccer); Jordan Italiano, Kent State (Football)
2015 Stephaine Haugh, Kent State (Soccer); Dustin Page, Northern Illinois (Soccer)
2014 Lindsey Butterfield, Bowling Green (Volleyball); Kyle Smith, Central Michigan (Track & Field)
2013 Skylar Chew, Ball State (Soccer); Nabal Jefferson, Northern Illinois (Football)
2012 Kristin Hoffman, Northern Illinois (Volleyball); Briggs Orsbon, Ball State (Football)
2011 Christine Chiricosta, Bowling Green (Tennis); Jon Edgington, Miami (Baseball)
2010 Megan Chronister, Bowling Green (Gymnastics); Tim Hiller, Western Michigan (Football)
2009 Gonzalo Barinaga, Ball State (Football); Jillian Wolosiansky, Eastern Michigan (Volleyball)
2008 Wynn Michalak, Central Michigan (Wrestling); Stephanie Swiger, Bowling Green (Volleyball)
2007 Matt Lefeld, Bowling Green (Basketball); Jody Yednock, Northern Illinois (Gymnastics)
2006 David Mitchell, Miami (Cross Country/Track & Field); Marie Zidek, Northern Illinois (Volleyball)
2005 Burke Badenhop, Bowling Green (Baseball); Robin Davidson, Toledo (Soccer)
2004 Travis Barclay, Ball State (Football); Andrea Kremer, Miami (Track & Field)
2003 Brett Faustman, Central Michigan (Wrestling) and Katrina Kerns, Bowling Green (Track & Field)
2002 Anthony Malik, Bowling Green (Soccer); Kate Miller, Kent State (Basketball)
2001 Nick Iagulli, Miami (Track & Field); Jennifer Jarjosa, Bowling Green (Swimming)
2000 Cato Coleman, Miami (Track & Field); Laura Szczepanski, Ball State (Gymnastics)
1999 Wendy Feldman, Central Michigan (Volleyball); Justin Millard, Akron (Soccer)
1998 Desmond Johnston, Akron (Soccer); Janelle Tranquillo, Ball State (Field Hockey)
1997 Joseph Burch, Bowling Green (Soccer); Sarah Mikrut, Ball State (Gymnastics)
1996 Kristin Gaddis, Bowling Green (Cross Country/Track); Dustin Swinehart, Miami (Soccer)
1995 Dana Drew, Toledo (Basketball); Stephen Fetyko, Eastern Michigan (Swimming)
1994 Bob Dudley, Bowling Green (Football); Kris Parks, Ohio (Cross Country/Track)
1993 Sander Scott, Central Michigan (Basketball); Kelly Weir, Ohio (Basketball)
1992 Jeff Bender, Central Michigan (Football); Julie Young, Western Michigan (Volleyball)
1991 Pat Jackson, Bowling Green (Football); Kristin McDaniel, Kent State (Track & Field)
1990 Linda Popovich, Bowling Green (Volleyball); Danny Rieman, Ball State (Baseball)
1989 Kim Keenan, Kent State (Cross Country/Track); Rick Winegardner, Ball State (Swimming)
Players Mentioned
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