Renee Washington

Classroom

Named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2012, Washington maintains a 3.60 GPA as a Public Relations major.  She was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar All-American for the second consecutive year and received Atlantic 10 All Academic Team accolades in each of her last two seasons. In addition, Renee has earned Commissioner’s Honor Roll recognition in each of her semesters as an Explorer.  Washington is a two-year member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and an active member of the Lambda Pi Eta Honors Society, the National Communication Association’s official honor society at four-year colleges and universities.

Renee has held several Public Relations internships during her time at La Salle.  They include working at New Jersey-based Nexxt Level Sports overseeing the company’s mobile app, website, Facebook and Twitter in addition to creating videos and pictures for the company’s promotional activities. She has excelled in her role as an intern at Philadelphia’s bb Design, researching inexpensive, sustainable, emerging interior design concepts and creating monthly newsletters to be distributed to the company’s clients.  Additionally, she spent her most recent summer interning at AXIS Capital Accident & Health, creating email campaigns, PowerPoint presentations, brochures, and newsletters.

Character

Washington has been a leader on and off the field during her four years as an Explorer. Earning the title of team captain as a senior in 2013, Renee has been a model student-athlete to younger and incoming La Salle student-athletes. She has been dedicated and steadfast in her role on the team and truly embodies the term “student-athlete,” prioritizing her role in the classroom equally, if not more so, than her role on the field.

Renee has remained a consistent, reliable and humble presence on a team that has continued to build its dominating presence during her tenure—both regionally and nationally—and has been able to be a standout performer, leader and role model during some of the most successful years in La Salle women’s soccer history.

“Renee exemplifies what it truly means to be a teammate and role model,” head coach Paul Royal said. “Being a captain demonstrates the trust and respect that Renee’s teammates and coaching staff have in her to lead our program. Renee’s soccer accomplishments set her apart on the field, but her work ethic and genuine care for her teammates is what sets her apart as a collegiate student-athlete.”

Community

Washington remains actively engaged in her community, continuously seeking out opportunities to give back.  In November, she founded the non-profit organization Make Your Mark (mYm) that works in conjunction with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America to raise money for Crohn’s disease research.  Inspired by her younger brother Mark who suffers from the disease, Washington raised roughly $3,500 in the first six months following Make Your Mark’s inception.  The senior created and maintains the company’s website and runs the nonprofit’s annual basketball fundraising event including securing vendors, sponsors and participants for the day.

Renee also volunteers through La Salle’s neighborhood tutoring program helping children grades K-8 with homework, studying and a variety of other academic pursuits. This past year, Renee served as Manager for Better World Books on La Salle’s campus, raising money for the Room to Read organization and collecting over 1,400 books for libraries in countries with high illiteracy rates. In 2010, she received the Jersey Area Girls Soccer (JAGS) award for academics and community service.  Also, Renee has been an active member of the African American Student League on La Salle’s campus since 2010.

Competition

Washington has excelled on the field during her time at La Salle receiving NSCAA All-America honors in the last two seasons and an ECAC All-Star nod in 2012. Entering the 2013 season Washington is among the leaders in several all-time categories including third in goals, fourth in points and eighth in assists.  Additionally, Washington holds both fourth and seventh place in the single-season goals category.  Renee has thrice been recognized as an Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team member as well as an Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team honoree in 2010. Top Drawer Soccer has identified Renee as one of the Top 100 Upperclassmen players to watch for the 2013 season.