Simon Spangenberg
- School
- The University of New Mexico
- Position
- Midfield
- Major
- Dual Degree - Computer Science & Applied Mathematics with a minor in Psychology
Classroom
Simon Spangenberg is a 4.0 student seeking a dual-degree: computer science and applied mathematics with a minor in psychology. He has earned the following academic honors: CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team (2017), CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team (2016, 2017), C-USA All-Academic Team honors (multiple), C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal (multiple) and C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll (multiple).
Character
Recognized as a leader on the team, Spangenberg is an outstanding communicator, speaking three languages fluently (English, German, French) and several others at a basic level. He is extremely team- and family-oriented, and he serves as a spokesperson for the men’s soccer team at various events, including regents’ meetings during this difficult time for the UNM men’s soccer team. He significantly impressed students and staff alike with his respectful yet passionate address to the UNM Board of Regents regarding the potential cutting of UNM men’s soccer, and he handled the situation with utmost dignity and class befitting of someone with much more life experience, demonstrating outstanding character as a UNM student-athlete.
Community
Not only does Spangenberg participate in school-sanctioned community service activities with his team, but also he regularly volunteers on his own in the offseason. He works in a classroom with kids from local elementary schools assisting the teacher by teaching children how to read, write, count and compute basic algebra/arithmetic operations such as addition and subtraction. He also plays soccer with the kids at recess, serving as a role model to the children and showing them that it’s possible to be smart and be an athlete.
Competition
Spangenberg has competed in 52 games as a Lobo (as of nomination time) including 19 starts while logging 1,928 minutes on the pitch He boasts a .500 shot-on-goal percentage, including a .545 average during his junior season, which marked the highest on the team for players with 10 or more shots. Thus far in his career, he has registered six points on two goals and two assists (as of mid-September).
