Landis Stankievech

Classroom

Stankievech is a mechanical and aerospace engineering major at Princeton University. He entered the 2007-08 school year with a 3.97 grade point average and has only received two grades at Princeton that weren’t As (both A-minuses). Stankievech was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship in November and will study at Oxford next year. He wants to study philosophy, politics and economics, after which he hopes to work on environmental issues. Stankievech also was awarded the Shapiro Prize for Academic Excellence in 2005 and 2006 and the Manfred Pyka Memorial Physics Prize in 2005. He is a two-time member of the ECAC Hockey All-Academic team and was a District II Academic All-America last year.

Character

The integrity that Stankievech exhibits has proven to be extremely valuable to the Princeton hockey program. The team has openly spoke about how Stankievech is a source of inspiration to them as his daily actions clearly show that his work ethic and commitment to his mind and body are at the very highest level possible. Stankievech is blessed with natural leadership qualities. He is not an overly vocal or “do as I say” type guy. He is a leader through example and has influenced the commitment level of every player and gained their respect and admiration. When Princeton ROTC cadets were asked to lead pre-season team building exercises, they quickly identified Stankievech as a “strong team leader.” Another reason that Stankievech is respected as a leader is that he is consistent; he overachieves in every aspect of his life. His appetite to give his best transcends into everything he does. He uses every possible minute to get ahead academically; studying on the bus, in the airport, and in hotel lobbies. Stankievech works all summer to be able to afford his tuition.

Community

As busy as Stankievech is, he volunteers at local youth practices, with the Special Olympics skating program, and always takes time to talk and sign autographs. After paying tuition from his summer savings, he donates $1,000 to charity every year, as he has done even before coming to college.

Competition

Stankievech is not a good athlete; he is an elite athlete with professional potential. In this, his senior season, he will be one of the most valuable players in the league. He has earned a strong reputation throughout the league and will definitely get votes for the ECAC Hockey League Top Defensive Forward. Stankievech has worked himself into a position to play against every team’s top line; he is the team’s top penalty killer and face-off man. Often in sports, the best team players always get rewarded in the most important moments: Stankievech scored the winning goal at the 2006 Denver Cup against the two-time defending NCAA national champions. Last season, while he shut down the league’s most potent power play, he also scored in the team’s most important win of the year over the nationally ranked #6 team to secure the second ever home ice playoff series in Princeton’s ECAC history.