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CJ Costabile of Duke wins the 2012 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for NCAA® Division I men’s lacrosse

May 26, 2012

Three-time All-American CJ Costabile of Duke University has been selected as the 2012 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award winner in NCAA® Division I men’s lacrosse. The announcement and trophy presentation were made today by Lowe’s, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, during the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship.

The award, chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I men’s lacrosse head coaches, national media and fans, is given annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

“To be nominated alone for this award is really an honor,” Costabile said. “But to actually win the award is surreal. To be recognized athletically, academically and for character is really a tremendous honor.”

Costabile is an All-Atlantic Coast Conference academic team selection and conference honor roll member. He graduates this month with a degree in history. In the community, Costabile and his teammates make dinner for families at a local Ronald McDonald house once a month. He also volunteers at Duke Children’s Hospital and for various other Durham, N.C., charities.

“This is a great honor, not only for CJ, but for the entire Duke lacrosse program,” head coach John Danowski said. “CJ is a great young man and is just one of many outstanding men who have come through our program. He has shown great dedication not only on the field, but also in the classroom as well as in our many community service projects. It’s fantastic that he is being recognized.”

This season, Costabile led the Blue Devils to their second Atlantic Coast Conference title in four years. He is the school’s career leader in ground balls and tops the ACC in that category. He was named the conference’s co-defensive player of the year and was recently announced as one of five finalists for the Tewaaraton Award, which recognizes the nation’s top lacrosse player. The Blue Devils entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 3 overall seed.

“Lowe’s is proud to recognize CJ as the Senior CLASS Award winner,” said David Geren, Lowe’s vice president of marketing. “All of these student-athletes should not only be proud of being excellent students but of being good role models and serving their communities. That’s what differentiates these student-athletes from others.”

Lacrosse 2012 Winner

First Team

Second Team