Devyn Lee and Alan Sutterlin were the recipients of the James Snyder Award at State College High School on Thursday night. The award, sponsored by the Centre Daily Times, is given in memory of Snyder, a former CDT sports editor, who was killed in an automobile accident in December of 1957.
The award is given to the male and female letterwinners who also demonstrated excellence in the classroom as well as being a good citizen in the school and community.
Lee, the daughter of Barrett and Carol Lee, is a four-year letterwinner in soccer. She was a tri-captain and two-time all-conference selection and received the Jeffrey and Coaches Awards.
Lee’s other school activities include the National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society and the Knowledge Masters academic quiz team. Lee is one of 15 county finalists for the National Merit Scholarship.
“The Snyder Award represents the balance that I’ve tried to work on in my life between sports and school,” Lee said. “It definitely was difficult and there were many late nights and long, long days in school.”
Lee has served as a volunteer at Mount Nittany Medical Center and has been named its Junior Volunteer Scholarship winner for 2009. She also volunteers at Penn State’s Noll Lab, assisting with microdialysis experiments. She is also a Special Olympics volunteer and participates in club soccer.
“I feel really honored because I know at my school there are so many student-athletes that are qualified,” Lee said. “To know that I got picked is very special.”
Lee has received the Trustees Scholarship to attend Case Western University, where she will also play soccer.
“I’m really excited to taking that next step and to see how far I can push myself,” said Lee, a midfielder.
She plans to major in biology and wants to have a career in the medical field, possibly in sports medicine.
“It comes from all the time I’ve spent in the various sports medicine clinics in our town as a patient,” Lee said, adding sarcastically, “Injuries in soccer? Whoever heard of that?”
Sutterlin admitted he was surprised to win the award, and had been joking with classmate and State College swimmer Devin Beahm about their chances to win the award.
“I remember in math class ... (we) were arguing over who had the better chance to win the Snyder Award,” Sutterlin said. “I never actually thought that I would win it.”
Sutterlin was a two-year letterwinner in volleyball, helping the Little Lions to the District 6-9-10 championship last month.
Sutterlin’s other school activities included National Honor Society, sports editor of the school newspaper, for the WSCH Morning Show and yearbook staff.
“I’ve had several people tell me I have a good speaking voice,” Sutterlin said. “I figured I’d give broadcast journalism a try.”
Sutterlin was an Eagle Scout and participated in a leadership role in FISH (Fellowship in Senior High), a weekly outreach youth ministry program.
Sutterlin will attend Penn State’s Schreyers Honors College and plans to major in broadcast journalism.
“I’ve always really liked sports, and I’ve always liked reading the Centre Daily Times,” Sutterlin said. “I’ve always had a knack for writing as well, so if I can combine writing with something I love in sports, it’s a pretty good job to have.”
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