Generals Sweep Top ODAC Student-Athlete Honors

Van Devender Wins Berkley, St. John Tabbed for Jopson

May 22, 2008

SALEM, Va. --- A pair of Washington and Lee University student-athletes were honored with the league’s highest honors on Thursday afternoon at the annual Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Board of Directors meetings.  Anne Van Devender, a senior women’s soccer standout, was awarded the 2009 Marjorie Berkley Scholar-Athlete Award as the top female student-athlete in the conference.  Fellow classmate and men’s lacrosse star, Harry St. John, garnered the 2009 Harry G. “Doc” Jopson Scholar-Athlete Award as the league’s top male student-athlete.

Inaugurated in 1984 and 1981, respectively, the Marjorie Berkley and Harry G. “Doc” Jopson Scholar-Athlete Awards are given each May to member college seniors and conference sport participants who exhibit the highest athletic, academic, and extracurricular achievements.  Ms. Berkley began her collegiate teaching career at Lynchburg College.  Several years later after leaving Lynchburg, Ms. Berkley moved to Hollins University where she coached tennis, field hockey and soccer, and served as the athletic director for 30 years.  The Jopson Award is named for the Bridgewater College professor and coach who retired in 1981 following 45 years at the college. Dr. Jopson, who initiated and directed the Eagles' cross country and track programs, led his teams to ODAC indoor track titles in 1979, 1980 and 1981, and outdoor crowns in 1978 through 1981.

WLU's Anne Van Devender

Van Devender made the most of her time in Lexington.  The Jackson, Mississippi-native created her own major in Computer Science with a concentration in Women’s Studies.  She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership) national honor societies, and is one of 29 female recipients across all divisions to receive a NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship.  She was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America First Team and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar All-America Second Team in 2008.  She was also tabbed as the 2008 ODAC/Farm Bureau Women’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and has been honored as a Washington and Lee Scholar-Athlete each of the past four years.

On the field, Van Devender was a four-year letterwinner and a team captain for the W&L women's soccer team. She led the squad and finished fourth in the ODAC in scoring during the 2008 season with 45 points on 17 goals and 11 assists. Van Devender was crowned the 2007 ODAC Player of the Year and the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VASID) College Division Player of the Year.  She was a NSCAA All-American in 2007 and 2008.  She finished her career ranked second all-time at W&L in career goals (64), career assists (33) and career points (161). She was a three-time First Team All-ODAC honoree and the first two-time All-American in program history.

“Anne is undoubtedly one of the best players in our program’s history, as well as in the conference and in the region,” explained Washington and Lee Athletic Director, Jan Hathorn, in a written statement.  “When you watch Anne play, you see a determined, focused and prepared leader and athlete.”  Concerning Van Devender’s academic prowess, Hathorn adds that Van Devender “created her own major after discovering a love for computer science.  In typical fashion, she has excelled in this major and her other studies.”  “Simply stated, Anne is the quintessential student-athlete.”

WLU's Harry St. John

A native of Essex Fells, New Jersey, St. John helped lead the Generals on and off the field throughout his four year collegiate tenure.  A former member of the All-ODAC Academic Team and a four-year Washington and Lee Scholar-Athlete, St. John earned the 2009 ODAC/Farm Bureau Men’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year award in a vote of the league’s sports information directors.  The political science-major was also recently named to the 2009 USILA Scholar All-America Team.  St. John is involved in the Campus Community Coalition to help protect the Lexington community, and is a team captain of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, whose goals are to improve the quality of life for children suffering from pediatric brain tumors and help fund research.  St. John will also become an active board member of the Timothy C. McWilliams, Jr. Foundation, which is dedicated to helping victims of traumatic brain injury.

On the field, St. John earned First Team All-ODAC honors for the second-straight season and was also named the ODAC Lacrosse Player and Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2009. A Second Team All-ODAC honoree his first two seasons and a USILA Honorable Mention All-American in 2008, St. John played in 16 games this spring and finished fifth on the team in scoring with 37 points (28 G, 9 A). St. John finished tied for 20th on the W&L career scoring list with 144 points on 104 goals and 40 assists. His 104 goals also rank ninth on the all-time goals list.

“Harry is an outstanding young man who is a leader on and off the field,” explained Hathorn.  “In particular, Harry’s lacrosse ability has played an integral role in the revitalization of our men’s lacrosse team.  His work ethic, leadership, attitude and commitment to his teammates have proven to be a catalyst in the success of our program.”