Hand-Madison Students Receive SCC Honors

Hand’s Kristin LaSance and John Loftus were among the 12 student-athletes from six high schools to be named The SportsCenter of Connecticut/Southern Connecticut Conference Scholar Athletes of the Month for November 2015.

Now in its 10th year, The SportsCenter of Connecticut/SCC Scholar Athlete of the Month program will honor outstanding young men and women each month during the 2015-16 academic year.

“Many thanks to the Sports Center of Connecticut for its support of the SCC and the Scholar Athlete of the Month program,” SCC Commissioner Al Carbone said. “This conference has been proud of its success for the last 21-plus years, and to be able to recognize outstanding young men and women who demonstrate the desire and ability to succeed solidifies what the SCC is all about.”

Each SCC member school can nominate up to two honorees per season (fall, winter and spring). The Conference is announcing the fall recipients in September, October and November.

Student athletes who are selected must be a varsity letter-winner and have a 3.0/B average while demonstrating leadership qualities such as: being a positive role model; helping teammates overcome adversity; showing a commitment to self-improvement; or putting the needs of the team before themselves.

Sports Center of CT/SCC Scholar Athletes of the Month receive a certificate, commemorative T-shirt and a SportsCenter of Connecticut activity pass.

LaSance, a two-sport (volleyball and softball) standout for the Tigers, has been a stellar performer in the classroom.

Ranked among the top of her class, LaSance sports a 4.54 weighted grade-point average. She has earned awards in biology and American Literature. She is also a two-time SCC All-Hammonasset Division honoree in volleyball.

“Kristin’s desire and dedication to achieving her goals is what makes her stand out both on the court and in the classroom,” Hand athletic director Craig Semple said.

Loftus, one of the top boys’ soccer players in the SCC and in the New England region, has been a standout in the classroom at Daniel Hand High School.

Ranked among the top 20 percent in his class, Loftus served as captain of the Tigers’ soccer team, which reached the state semifinals this past fall. He is a two-time SCC All-Hammonasset Division honoree.

“John is a great soccer player but an even better human being,” Hand boys’ soccer coach Stan Latkowski said. “He is an outstanding student athlete.”