FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2003

Cumberland’s Caitlin Schimmel to Receive Rhode Island College’s Helen M. Murphy Award

Providence, RI—Rhode Island College senior Caitlin Schimmel (Cumberland, RI) has been chosen to receive the Helen M. Murphy Award, signifying her as RIC’s top female, senior student-athlete, at the College’s annual Cap and Gown Day on Wednesday, Apr. 30 at 12:30 p.m.

The awards are based not only on athletic prowess, but also value community and campus involvement. The Murphy Award was established in 1979 and sponsored by the faculty of the Henry Barnard School to honor an outstanding Rhode Island College senior woman athlete. The award is named for Helen M. Murphy, a graduate of Rhode Island College in 1939, who was a member of the faculty for 38 years and taught at the Henry Barnard School, beginning in 1941, until her retirement in 1979.

The student who receives the Murphy Award must be a female student-athlete who participates in intercollegiate athletics, a good student and have demonstrated interest and participation in campus activities.

Schimmel, who hails from Cumberland, earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2002. She is currently working on a second bachelor’s degree in business while using her final year of eligibility in softball where she has a been a three-year starter.

Caitlin Schimmel playing second base during her senior campaign

As a second baseman on the softball team, she helped RIC to its highest Little East Conference finish in school history this season, placing second overall. She has played in 31 games, starting 30 of them. She is batting .276 with 15 runs, 16 hits, nine RBI and two stolen bases helping the Anchorwomen to a 20-11-1 record and a berth in the LEC post-season tournament.

She closed out an outstanding women’s soccer career in 2001, having played in 33 games, starting all of them. She played forward, midfield, defense and even in goal for the Anchorwomen during her career. Schimmel, who spent 1998 and 1999 at the Community College of Rhode Island, garnering All-Region honors, totaled 30 goals and 27 assists for 87 points in her four-year collegiate career. At RIC, Schimmel had ten goals, 12 assists and 32 points in two seasons. She is tied for fourth in assists and ranks sixth in both points and goals as an Anchorwoman. As a senior in 2001, Schimmel was named Second Team All-Little East.

She is a two-time Rhode Island Speaker of the House Scholar-Athlete award-winner (’02, ’03) and has worked in the RIC admissions department for several years.

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