NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. - Three Penn State New Kensington student-athletes have been honored with the John Fritz Sportsmanship Award by the Penn State University Athletic Conference. Lindsey Hessom (Leechburg, Pa./Kiski Area), Nicholas Nicassio (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg-Salem), and Nicholas Roth (Butler, Pa./Butler) each won the award for their respective teams.
The John Fritz Sportsmanship Award is given to one student-athlete on each sports team that best displays good sportsmanship and demonstrates ethical, appropriate, polite and fair behavior while participating in athletic events and as a member of their team. The honorees exemplify the Penn State University Values of integrity, responsibility, excellence, respect, discovery and community.
Hessom is a junior business major who competed on the women's volleyball team for the first time this season. Hessom was asked to play the role of setter, a position that was new to her, and did so with incredible poise. A team captain, she represents both the volleyball team and Penn State New Kensington with the highest level of character.
A junior transfer on the men's soccer team, Nicassio made an instant impact both defensively and with his work ethic and level-headedness. The business major's demeanor set an example for the young team and helped the Lions reach their highest conference finish in at least eight years.
Roth is a senior golfer who will graduate in May with a degree in electro-mechanical engineering technology. A first-time competitive golfer, Roth acted with the utmost integrity on the golf course and truly set an example of honesty and fairness for both his teammates and the golfers he met from other institutions.