Dana Shepherd excels in all four categories for which the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award is presented.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—UMBC senior shortstop Dana Shepherd (Columbia, Md./Oakland Mills) has been named one of 30 candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, which honors the nation’s best softball seniors who also excel in the classroom and make an impact in their community.

The award, presented to NCAA Division I student-athletes each year in eight sports, focuses on the “Four C’s” of classroom, character, community and competition.

Shepherd has made her mark in all four categories during her four years at UMBC. A 2006 America East All-Conference Second Team selection, she is a .318 career hitter who ranks among UMBC’s all-time leaders in a number of offensive categories, including doubles (40), hits (195), runs (133), home runs (20), RBI (107) steals (40) and total bases (303). Last season, Shepherd led the Retrievers with 55 hits and 46 runs and broke the school’s single-season doubles record with 19, ranking fourth in the country in doubles per game. She also earned All-Rookie Team honors in 2005, when she became just the third Retriever freshman ever to amass 60 or more hits in a season.

Off the field, Shepherd holds a 3.66 grade-point average as a financial economics major who is also pursuing a certificate in management science. A two-time CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District First Team selection, she was selected from all economics majors to receive the Kelly Financial Group Scholarship. The softball team co-captain was also asked to represent the softball team at UMBC’s Hall of Fame induction banquet in 2005 and 2008, and she has served as a Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) representative to the softball team since 2005. Shepherd is a member of a number of honor societies, received the Retriever Club Scholarship in 2007 and was named to the America East Commissioner’s honor roll each of the last two seasons. In addition, she has participated in a number of fundraisers through SAAC and raised money with the softball team for Hurricate Katrina victims by selling lemonade and collecting donations in the campus student union.

Shepherd is one of two America East players nominated for the award. She is joined by Stony Brook outfielder Sara Cerrone.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award was launched in 2001 to honor the attributes of college basketball seniors who fulfill their entire athletic eligibility and pursue their degree. Since that time, Lowe’s, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, has expanded the award to include other NCAA sports, and the award has developed into the nation’s premier tribute to college seniors. This marks the second year for the softball division of the award, which is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards that a senior season can bring.

From the list of 30 nominees, a national media committee will select 10 finalists in late March. Those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote that will include coaches, media and fans. The award winner will be announced and recognized at the 2008 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Okalahoma City.

For more information, visit www.seniorclassaward.com.