Most student athletes are busy enough squeezing academics and sports into their schedules, but somehow Colin Greening, Cornell's premier hockey player, ace student and winner of the prestigious Lowe's Senior CLASS (Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School) national award has managed all that, and more.

While pursuing a major in applied economics and management and winning the ECAC Hockey championship, Greening has also found the time for such honor societies as Red Key and Quill and Dagger, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Special Olympics and has coached hockey for the local youth hockey program.

Greening's commitment to the community and academic record of achievement is why he was singled out for the Lowe's award, by a nationwide vote of Division I men's coaches, national hockey media and fans, for being the most outstanding senior student-athlete in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey this year. The award is given in nine athletic events. Only two previous Cornell athletes have received the honor; Greening is the first in hockey.

A two-time Cornell team captain, Greening, who hails from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, carries a 3.95 grade-point average and has been doing volunteer work since his first years at Cornell. For example, he helped organize the teddy bear toss to benefit area health care and cancer treatment centers. He also helped raise funds for building materials for the Porte De Belen Foundation's trip to the Dominican Republic to build facilities and collected athletic equipment to be donated to the children of the region. For that work Greening was one of only 25 students campuswide to be named a Cornell Campus "changemaker."

"Hockey has been an integral part of my life since the age of four," said Greening. "Playing at Cornell has been the most rewarding experience of my life because of the relationships I have built and the lessons I have learned in responsibility, leadership, humility and sacrifice."

Greening has signed with the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League and will either be playing in Ottawa or with their AHL affiliate team in Binghamton next year.

Graduate Emily Getty '08 is a writer intern for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.