Jan. 16, 2008

Senior swimmer Megan Dobbins and men's basketball player Josh Duell were selected as the Leo Dufort Student Athletes of the Month for December. Both helped their teams compete on the field and excelled in the classroom.

Dobbins hails from Huntington, Conn. (Lauralton Hall Academy), and is one of three captains for the swim team, competing in freestyle and IM events. She won two events, the 50 yard freestyle and 100 yard freestyle in a December 8 tri-meet between Loyola and Mt. Saint Mary's in Baltimore. Dobbins also holds a school record for the 200 Medley relay. Dobbins is an American Studies major who plans on becoming a history teacher. She had a fall semester GPA of 3.78 and owns a cumulative GPA of 3.5.

Duell, from nearby Scotia, N.Y., is a forward on the men's basketball team. Duell played locally for Christian Brothers Academy before college. On the court this season, he is averaging 21 minutes, 4.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game for the 10-6 Saints. He majors in political science, and earned . ..2 GPA in the fall and has a cumulative GPA of 3.38.

The Leo Dufort Student-Athlete of the Month Award is presented nine times annually (September-May) throughout the academic year. The award recognizes exemplary achievements in both academics and athletics. The late Leo Dufort received . ..S. in marketing and management from Siena in August of 1977. His entire academic career was completed on a part-time basis beginning in the spring of 1961, as a married adult while at the same time raising five children. He passed away suddenly of a heart attack while cross country skiing in February of 1993. His wife Jeanine wanted to do something to immortalize his memory. The original plaque was donated to athletics and the department began the Leo Dufort Student-Athlete of the Month Award to help carry out his legacy. Dufort graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1954, was a Navy Veteran (USS Bennington) who worked for JL Hammett Co. at the time of his death.