UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men's lacrosse senior Chris Sabia was named a finalist for the 2019 Men's Lacrosse Senior CLASS Award.
The finalists were chosen by national media from the list of 30 candidates announced earlier this month. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online at the Senior CLASS Award website through May 20. Fan votes will be combined with those of the media and Division I head coaches to determine the winners. The Senior CLASS Award recipient will be announced during the 2019 NCAA Men's Lacrosse National Championship in May.
Sabia was selected as one of ten NCAA lacrosse student-athletes who excel both on and off the field were selected as finalists on Friday for the 2019 Senior CLASS Award® for men's collegiate lacrosse. To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must be classified as NCAA Division I seniors and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their athletic platforms to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Sabia, a labor and employment relations major, is also earning a business minor and will graduate with both to his name in his four years at Penn State. He has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors during both of his eligible seasons.
The defenseman has been a staple in leading the Penn State men's lacrosse team in the community. He led and put together a group of 10 teammates to participate in a day of volunteer work at the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Centre County and ReStore this past fall, and he has also participated in many other community service events. He was a part of the 2018 State College Sustainability and Diversity Expo, where he shared research and information on different initiatives in the local area. Each of the last four years, Sabia has helped freshmen move into their dorms on campus on Move-In Day and has participated in the "Day of Giving" on Penn State's campus the last four years as well. He has built a relationship with the Wounded Warriors Project by participating in the Wounded Warrior Walk, Run and Roll even, as well as a wheelchair basketball event.
Sabia was named a 2018-19 team captain for his work ethic and his competitive nature that helps lead the Penn State men's lacrosse team.
"I lead on and off the field by being an example of how to act in certain situations, both socially and academically. I like to think I have become a role model for my teammates and the community around me," the Harleysville, Pennsylvania, native said when asked to explain his leadership style.
Sabia is also a two-year veteran of Penn State's Athletics Directors Leadership Institute.
On the field, Sabia is a two-time USILA Honorable Mention All-American as a defenseman. He earned back-to-back All-Big Ten Second Team Honors in 2017-2018. Sabia has started all 53 games in his collegiate career so far, and has accumulated 61 career caused turnovers, 91 groundballs, seven goals and an assist in his time at Penn State.