DENVER -- Often lauded for his hard work on and off the ice, Princeton senior Landis Stankievech has been selected winner of the 2008 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in the men's ice hockey division. The award, chosen by a nationwide vote of coaches, media and fans, is presented annually to college hockey's outstanding NCAA Division I senior student-athlete.

The announcement and trophy presentation was made today by Lowe's and CBS during the NCAA Men's Frozen Four at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award has grown into the nation's premier tribute to college seniors. The award identifies personal qualities that define a complete student-athlete, with criteria including excellence in the classroom, character and community, as well as the candidate's performance on the ice.

"I'm extremely honored to be receiving the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award," Stankievech said. "It is an honor to even be nominated for the award. Many of the college hockey players across the country are not just great student-athletes, but are also great people. I've been fortunate enough to be part of a team and a university that has encouraged me to be the best person that I can be. Hopefully I've come close to doing that over my time at Princeton."

Stankievech put together an outstanding season on the ice this year, scoring seven goals and turning in six assists for a total of 13 points, all careers highs. He scored the game winning goal against Harvard in this year's ECAC Tournament Championship game. Over his career he has played in 117 games and accumulated 30 points on 16 goals and 14 assists.

The ECAC Hockey Student-Athlete of the Year certainly lives up to that title in the classroom. A mechanical and aerospace engineering major, Stankievech was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship in November of 2007. He is also the recipient of Princeton's Pyne Prize, the highest achievement given to an undergraduate student on the campus. He plans on continuing his education next year at Oxford, where he will study philosophy, politics and economics.

Stankievech frequently volunteers in his spare time with local youth hockey teams and with the Special Olympics skating program. As a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society, he gives campus tours to prospective undergraduate students and their parents.

"We are very proud of everything Landis has accomplished," said Princeton men's hockey coach, Guy Gadowsky. "The entire team, including myself, has benefited from witnessing his great work ethic and his commitment to being the absolute best he can be in all areas of his life. On the ice, Landis is a tireless worker who gets rewarded for his committed team play with big goals in big games. He is an extremely committed student and an extremely committed athlete. Landis is the perfect example of what a student athlete can be."

The Lowe's Senior CLASS Award also names an All-Senior All-America Team each year based on voting results of the finalists. Joining Stankievech on the 2008 First Team is: Mark Dekanich, Colgate; Bryce Hollweg, Army; Peter Mannino, Denver; and Marty Mjelleli, St. Cloud State. Included on the second team are Justin Pesony, St. Lawrence; Kevin Porter, Michigan; Frank Schiavone, Air Force; Topher Scott, Cornell; and Mark Van Guilder, Notre Dame.

"The Lowe's Senior CLASS Award is a prestigious award within collegiate athletics because it focuses on the total student-athlete," said Bob Gfeller, senior vice president of marketing and advertising at Lowe's. "Nationwide, talented athletes compete every day, but Lowe's believes those individuals who are equally dedicated in the classroom and in their communities make the real difference with their abilities. Lowe's salutes Landis, a true student-athlete, for using his platform in athletics to make an impact on those around him and congratulates him for being the 2008 award winner."

This marks the second year for the men's hockey division of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Notre Dame's David Brown was the inaugural winner in 2007.

The award was inspired by the remarkable story of former Duke star Shane Battier, who could have been an NBA lottery pick but returned to college for his senior season, led the Blue Devils to the NCAA national championship in 2001 and earned his degree.

Lowe's, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, expanded the Senior CLASS Award program in 2007 to include NCAA Division I men's and women's soccer, men's ice hockey, men's lacrosse, baseball and softball in addition to men's and women's basketball.