STANFORD, Calif. – Senior defender Alana Cook was named one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award for women's soccer, as announced Wednesday.
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 platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
The finalists were chosen by a selection committee from a list of 30 candidates announced in September. Nationwide voting begins immediately to help select the winner – fans are encouraged to vote on the Senior CLASS Award website through Nov. 18, 2018. Fan votes will be combined with media and Division I head coaches' votes to determine the winner, which will be announced during the College Cup.
Cook, a senior from Far Hills, New Jersey, has started all 82 games since her freshman season in 2015 and is on track to graduate Stanford with a degree in symbolic systems with a concentration in human computer interaction. A two-year captain, she helped lead Stanford to its second national championship in 2017, playing nearly every minute of the 25-game season with the Cardinal surrendering just nine goals. She is a three-time All-Pac-12 selection and a member of the 2018 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy watch list.
.@whatz_Cookin has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2018 @SnrCLASSAward Award! ?????? #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/3n3dlCy5aH
— Stanford Women's Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) October 17, 2018
"Alana is a tremendous student-athlete," said the Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe. "She has remarkable character and is respected by all of her teammates and coaches, which makes her a great leader on and off the field. Her leadership skills have been a critical part of our success throughout her career."
A two-time Pac-12 All-Academic honoree and 2017 academic all-region selection, Cook is also very active in the community. She has participated in the Gardner Elementary' s Walk-A-Thon, Bay Area clinics for Female Footballers and clinics with the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative. Also active with local American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) teams, Cook also serves in a program in which student-athletes sit with local youth at Stanford's athletic events.
Last season, senior midfielder Andi Sullivan won the award, becoming Stanford's first women's soccer player to win the Senior CLASS Award.