Valparaiso senior outfielder Karen Korb (Indianapolis, Ind./Lutheran) has been named one of 30 candidates nationwide for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in the softball division.

The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award is presented annually to NCAA Division I student-athletes in nine sports.  The award, which focuses on the “Four C’s” of classroom, character, community and competition, honors those players who excel on the field, in the classroom and in the community.  Arizona outfielder Caitlin Lowe won the inaugural award in the softball division in 2007, while Virginia Tech pitcher Angela Tincher received the honor in 2008.

From the list of 30 nominees, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award midway through the regular season.  Those ten names will be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote that will include coaches, media and fans.  The award winner will be announced and recognized at the 2009 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.

Korb has been a speedy threat at the top of the Crusader lineup throughout her career, as she holds Valpo single-season and career records for stolen bases and is on the verge of breaking into Valpo’s all-time top-five in runs scored.  In the classroom, she holds a 3.94 GPA as a finance and marketing double major and has twice been selected as an Academic All-District honoree. 

She also is currently the director of Valpo Softball’s “I Need a Hug” program, which provides new stuffed animals for elementary school guidance counselors to use as tools for children going through difficult times.  The program has been recognized by the governor of Indiana as a top service program in the state of Indiana for service leadership as it ties in with education.  The program was also recognized by the Society of Innovators as one of the top Team Innovations in northwest Indiana and is currently under review by United Way as a possible “signature program” - which would put the program in every community in the United States if selected.