Even though she may tell you differently, many people believe the Creighton softball’s centerfielder Jessica Wakasugi is very deserving of the Lowe’s Senior Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School award.

While Wakasugi said she was honored to be nominated, she also mentioned she felt undeserving of the nomination of the national award that goes to athletes that are accomplished both on and off the field.

Wakasugi, a business entrepreneurship and marketing double-major, is one of 30 remaining candidates to receive the award. Although she may never admit to deserving the nomination, others feel she does.

“She works hard on and off the field. She doesn’t put any more effort into being better at one or the other,” senior catcher Laura Kratochvil said. “She realizes that being a student is just as important as her role of an athlete, if not more.”

The award focuses on four areas of achievement: community, character, classroom and competition. One area in which Wakasugi’s excellence can not be debated is competition. Wakasugi has started every game in centerfield for the Bluejays’ softball squad since her freshman season in 2006. In addition, her career batting average at the beginning of this season, a .328 was good enough to rank her fourth in school history.

Off the diamond, Wakasugi is also involved with the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, which brings athletes from each athletic team at Creighton University together to discuss concerns and coordinates athletic events and community service projects.

Wakasugi credits her ability to manage academics with softball and social life due to some advice her parents gave her.

“One thing that really pushed me was my parents telling me that I would never be confronted with something I couldn’t handle,” Wakasugi said. “I think I’ve always kept that in the back of my mind, especially when academics and softball seemed to be overwhelming.”

While Wakasugi has the four areas of achievement under control, she also excells in a fifth area not covered by the CLASS award: cooking.

When asked what she would remember about Wakasugi, Kratochvil had the following to say:

“I will remember how good of a player and person she is. She is probably one of the nicest people and definitely makes delicious food.”

While the award is certainly something to be excited about, it is not unfamiliar ground for members of the softball team. Jamie Reiss, a 2007 graduate, was also nominated and was one of ten finalists for the award.

Wakasugi will find out midway through the season if she is one of the ten finalists for the award, but winning the award may not be that important

to her.

“I wouldn’t say winning this award is important to me in the least. It is just a great honor to be nominated,” Wakasugi said. “I just try to put my best foot forward and if something comes out of it then great.”

Whether she ends up winning the award, Wakasugi will leave with one thing that should be important: having a great college career on and off the softball field.