Honda Awards Toss Drexel's Hester A Dinner in New York
By Mel Greenberg
NEW YORK - Drexel senior Nicole Hester did not win the Honda Collegiate Women's Sports Award for basketball that went to former Connecticut star Renee Montgomery, who is now a rookie with the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx.
But unlike the all-American guard for the NCAA champion Huskies, Hester received something from the Honda folks and collegiate administrators that Montomery did not -- a special dinner in her honor here Sunday night.
The occasion was the Honda Inspiration Award that is the latest tribute to the Maryland native for fighting her way back from missing a season after contracting Hodgkins Lymphoma.
The overall winner of the sport award -- the Honda Cup -- went to Georgia gymnast Courtney Kupets on Monday, while former Lock Haven softball star Kristin Erb, now with the Philadelphia Force, was the Division II athlete winner.
Track champion Ashley Huston of Hardin-Simmons was the Division III honoree.
The honor Sunday night was a sweet topping to the conclusion of Hester's career that went with the Dragons gaining a program-record 24 wins, taking a first-ever Colonial Athletic Association title by personally busting the long monopoly held on the crown by Old Dominion, and then playing in the NCAA tournament.
Hester missed what would have been her natural junior season two years ago after being diagnosed with the disease just before the start of play.
She fought her way back, returning to action a year ago and then working her way back to top form this past season.
Hester has already been honored by the V foundation and in January won the prestigious Philadelphia Sportswriters Association's most courageous athlete award.
A sizeable Drexel contingent made the trip to Manhattan, including Heser's mom Kim, coach Denise Dillon and associate head coach Amy Mallon, athletic director Eric Zillmer, associate athletic director Laura White, Kathy O'Brien (who helps oversee academics involving Dragon athletes), Drexel Triangle sports editor Mike Mazzeo, and associate sports information director Britt Faulstick, who hands media matters for the women's basketball team, among other sports duties.
The Guru transcribed the speech, so additionally, some other references are to James Tucker, vice president for student life, Tony Caneris, who held Tucker's job before retiring in May 2007, and Rebecca Weidensaul, who heads the academic-related area.
That said, here is what Hester had to say. The Guru's personal touch should be in the post above this one to give some color to the event and other items. But that is not written yet (but will be the time most of you are reading this) since he has to do this backwards to make the chronology appear in the right order.
So here are Nicole's remarks: