Amherst, N.Y. - Daemen College women's basketball player Natalie Galus (Hamburg, N.Y./Frontier) has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, a prestigious award bestowed upon one intercollegiate student-athlete each year by the Athletes for a Better World (ABW) organization. The award, named for legendary University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) basketball coach John Wooden, aims to recognize the student-athlete who best exemplifies character, teamwork and citizenship - the attributes that ABW deems central to transforming individuals, sport and society.
On the court, Galus has been a steady contributor for Daemen since arriving in the fall of 2013. The 5-foot-11 senior forward has appeared in 93 games over the last four seasons, while making 86 starts and producing 9.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. She ranks fifth all-time in blocked shots (173) for the Wildcats, as well as ranking ninth in three-point field goals made (124) and attempted (382). She was also named a team captain prior to the 2016-17 season.
Off the court, Galus is an active member of the campus community. She serves as a women's basketball team representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and has played an integral role in the team's involvement with Team IMPACT, a non-profit organization that pairs children with life-threatening and chronic illnesses with collegiate athletic teams.
In addition, Galus has spent time volunteering for local organizations such as People, Inc., the Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped, Gliding Stars and Challenger Basketball. This past summer, she completed a volunteer internship with the Family Justice Center of Western New York, an entity that provides free services to victims of domestic violence.
"Natalie has many good qualities, but her motivation for social justice and acceptance of advocacy for others is most compelling," wrote Bridget Niland, director of athletics, in her letter of recommendation to the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup committee. "Natalie quietly lives the principles of the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup. Her day-to-day actions and interactions exhibit excellence both on and off the court. She is a role model as a student, athlete and person."
In addition to the one intercollegiate student-athlete recipient, ABW awards two high school student-athletes and one professional athlete with the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup as well. The mission of ABW is to use sports to develop character, teamwork and citizenship through commitment to an athletic code of living that applies to life, and to create a movement that will play a significant role in the transformation of individuals, sport and society.
The final award recipient will be announced at a later date.
Provided by the Daemen Sports Information Department.
