By Sam Shimada, Sports Media Intern

SACRAMENTO, Calif - St. Francis senior Elise Urkov was named one of 49 winners awarded the A. Dale Lacky/CSEA Scholarships by the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section office at a Section Awards Ceremony. Urkov was one of the top female student-athletes selected for the award.

Urkov said, "School is equally as important to me as is soccer. It's really cool to be in there and see a lot of other student-athletes that have had a lot of the same experiences and recognizing the accomplishments because it is something to recognize. To see where everyone is going is really exciting also."

Urkov helped the team win the 2019 CIF State Northern California Regional Division II Title this March.

"My biggest memory from St. Francis would definitely have to be this past soccer season and winning NorCals was a great way to end it all." Said Urkov.

Urkov has played soccer for all four years at St. Francis and was on the swim team for a season. This past season, Urkov was varsity soccer team captain and the offensive MVP twice, once as a freshman and again as a senior. As a student, Urkov has a 4.33 GPA and has received Highest Honor Roll all four years. She has also received Merit Awards in biology and in U.S. History. She volunteers for the Kiwanis Family House and with her club soccer and swimming teams. Urkov will attend the United States Military Academy at West Point and will continue her soccer career. She plans to major in engineering or math in the pursuit of becoming an engineer.

The award is named after the former CIF Section and State President, A. Dale Lacky which recognizes the top male and female athletes in the section.

The CIF Sac Joaquin Section awarded $26,350 in scholarships for outstanding athletic performance, community service and academic success during their four years of high school.

PAST LACKEY AWARD WINNERS

2005   Mairin Meltvedt

2006   Colleen Buehler

2007   Lauren Brunner

2015   Lauren Charter

2017   Claire Schutz

2019   Elise Urkov