NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Senior defenseman Jason Beattie has been nominated for this year’s BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award, as announced on Monday.
The Hockey Humanitarian Award, which is in its 18th year, seeks to recognize male or female college hockey players who give back to their communities in the true humanitarian spirit. Last season, senior Sam Goodwin represented Niagara as a nominee, but did not make the finalists round.
“This is a great honor for Jason and the Niagara hockey program,” head coach Dave Burkholder said. “Jason has been a leader for us not only on the ice, but in the classroom and in the community as well.”
This year the co-captain established the “Man-Up with a Moustache” initiative as a means to raise money and awareness for cancer research through the Make-A-Wish foundation. Beattie’s efforts to help raise money for the organization were inspired by honorary team member Meghan Redenbach, whose three-year battle with ovarian cancer was unfortunately lost in 2010. All donations received through the initiative were donated in Meghan’s honor to furthering the mission of Make-A-Wish foundation—focused on enriching the lives of children with life threatening illnesses.
Over the last four years at Monteagle Ridge, Beattie has remained committed to a number of community service projects. The 2011-12 Atlantic Hockey Student-Athlete of the Year honoree has been a member of a team-initiative of mentoring children enrolled in the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles hockey program. He has also taken part in the Red Brick School House Lewiston School Drive, participated in Niagara University clean sweeps and has helped out in the classroom through school visitations in the area.
The two-time AHA All-Academic Team member has also volunteered his time to the VITA program where he helps the local community complete their income tax returns.
Beattie graduated in 2012 with his bachelors in accounting, and will complete his masters in business administration in accounting in May. He is a member of Beta-Gamma-Sigma, which encompasses the top seven percent of those enrolled in the business program at Niagara University.
There were 11 nominees for the Hockey Humanitarian Award this year, including two repeat nominees. The 11 nominees beside Beattie are Brett Beebe (Western Michigan), Megan Bozek (Minnesota), Cobina Delaney (Robert Morris), Dan Evarts (St. Michael’s), Jordan Heywood (Merrimack), Mike Johnson (Notre Dame), J. Tucker Mullin (St. Anselm), Kaare Odegard (Alaska), Jeffrey Reppucci (Holy Cross) and Alyssa Zupon (Yale).
Finalists will be named in February and the award recipient will be announced on Friday, April 12 in Pittsburgh as part of the men’s Frozen Four weekend.
