Official Release  |  About the Cup

ATLANTA – Senior Maria Lanyi of the Northeastern women's soccer team has been named as one of five finalists for the prestigious Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, as announced Wednesday, Jan. 21.

Named for legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, the Cup is issued each year to one collegiate athlete and one professional/Olympic athlete for their character and leadership on and off the field, and for their contributions to sport and society by positively influencing the lives of others.

A senior behavioral neuroscience major, Lanyi created her own charity, Score to Cure, which aims to raise awareness and funds in the fight against pediatric cancer. The creation of the charity stemmed from Lanyi's prior community service work with the Ronald McDonald House and also the Reflections of Grace Foundation. In partnership with fellow senior Amy Steele, Lanyi created a Score to Cure website and is active in the Northeastern community and beyond in raising awareness and money in the battle against the disease.

Lanyi joins Madeleine Buckley (William Smith College, soccer), Zach Hyman (Michigan, ice hockey), Chris Tamasi (Amherst College, football), and Tiana Woolridge (Princeton, volleyball) as the five finalists for the award.

The Wooden Cup was originally founded in 2005 by Athletes for a Better World (ABW), a non-profit organization dedicated to changing the culture of American sports. Since its inception, the Wooden Cup has become one of the most prestigious awards in all of sports. Recipients are considered role models and athletes of excellence both on and off the field.

The 2015 professional recipient will be Shannon Miller, one of the most decorated gymnasts in U.S. history. Since her Olympic career ended, Miller has been active with a self-created foundation to combat childhood obesity, and, as a cancer survivor, has been a spokesperson for living with the disease. Past professional recipients have included Jack Nicklaus, Pat Summitt, Drew Brees, Mia Hamm, Peyton Manning, John Smoltz and Cal Ripken, Jr. 

The 2015 collegiate Wooden Cup recipient will be announced at an award ceremony on April 27. Four of the finalists will receive a $1,000 scholarship for their school. The Cup recipient's school will receive a $2,000 scholarship for four years. All five finalists will also receive $1,000 to be donated to the charity of their choice.