PENSACOLA-- College of Central Florida softball standout Amy Szymanowski received her biggest honor to date earlier this weekend.
Szymanowski earned the Jean Williams Award, which is considered the most prestigious honor awarded by the FCSAA.
"She's made more of an impact than any other softball player we've had here at CF," said Patriots head softball coach Kevin Fagan.
To be eligible for the Williams Award, one must have at least a 3.30 grade-point average, citizenship (determined primarily from the athletic director's recommendation) and athletic prowess.
"She's a great representative. Amy meets everything you would want in a student-athlete," said CF athletic director Bob Zelinski.
The Florida State signee easily met the criteria with her record-breaking career for the Patriots, as well as her efforts in the classroom.
She holds a 3.90 GPA in 61 semester hours at the end of the fall 2013 semester. Szymanowski, a political science major, has been on the President's List with a perfect 4.00 GPA in the Spring 2013 and Fall 2013 semesters.
As a freshman, she earned second-team NFCA All-American honors with a .343 average, 16 homers and 47 RBI. She set both the single season and career home runs marks during the 2013 season. The previous career record for home runs at CF was 12. Szymanowski also earned first-team all-Mid Florida Conference honors, first-team all-FCSAA honors and first-team NJCAA All-District recognition. She was a member of the FCSAA State/All District Team and the CF Athlete of the Year.
As a sophomore, the Land O'Lakes Sunlake High graduate extended her career home run record to 35 and surpassed her single season mark with 19. She also holds school records for RBI in a career, slugging percentage for a single season and career, and runs scored for a single season and career. From there, Szymanowski was the repeat winner of the CF Female Athlete of the Year and also earned the CF Scholar Athlete of the Year. After finishing as runner-up for the MFC Player of the Year as a freshman, Szymanowski was the recipient of the award as a sophomore.
In addition to her work on the field and in the classroom, Szymanowski has volunteered hundreds of hours at the Church Liturgy, where she works with young people and volunteers in all church events. Szymanowski has overcome the loss of her brother in a motorcycle accident and has used the tragedy to help others by speaking at many motorcycle awareness in the Central Florida area. She has also worked in the community at the March of Dimes, participated in Heart Walk, volunteered at community clean up and is always available to her teammates and fellow student-athletes for tutoring.
Szymanowski will try to continue her success on and off the field as she heads to FSU in the fall.