Logan Named 2017 SLIAC Lee McKinney Award Recipient
Alyssa Logan joins an exclusive group as the 2017 recipient of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Lee McKinney Distinguished Service Award. Logan, a women's soccer player from Spalding University, becomes the first conference student-athlete to receive the award since it was first handed out in 2010.
Logan, a senior defender for the Golden Eagles, not only capped off an impressive career on the field this past fall, helping her team to a second straight SLIAC Tournament, and in the classroom, becoming the program's first-ever CoSIDA Academic All-American, but accomplished all of this while battling Crohn's Disease.
For nearly six years Logan has fought the disease, which attacks the digestive tract, going through numerous tests and taking countless medications. The medications, which were helping her fight the disease, were also taking a toll on her body and making her more prone to injuries. Still, the increased likelihood of injuries did not stop Logan from pursuing the game she loved, soccer, at the collegiate level.
In the spring before her senior season, Logan had her colon removed, the first of three surgeries over the course of a year. Last November, Logan underwent her second surgery and this past February she completed the procedure of replacing her colon with her third surgery.
Logan played in over 60 games during her collegiate career, anchoring a Golden Eagle defense that recorded 26 shutouts over four years. She totaled two goals and four assists this past fall while helping Spalding to an 11-5-2 record. The Carmel, Indiana native is a natural science major with a focus in physical therapy and holds a 4.0 grade-point average.
Logan will receive the award May at the annual SLIAC Awards Banquet this May.
About the Award - The Lee McKinney SLIAC Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to the individual that has served or competed in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and best exemplifies the qualities of leadership, dedication, service, and perseverance displayed by longtime Fontbonne University director of athletics, Lee McKinney.
Dr. McKinney served as director of athletics at Fontbonne for 23 years, seeing the athletics program at the institution grow from three teams and 19 student-athletes when he arrived in 1988 to 19 teams and over 350 student-athletes at the time of his retirement. Dr. McKinney was instrumental in the formation of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as he joined representatives from Blackburn College, Maryville University, Parks College, Principia College and Webster University in chartering the Conference in September 1989.
During his years of service to the Conference, Dr. McKinney chaired the SLIAC Administrative Council and represented the Conference nationally, serving on the NCAA Management Council, Financial Aid Committee, and Nominating Committee.
Dr. McKinney, who was a two-time cancer survivor, passed away on April 4, 2011. He had dedicated countless hours of service to local community organizations and raising money for various charities, mainly the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coaches vs. Cancer.