Melanie Auguste has been named winner of the 2009 Jostens Trophy, the national award presented by the Salem (Va.) Rotary Club which honors Division III basketball players for being student-athletes who excel in the classroom, on the court and in the community.
“I really wasn't expecting to win this award,” Auguste said. “It was honor just to be mentioned among the other finalists, who were all deserving of the honor. It's the best award I know of because it challenges you to be your best in all three phases of your life.”
Auguste will be honored on March 19 at the Salem Civic Center in conjunction with the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship. She was selected from a group of 10 finalists by a national selection committee consisting of college coaches, former athletes, college administrators and selected members of the media.
“I was delighted to learn that Mel was selected from such an accomplished pool of finalists,” said head coach Liz Campbell, who also played at the Division III level. “She has meant a great deal to our program, and to Colorado College. It is wonderful to see this award go to such a deserving recipient.”
Auguste, the SCAC Player of the Year, became the first player to lead the league in both scoring (20.2 points per game) and assists (7.1 assists per game). She also was second in steals (2.3 per game) and third in rebounding (8.9 per game).
During the regular season, the senior point guard scored in double figures in 23 of 24 games and had 20 or more points on 12 occasions, including a pair of 30-point efforts against Trinity University. Auguste recorded 11 double-doubles and two triple-doubles.
A product of Cameron Park, Calif., Auguste completed her career as CC's all-time leader with 607 assists and 243 steals. She also ranks No. 3 with 1,572 points and 100 three-point baskets, and is No. 4 with 815 rebounds. Her 2008-09 totals of 499 points and 223 rebounds were personal single-season highs.
“This award is the culmination of my work and the efforts of all the people in the Colorado College athletics department,” Auguste said. “And it certainly would not have been possible without the support of my teammates and coaches.”
But Auguste's statistics are not confined to the basketball court.
The second-team Academic All-American carries a 3.74 grade point average as an economics major and was the college's nominee for a Rhodes Scholarship. In 2007, she was the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholarship Award and the David Preston Award for the top sophomore in the economics and business departments while being named to the Dean's List.
Auguste's participation in community service projects include stints with Habitat for Humanity and Relay for Life. She also serves as a mentor for underserved elementary school kids by encouraging them to participate in athletics while excelling in academics. On campus, Auguste is a tutor and technical assistant in the economics department.
“Melanie exemplifies all that is great about Division III athletics,” Campbell said. “She has managed to balance all aspects of a college career - academics, athletics and service - and excelled at everything she attempted.”
The Jostens Trophy is a joint creation of Jostens, Inc., of Minneapolis, Minn., and the Rotary Club of Salem, Va. In addition to the Trophy, the Wooldridge Scholarship, a $1,000 donation, will be presented in Auguste's name to Colorado College.
