July 2, 2008
Patriot League Success Stories - Where Are They Now? will feature former Patriot League student-athletes, highlighting both their accomplishments while competing at the Division I collegiate level and their successes since graduation. The Patriot League embodies the scholar-athlete model in all its intercollegiate participants and is proud of the strides made both in the classroom and in competition. The League applauds the accomplishments of its former student-athletes and celebrates their life long achievements. The following features truly embrace the League's slogan - Today's Scholar-Athletes, Tomorrow's Leaders.
Many of the featured athletes were named either Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Player of the Year or Tournament Most Valuable Player in their respective sport. The accomplishments of the former student-athlete THEN and NOW will be highlighted.
Name: Lisa (Allen) Hawken
Institution: Bucknell University
Sport: Women's Track and Field
Events: Throwing
Graduation Year: 1997
Undergraduate Major: Elementary Education
THEN:
- Named to the Bucknell Dean's List all eight semesters
- Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Scholar Athlete of the Year (1996)
- Patriot League Outdoor Track and Field Scholar Athlete of the Year (1997)
- Candidate for Academic All-American honors
- Holds the fifth-best all-time mark at Bucknell in the 20-lb. weight throw and shot put and the 10th-best mark in the outdoor shot put
- Captain of indoor and outdoor track and field teams (1996-97)
- Varsity Letter (1994-97)
- Bison Club Senior Athletic Award (1997) (for a senior who exemplifies the winning spirit of Bucknell's athletic program)
- Chaired Bucknell senior gift drive
- Manager of Bucknell's student calling program, secured a $100,000 Bucknell alumni donation
NOW:
- High School Principal, Campbell-Savona School District (2006-present)
- As principle works closely with high school students and athletes on setting goals and challenging themselves to be successful in the classroom and on their sports teams
- Assistant Elementary School Principal, Campbell-Savona School District (2001-2006)
- Certificate of Advanced Study in Administration, SUNY Brockport (2001)
- Masters of Science in Educational Administration, SUNY Brockport (2000)
- Second and third grade teacher, Bath School District (1997-2001)
- Married to Stephen Hawken, has a daughter Lydia Hawken
- Has served as a coach and an assistant coach for various high school teams (basketball and track and field)
Thoughts on how your competitive experience as a Patriot League student-athlete helped you achieve professional or personal goals:
My experience as a student athlete at the Division I level prepared me for the demands and challenges of every day life. At Bucknell, I was coached by Coach Gulden and Coach Ben. Both individuals had a huge impact on my life. Not only did they help me to excel on the track team and to get good results, but they changed my life! Through them, I learned to set high expectations for myself and that I could reach my potential if I worked hard, disciplined myself and did not except mediocrity. By holding me to high expectations, they exposed me to a world of intense competition and new possibilities. They instilled in me the desire to be the best at everything I encountered in life. Through my role as an educator, I try to instill similar values in the students and athletes that I work with at Campbell-Savona.
As an athlete, I learned the importance of focus, commitment, and passion. Competing in events that did not always draw the attention, I took the road less traveled and poured my passion and focus into great results. Being a member of many championship teams and surrounding myself with awesome athletes, students, and friends are among by fondest memories of Bucknell. The track team was like a family as we spent so much time together. We helped each other set and achieve goals. Many of my friendships from Bucknell are still strong today! As a high school principal, I work with teachers, students, and parents to set and achieve goals. I know the importance of working together and how it can help our school obtain great results!
At Bucknell, I also learned the importance of a good education! My classes and experiences prepared me for the world of education. With two practices a day, a job, and my full course load, I learned time management and the value of perseverance. There were many times that I could have given up and given in to the intense schedule, but I worked through those challenges with the support of my coaches and teammates My experience at such a prestigious university helps me to relay the importance of a good education to the students I work with daily. My successes at Bucknell did not come easy. They came with a lot of hard work and sacrifice! Today, I try to face all difficult situations with perseverance and commitment and to balance my personal and professional roles so that I can be successful and happy in both arenas.
