Widener senior Kelly Vogelgesang (Downingtown, PA) from the softball team has been named the winner of the Middle Atlantic Conference Giant Steps Award.
The honor will be given Tuesday, May 3 at the league's annual award luncheon on the campus of Alvernia University in Reading, PA.
Vogelgesang's story is one of true inspiration. Just before entering her freshman year at Widener in August 2007, she learned her dad's cancer that was in its fifth year of remission had returned. It was deemed terminal and he passed away on October 2, 2007.
Less than a year later, Vogelgesang's mom was not feeling well and was diagnosed with a tumor in the back of her brain. The family learned her mom would not make it to either Thanksgiving or Christmas and she passed away in November 2008.
Forced to grow up quicker than the average student-athlete, Vogelgesang pressed on and was determined to finish at Widener. She received plenty of support from her three brothers and eventually took charge in selling the house her family grew up in.
Thanks to help from coach Fred Dohrmann, her classmates on the team as well as the University, Vogelgesang was able to continue. She will graduate Widener with a degree in Psychology and will attend Nursing school either at Villanova University or the Thomas Jefferson School of Nursing.
Displaying a never-ending sense of enthusiasm and being a true inspiration to many, Vogelgesang in 2008 helped Widener win a share of the Commonwealth Conference regular-season title. Her play at catcher has assisted Widener in competing in the last three league tournaments and compiling 95 victories.
Her story aired on KYW-NewsRadio during an interview with Matt Leon and that can be heard by clicking here.
The Giants Steps Award is given annually by the MAC to a student-athlete who overcame enormous obstacles to excel.
