Dec. 9, 2007

Wayne State University senior women's ice hockey player Ashley King (Winnipeg, Manitoba) has been selected as one of the five national finalists in the collegiate division for the Wooden Citizen Cup, which is an award given for the most outstanding role model among athletes.

The Wooden Cup is given to a collegiate and a professional athlete who have made the greatest difference in the lives of others. The award recipients will be announced at a ceremony held at Atlanta's Ansley Golf Club on Thursday, Jan. 24.

With Peyton Manning, John Smoltz and John Lynch as previous recipients, the Wooden Cup is becoming one of the most prestigious awards in sports. Recipients are considered role models and athletes of excellence both on and off the field.

Founded by Athletes for a Better World (ABW), a non-profit organization committed to changing the culture of American sports, the Wooden Cup is unique in that it is open to athletes in all collegiate and professional sports. Nominations come from every conference in the NCAA.

Andrea Jaeger, the former No. 2 ranked women's professional tennis player in the world, has established the Little Star Foundation for the benefit of children with terminal cancer. Jaeger has donated all her financial resources, the millions she won and earned, even her pension to the foundation. Since an injury forced her retirement at age 19, Jaeger has devoted her life to the cause of children. Supported by John McEnroe, Andre Agassi and numerous celebrities such as Cindy Crawford, Jaeger has an inspiring story to tell about "winning more than the game," the slogan of ABW.

Ashley's complete nomination packet.

The Wooden Cup is named in honor of John Wooden, one of the most successful coaches in collegiate basketball history. Wooden's legacy as a compassionate, civic-minded individual continues to make him one of the most admired coaches in the history of sport.

Recipients of the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup are chosen by a committee chaired by Vincent Dooley, former University of Georgia athletic director, and other distinguished individuals involved in athletics across the country.