June 10, 2009
PARK RIDGE, Ill. - The Big Ten Conference announced the two Penn State student-athletes who graduated in May as the 2009 Medal of Honor winners by the Big Ten Conference on Wednesday. Zoe Bouchelle (Cockeysville, Md.) of women's soccer and James Pagana (Sellersville, Pa.) of men's track & field are Penn State's representatives among the 22 Big Ten student-athletes who were bestowed as winners.
Bouchelle became the second women's soccer in Penn State history to receive the Ernest B. McCoy Memorial Award in March as presented by President Graham B. Spanier. The award recognizes a senior male and female student-athlete who has combined successful athletic participation with academic excellence.
Bouchelle's inclusion as one of the Medal of Honor winners further embeds her place in PSU women's soccer as one of the finest student-athletes in the team's 15-year history. She was a Soccer Buzz Third Team All-American and a two-time NSCAA First Team All-Great Lakes selection in addition to being a two-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree.
Additionally, Bouchelle was a two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American and an NCSCAA Scholar All-American during her storied career in Happy Valley.
Pagana had an excellent track & field career competing in the NCAA East Regional Championships in late May. The accomplished triple jumper claimed a bronze medal in the event with a leap of 50-1 ¼.
Pagana was the lone men's track & field athlete to earn a spot on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Track &Field/Cross Country team this spring. Pagana graduated with his undergraduate degree in Pre-Med. He was the male recipient of the McCoy Award as Bouchelle's counterpart.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor was established in 1914 when the Big Ten endowed a Medal of Honor to be given annually to a student in the graduating class of each university that demonstrated proficiency in scholarship and athletics. In 1982, the Medal of Honor was expanded to include a senior female athlete from each institution.
--NITTANY LIONS--