Cascade Conference Release

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Continuing a strong tradition, Sam Silver has been honored as the 2022 Cascade Collegiate Conference Les Schwab Female Champion of Character of the Year, as announced by the CCC office on Thursday.
 
Voted on by Cascade Conference athletic directors, based on school nominations, Bushnell has now been honored to receive at least one male or female winner in each of the last five years and Silver is the second softball player to be honored for the Beacons.
 
Sam Silver is a strong representative of Bushnell's "Tri-Athlete Model" as she thrives in all aspects as a holistic student-athlete on the field, in the classroom, and as a champion of character. Originally recruited as a utility player, Silver stepped up to fill a gap in the pitching staff her first season and remained in that role to become Bushnell's top pitcher this year as the team missed the playoffs by just one game.
 
Academically, she graduated with a 3.94 GPA in Communication, had a 4.0 in both semesters this year, and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She was named the Gardepiey-Peloquin Outstanding Speaker Award winner, giving to the top graduating communication student. Sam's character speaks for itself.
 
Silver is passionate about life, passionate about learning and passionate about helping others on and off the field. Working part-time jobs in the library and coffee shop on campus and running her own coffee-mug design company, she balances those multiple jobs outside of her academic and athletic commitments and continually made time for those in the community and peers on campus.
 
Silver interned with the Bushnell counseling office this year and began developing a program that would have a team counselor for every Bushnell athletic team, as well as a peer counselor. She will assume that role of Peer Counselor this fall when she begins her Master's program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
 
As part of her capstone project this spring, Silver met with different spring sports teams about student-athlete mental health issues, providing resources, and getting feedback on what can be improved for the teams. She also gives private softball lessons, and serves as a leader in the Bushnell chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was a team captain and the softball SAAC representative.
 
Silver had a leading role in team community service efforts, especially during Bushnell's "Embrace The Community" day where the team worked at a local park, clearing and mulching walking paths and pruning overgrown blackberry bushes. Last season Silver also spearheaded the effort to have the team do a Letter of Intent signing for a "medically retired" middle school softball player, who has since become an adopted member of the team.
 
Head Softball Coach Jim Patrick said, "Sam has served as a leader on the softball field this season and handled obstacles with grace. We are so proud of her and proud to have her as a member of our team."
 
Cascade Conference Champion of Character of the Year (Bushnell Recipients):

2011	Britni Steiling	Women's Soccer
2014	Janel Fetters	Volleyball
2018	Jordan Alexander	Men's Basketball
2019	Kaleb Miles	Men's Soccer
2019	Britnee Joaquin	Women's Soccer
2020	Maya Jenkins	Softball
2021	Ethan Crofts	Men's Soccer
2022	Sam Silver	Softball