DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake athletic community recently had two representatives earn a pair of MVC awards.
Former Bulldog student-athlete and current television commentator Laura Leonard was honored for her years of enthusiastic commitment to promoting and celebrating athletics across The Valley with the John Sanders Spirit of The Valley Award.
Leonard was selected for her persistent exemplification of the spirit of the late John Sanders, a former MVC Assistant Commissioner for Operations. Some of the characteristics that all Spirit of the Valley Award winners demonstrate include a strong work ethic, passion for the conference and its members, and a sense of humor.
Laura has served as the lead analyst for Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and postseason championship women's basketball productions and tournament softball telecasts for the past 21 years. This season will be her 33rd year overall as an analyst either for Drake women's basketball radio broadcasts or The Valley on ESPN video productions.
Leonard was a two-sport athlete at Drake from 1979-83. She played basketball and softball for the Bulldogs, earning Academic All-America women's basketball honors in 1983. She later became head softball coach for the Bulldogs from 1985-88.
Drake University Director of Athletics Brian Hardin, Spirit of The Valley Award recipient Laura Leonard, and MVC Commissioner Jeff Jackson during Leonard's recognition ceremony
The MVC presents the Most Courageous Award annually to former or current student-athletes; coaches, or administrators who demonstrate unusual courage in the face of personal illness, adversity, or tragedy and whose behavior reflects honor on the institution or the conference.
The league presented the most recent installment of the Most Courageous Award to Brink's Bench, a collection of friends, family, and other supporters of former Drake women's basketball player Lisa Brinkmeyer VanDeventer.
Lisa leaned on Brink's Bench until her final days as all supporters showed courage in the face of a cancer journey. She left a profound legacy as a Bulldog in everything she did between her athletic career to including her final battle with cancer. Lisa inspired those around to under the banner of "Brink's Bench" throughout her fight, and her supporters continue to do so.
