OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (December 7, 2018 - Senior CLASS) – University of Denver forward Andre Shinyashiki has been selected through nationwide balloting as the 2018 Senior CLASS Award^® winner in NCAA^® Division I men's soccer. The award, chosen by a vote of Division I men's soccer coaches, national soccer media and fans, is given annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in Division I men's soccer.
 
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School^®, the Senior CLASS Award—presented annually in 10 NCAA sports—focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: classroom, community, character and competition.
 
"It's an honor to receive the Senior CLASS Award," said Shinyashiki, the first student-athlete from Denver to be named the overall winner of a Senior CLASS Award. "I think my career as a student-athlete at Denver has helped me in unimaginable ways. Not just on the field but off the field, in the community and in the classroom. The culture that we've created here at Denver helps us strive to be the best version of ourselves in everything that we do. I'm just thankful to have been a part of this culture because it is something special. By giving as much time as we have in the community, while holding ourselves accountable in the classroom and pairing that with everything we accomplished on the field, I was able to also learn a lot from my teammates because they were right there by my side. That's what this program at Denver is all about."
 
Already named the Summit League Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year and one of 15 semifinalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy given to the top player in college soccer, Shinyashiki has earned a reputation as one of the most skilled men's collegiate soccer players in the nation. Leading the nation in a number of categories including total goals (28), points (60) and game-winning goals (11), he set Denver's single-season records in all three categories while also establishing program career bests in points (117), goals (51) and game-winning goals (18). Named team captain as a senior, Shinyashiki earned all-conference honors all four years of his career, including first-team nods in 2018, 2017 and 2015.
 
Equally as impressive in the classroom, Shinyashiki holds a 3.63 GPA as a marketing major at the University of Denver. Helping the Pioneers to the top grade-point average in the country three years in a row (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18), he is a two-time member of both the Hornbeck Scholars and dean's list and is a three-time member of the Summit League Honor Roll. He also has earned a spot on the Summit League Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence.
 
"To win this prestigious award is such an honor and a great reflection of Andre's hard work as a well-rounded student-athlete over the past four years," said head coach Jamie Franks, who earned his fourth-straight Summit League Coach of the Year honor this season. "I love that kid and am so proud of what he accomplished over the past four years. His development and growth over his career has been inspiring to watch. Andre rarely missed a day for improvement and was always truly grateful for the process and highly competitive environment. He recognized that staying four years in college soccer guaranteed that he would be ready to make an impact at next level and still have his college degree."
 
Beyond the areas of competition and classroom, Shinyashiki has maintained a high level of personal character throughout his college career and has prioritized community service and outreach. Along with his team, he is a two-time winner of the Gold Vest, which is awarded to the most well-rounded program at Denver taking into account community service, academic excellence, performance on the field and support of the other student-athletes. Shinyashiki also has participated in community service events and projects such as visiting the children's hospital, serving at the Denver Rescue Mission, participating in the Grant Ranch Elementary School reading program, working with the Clothes to Kids program, working with special-needs children and disabled soccer players through Top Soccer, assisting with a field day at a local elementary school, and taking part in the initial adoption of Team IMPACT Teammate Ben Brewer.
 
"Andre Shinyashiki is one of the most impressive student-athletes in collegiate soccer," said Senior CLASS Award Executive Director Erik Miner. "His achievements on and off the pitch are certainly worth recognizing, and his efforts in the areas of our four C's—classroom, character, community and competition—make him the embodiment of everything the Senior CLASS Award stands for. We offer our sincere congratulations to Andre, his team and the entire university."
 
For more information, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.
 
 
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First-Team Senior CLASS Award All-Americans
Ryder Bell, William & Mary
Alex Comsia, North Carolina
Brad Dunwell, Wake Forest
Mark Forrest, Lehigh
Andre Shinyashiki, Denver
 
Second-Team Senior CLASS Award All-Americans
DeJuan Jones, Michigan State
Daniel Krutzen, Albany
Robbie Mertz, Michigan
Callum Montgomery, Charlotte
Tate Schmitt, Louisville
 
ABOUT THE AWARD
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award honors the attributes of senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The award program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards a senior season can bring. Premier Sports Management manages the award. 

ADDITIONAL QUOTE FROM JAMIE FRANKS: 
"The one thing that separates Andre from his peers is his mentality. Andre is a winner. He loves the grind and that is evident in his approach every day. To score 51 goals in four years is incredible, and 28 goals in a single-season hasn't happened in decades for a reason. Andre's dedication and his ability to hold himself accountable has made Andre a great player. I'm excited about the opportunity that Andre still has in-front of him and I look forward to watching him play professionally."