Nicolas Serrato, 2011 Sonnetag Scholarship Recipient OKLAHOMA CITY — The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States and the Sonnentag Family are proud to announce Nicolas Serrato (Corona, Calif.) as the inaugural recipient of the Sonnentag Family/USA Softball Junior Men’s National Team Scholarship. A $500 scholarship developed to promote educational opportunities for members of the Junior Men’s National Team as well as encourage good citizenship and volunteerism, 2011 marks the inaugural year of the award.
“We are honored to award Nick in the first year of the scholarship,” said Rebecca Sonnentag, Marketing Manager of County Materials Corporation. “He models a strong work ethic and family values and recognizes the importance of higher education. He gives back to the community and all of these qualities make him very deserving of the scholarship in our eyes.”
Serrato, who has recently started coursework at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, earned a baseball and academic scholarship in addition to the Sonnentag award. The utility player began participation with the USA Softball Junior Men’s National Team program in 2011 when he was invited to a training camp in June and participated in a series of exhibitions against Argentina this summer. Serrato hopes to represent the Red, White and Blue at the International Softball Federation (ISF) IX Junior Men’s World Championships in Parana, Argentina, next year.
“This is a tremendous honor,” said Sonnentag. “I am appreciative and grateful to be the first recipient of the Sonnentag Family Scholarship. In addition, I want to thank the Sonnentag Family for their generous support to the USA Softball Junior Men’s Fast Pitch Softball Team that will represent the United States in Argentina in 2012.”
A civil engineering major, Serrato attended Corona High School in Corona, Calif., earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.3. He also was a three-year letter winner in baseball and during his senior year of high school was involved in Link Crew, which is a leadership class that helps incoming freshman feel comfortable in the transition from junior high to high school. In his Link Crew class, he received an award for total support which is given to the student who has been most involved and who has done outstanding work in helping freshman with finding their classes, showing them campus, and helping them meet new friends. Serrato is also involved in the Relay for Life Cancer Walk for the City of Corona and is the son of Steve and Sharon Serrato.
“Nick is a good young player and an even better person” ,said USA Softball Junior Men’s Team Head Coach Tim Lyon. “He goes out of his way to help his teammates and is a great choice for the Sonnentag Family Scholarship.”
Up next for the Junior Men’s National Team program will be the selection of the 2012 roster which will be announced at a later date.
About the Sonnentag Family/ USA Softball Junior Men’s National Team Scholarship
In order to promote educational opportunities for members of the USA Softball Jr. Men’s National Team Players Pool and to encourage good citizenship and volunteerism, the Sonnentag Family will donate $500 each year which will be payable to any 2 or 4 year college or university upon proof of enrollment.
The scholarship award winner will be selected from those who submit an application and will be announced in July of the scholarship year. The selection will be made by a committee made up of the Sonnentag Family, the USA Softball National Office and members of the USA Softball Coaching Staff.
Criteria includes:
1. Proven dedication to the USA Softball Jr. Men’s National team.
2. Has been named to or has a strong potential to be named to the ISF team that will represent the USA at the next World Championship.
3. Demonstration of need
4. Demonstrated leadership qualities
5. Demonstrated willingness to put the team ahead of individual goals
6. Softball ability
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