The
Tewaaraton Foundation is pleased to announce that Trenna Hill of
Mohawk descent and Isaac Ike Hopper of the Onondaga
Nation, are the recipients of the 2009 Outstanding Native American
High School Awards. In addition to winning this award, Trenna and
Isaac will receive a $5,000 scholarship from the University Club
Foundation for future educational intentions. Trenna and Isaac earned
this award for their hard work and dedication on the lacrosse field
but more importantly, for being outstanding leaders and student-athletes
off the field. They will be honored at the 2009 Tewaaraton Award
Foundation at the Smithsonians National Museum of the American
Indian in D.C. on May 28th.
TEWAARATON
About the Foundation
The
Tewaaraton Award Foundation, in conjunction with The University
Club of Washington, DC, formally established the "Tewaaraton
Trophy" on August 29, 2000. Today, the Tewaaraton Trophy is
recognized as the preeminent lacrosse award honoring the top female
and male varsity collegiate lacrosse player in the United States.
Simply, it is the lacrosse equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. With
the inaugural presentation taking place at the University Club of
Washington, DC in June of 2001, the Tewaaraton Trophy is now presented
annually following the collegiate season at a banquet honoring the
finalists and winners.
Lacrosse
is one of the oldest team sports played in North America. Rooted
in centuries of Native American tradition, the game took on many
variations before reaching its present day form. The Foundation
honors this truly original American heritage of the sport in the
name of its trophy: "Tewaaraton," the Mohawk name for
their game and the progenitor of present day lacrosse. The Tewaaraton
Trophy has received the endorsement of the Mohawk Nation Council
of Elders.
The
Trophy
The
bronze trophy featuring a Mohawk native was designed and created
by Frederick Kail. Spanning four decades, Mr. Kail has distinguished
himself as an accomplished sports sculptor and the preeminent lacrosse
sculptor. With this timeless work of art, he captures the exciting
spirit and powerful dynamics of lacrosse with meticulous attention
to accurate detail. His depiction of a single unnamed Mohawk player,
dramatically surging to the front, profoundly portrays the competitive
human spirit and superior athletic ability required to win this
award.
Adorned
simply in a loincloth and golden eagle feather, the 12-inch figure
is foundry-cast in a richly patinaed bronze. It is mounted upon
a hexagon-shaped slab of black granite and handcrafted, highly polished
exotic Cocobolo wood. The hexagonal base symbolizes the Six Nations
of the Iroquois Confederacy: the Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondoga,
Seneca, and Tuscarora tribes. With some minor decorative exceptions,
the stick is a replica of a pre-1845 Cayuga stick belonging to the
grandfather of Alexander T. General of the Six Nations Reserve in
Ontario. This stick was actually an original predecessor of the
modern day stick. To assist with historical authenticity, Thomas
Vennum, Jr., the renowned Native American lacrosse historian, and
author of "American Indian Lacrosse: Little Brother of War,"
served as a consultant to Kail through the development stage of
the Trophy.
The
original castings are part of the permanent collection of and are
currently on display at the University Club of Washington, DC, and
the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in Baltimore, Maryland. Bronze
replications of this magnificent trophy are awarded annually to
the "Most Outstanding" female and male varsity collegiate
lacrosse player in the United States.
For
further information please contact Liz Terry, Director of the Tewaaraton
Award Foundation, at liz@tewaaraton.com.
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