College Hockey Inc. is accepting applications for the second annual College Hockey Inc. Scholarship, presented by JLG Architects. The grant, which went to Boston University alumna Breanna Scarpaci in 2020, will be awarded in honor of JLG founder Lonnie Laffen, a passionate hockey supporter who passed away in December.
The College Hockey Inc. Scholarship, presented by JLG Architects, is a $2,500 postgraduate scholarship given to an NCAA hockey student-athlete who helps build the game through their support of the next generation of hockey players.
“It’s appropriate that we honor Lonnie Laffen as we present this year’s College Hockey Inc. Scholarship, presented by JLG Architects,” said College Hockey Inc. Executive Director Mike Snee. “Lonnie was passionate about college hockey and appreciated the impact college players can have on young hockey players. We thank JLG for its continued commitment to this scholarship and look forward to another strong group of candidates.”
“Architecture may be in our DNA at JLG, but hockey is in our blood,” said JLG Architects CEO Michelle Allen. “We are committed to raising up future architects and design leaders, youth hockey players and collegiate athletes, and are proud to support the people, programs, and communities made better by organizations such as College Hockey Inc.”
The College Hockey Inc. Scholarship, presented by JLG Architects, is open to any senior NCAA hockey player (men’s or women’s, of any division). The winner will be selected by a committee made up of representatives of College Hockey Inc. and JLG Architects.
Applications require an essay (maximum 1,000 words) on the student-athlete’s contributions to the youth hockey community, which may be accompanied by videos or other supplemental information. In 2021, additional consideration will be given to applicants who contributed to the youth hockey community in the past year, despite the limitations created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are due by March 31. Applicants must be seniors exhausting their NCAA eligibility in 2020-21.
Scarpaci, the 2020 recipient, was honored for her efforts in youth hockey dating back to her time in high school. She is currently in her first year in Boston University’s Physical Therapy doctoral program.
About College Hockey Inc.
Formed in 2009 in partnership with USA Hockey, College Hockey Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Division I men’s college hockey to prospective players and fans through extensive marketing and informational efforts. The entity is operated under the auspices of a 12-member Board of Directors and works closely with the commissioners, coaching staffs and administrators of the 61 programs and six conferences that sponsor Division I hockey.
About JLG Architects
JLG is a 100% employee-owned architecture firm with over 150 architects, interior designers, community and fundraising specialists, and related staff across eleven offices in Minnesota, Massachusetts, South Dakota, and North Dakota, and has been named one of the Top 25 Sports Facility Architecture Giants in the U.S. by Building Design+Construction, the Best Ice Hockey Arena Architects in the Upper Midwest U.S. by LUXlife International, and one of 50 Most Admired Companies in America by MSN Money. JLG’s dedicated ice hockey studio is the Preferred Architecture Partner of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference and the Western Collegiate Women’s Hockey Association.
About Lonnie Laffen
The co-founder of JLG Architects and a lifelong hockey fan, Lonnie Laffen dedicated his career to “rethinking the rink” by challenging long-established perceptions about how fans, players, and facility managers are made better by the gameday and practice environment. For over 30 years, was directly involved in the planning and execution of all of JLG’s ice projects across the nation, from Sacred Heart University to Colorado College. In addition to his focus on the sport, Lonnie was a passionate advocate for the state of North Dakota, serving as a State Senator for Grand Forks District 43 from 2010 – 2018. Lonnie passed away in December 2020, leaving behind a legacy of hockey excellence, which will live on through the work by his dedicated sports architecture team.