College Hockey Inc. is accepting applications for the fourth annual College Hockey Inc. Scholarship, presented by JLG Architects. The grant, which went to Augsburg University senior Brooke Leone in 2022, is awarded in honor of JLG founder Lonnie Laffen, a passionate hockey supporter who passed away in 2020.
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.
“At JLG Architects, we are honored to see the power of passion every day, from the locker rooms at Colorado College’s Ed Robson Arena to center ice at the new Sacred Heart University Martire Family Arena,” said JLG’s CEO Michelle Allen. “Our late founder, Lonnie Laffen, didn’t just see the value of a well-designed arena; he saw the heart of hockey and instilled in our team a passion to aim for the greater goal: empowering the next generation of leaders, both on and off the ice.
“We are proud to once again present the College Hockey Inc. Scholarship as a tribute to Lonnie’s legacy and JLG’s steadfast commitment to enriching the lives of NCAA student-athletes through professional, academic, and athletic excellence,” continued Allen.
The College Hockey Inc. Scholarship, presented by JLG Architects, is open to any senior NCAA hockey player (men’s or women’s, regardless of division). The winner will be selected by a committee made up of representatives of College Hockey Inc. and JLG Architects.
“JLG Architects’ ongoing commitment to all things college hockey, from creating spectacular new arenas to continuing to fund the College Hockey Inc. Scholarship, is remarkable,” said College Hockey Inc. Executive Director Mike Snee. “JLG Architects is helping to literally build the future of college hockey.”
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.
Click HERE to complete the application form. Applications are due by April 30. Applicants must be seniors exhausting their NCAA eligibility in 2022-23.
Past Recipients:
2020: Breanna Scarpaci, Boston University
2021: Michael Korol, Norwich University
2022: Brooke Leone, Augsburg University
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 62 programs and six conferences that sponsor Division I men’s hockey.
About JLG Architects
JLG is a 100% employee-owned architecture firm with over 170 architects, interior designers, community and fundraising specialists, and related staff across 10 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 sports 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, he was directly involved in the planning and execution of all 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 of his dedicated sports architecture team.