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University of Maine
A native of Saugus, Mass, Leger has progressed from being a walk-on to a senior captain of the defending NCAA Division I champion Main Black Bears. As a freshman during the l996-97 season, he was voted the team's Most Inspirational Player. The following year, he was selected the team'' Outstanding Defensive Forward, while his junior year, he earned the Unsung Hero Award.
Academically, he has maintained a 3.67 GPA while majoring in public management as well as business and math. He has been named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team and has twice received University of Maine academic recognition – a Silver Medal in 1998-99 and a Gold Medal this past season. His involvement in community activities dates back to l990 when he served as a volunteer at a bi-lingual elementary school in Lawrence, Mass. There, he helped students understand poetry.
Since then, there hasn't been a year in which he hasn't volunteered his time to community projects.
From l990-93, he volunteered at the Lawrence elementary school. From l993-95, he attended Phillips Andover academy where he was a Big Brother for Athletics working with special needs children, and, also during this two-year span, he volunteered in public school in Ontario teaching computer technology to sixth and seventh grade students.
From l996 when he matriculated at the University of Maine through this past year, hes community activities have included participant in the State-wide program to promote volunteerism, teaching at hockey school and clinics for area youth, regular visits to local hospitals and pediatric wards, the Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research, grand marshall at the Walk for Multiple Sclerosis, coordinator of the hockey team's, as well as, the University community's Toys for Tots program, and president of the University's Student athlete Advisory Board.
Tracey Flynn, the University of Maine's assistant athletics director, wrote:
"Jimmy seems to have the best interest of other people in mind and does something about it. Concerned about his younger teammates' commit- ment to athletics, he periodically checks in with the team's academic counselor. He has a special interest in helping children. If a volunteer is needed, Jimmy can be counted on to be there. Better yet, when he participates in a community service activity he invites fellow student- athletes along." |
