The Dave Lawrenz Memorial Sports Broadcasting Scholarship was created in 2012 in memory of longtime Wheaton supporter and employee David Lawrenz ('74). Lawrenz
passed away Sept. 4, 2011. At the time of his death, Dave was survived by his wife, Ann, and their three children: Jason, Josh and Jenna, in addition to several grandchildren.
Dave was a man that was characterized by his unwavering faith, his self-sacrificial love for his family and his passionate support for Wheaton College. An unparalleled supporter of Wheaton's sports teams, Dave served eight years as a director of development at Wheaton. He was passionate about Wheaton and its mission and equally passionate in his support and advocacy for Crusader and Thunder sports.
The Dave Lawrenz Memorial Sports Broadcasting scholarship was created in his memory to recognize and help support one current Wheaton student who is involved in and a leader for the institution's broadcasts of Wheaton Athletics. The recipient is expected to be a lead broadcaster for several Wheaton Athletics broadcasts in a year and also lead and organize other broadcasters and the Wheaton Thunder Sports Network's efforts as a leader in Division III broadcasting. The scholarship was first awarded in the 2012-13 academic year.
The first recipient of the scholarship was
Judah Newby. Following his broadcasting efforts at Wheaton, Judah returned to his native Oregon where he began his
current tenure at 750 The GAME, a sports radio station in Portland. Judah is an update anchor, producer for The Bald Faced Truth w/John Canzano and staff writer at 750 The GAME and FM News 101 KXL in Portland. During the college football season Judah hosts his own radio show, "Gameday", which airs as part pre-game and post-game coverage for every Oregon Ducks football game, serves as co-host of "The Gameplan Podcast" and is a staff writer for the 750thegame.com website.
The second recipient of the scholarship is
Nate Stein, who received the award in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18. Currently a senior at Wheaton, Nate has been broadcasting Thunder sporting events from the start of his collegiate tenure. He spent the summer of 2016 with the Rochester Ridgemen of the New York Collegiate Baseball League in 2016, serving as the team's broadcaster and media relations contact. A native of Denver, Colorado, he is a product of the Valor Sports Network at Valor Christian High School.
| DAVE LAWRENZ MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECEPIENTS |
| YEAR |
RECIPIENT |
| 2012-13 |
Judah Newby |
| 2013-14 |
Judah Newby |
| 2014-15 |
Scholarship not awarded |
| 2015-16 |
Nate Stein |
| 2016-17 |
Nate Stein |
| 2017-18 |
Nate Stein |
