February 12, 2014 | Combined Reports - UConn Communications

Show Some Husky Love: Vote

This year, the basketball competition isn't just on the court.

Shabazz Napier and Stefanie Dolson are among the finalists for the 2013-14 Senior CLASS Awards. (Photos by Steve Slade '89 (SFA) for UConn)
Shabazz Napier ’14 (CLAS) and Stefanie Dolson ’14 (CLAS) are among the finalists for the 2013-14 Senior CLASS Awards. (Photos by Steve Slade ’89 (SFA) for UConn)

Basketball fans can now demonstrate their love for the Huskies – athletes, coach, and even the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion – with their votes.

Three separate online competitions are now being waged involving all of the above.

The first involves UConn senior basketball players Shabazz Napier and Stefanie Dolson, selected among 20 finalists for the 2013-14 Senior CLASS Awards, which recognize excellence in men’s and women’s college basketball on and off the court. CLASS is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character, and competition. The finalists were chosen by national media from the list of 30 men’s candidates and 30 women’s candidates.

Fans are encouraged to vote on the Senior CLASS Award website through March 24. Fan votes will be combined with media and Division I head coaches’ votes to determine the winners. The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four and NCAA Women’s Final Four.

Kevin Ollie, head coach, men's basketball. (UConn Athletics Photo)
Kevin Ollie, head coach, men’s basketball. (UConn Athletics Photo)

Kevin Ollie ’95 (CLAS), the Huskies 18th men’s basketball head coach, has also been tapped for an award. Ollie is in the running for the Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge. Vote online for his favorite charity – the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at UConn – and boost the center’s chances of receiving $100,000. The winner will be announced March 16.

If you like the student section in Gampel Pavilion, vote for that, too.

Husky fans can cast their votes for Student Section of the Year Award by going online to www.mystudentsectionrocks.com now through Feb. 19. Besides bragging rights, winning the Student Section of the Year Award would earn UConn a $10,000 donation to the general scholarship fund.

The Naismith Student Section of the Year Award is presented through a partnership between the Collegiate Licensing Co. (CLC), the licensing affiliate of IMG College, and the Atlanta Tipoff Club, administrators of the Naismith Awards. The award is dedicated to celebrating student fans who support their college basketball team with passion and devotion.

Fans may vote in each of these competitions once a day during the voting period.