HAVERFORD, Pa. – Sophomore Jen DiCandilo, the starting third baseman for the Haverford College softball team, was presented the 2011 Archibald MacIntosh Award during an on-campus ceremony in her honor Thursday evening.

DiCandilo is the first softball player to receive this honor in the award’s 48-year history. The Beta Rho Sigma alumni society has presented the award in MacIntosh’s honor to the top scholar-athlete in the first-year class at Haverford since 1964.

In her freshman season DiCandilo was one of only two Fords to start all 34 games. She led the Fords in six statistical categories: assists (70), total bases (52), hits (36), runs batted in (28), doubles (10) and home runs (two). DiCandilo also had the team’s third-highest batting average at .336. A 2011 second-team all-Centennial Conference selection, DiCandilo ranked fifth in the league in runs batted in and sixth in doubles.

Even though the MacIntosh is an individual award, DiCandilo acknowledges others have helped her achieve this honor. "I am so honored to be this year’s recipient of the Archibald MacIntosh award, I feel very lucky to be a part of the Haverford community, and I am humbled by the ongoing support I receive from professors, coaches, classmates and teammates – it is because of them that I was able to have success in the classroom and on the field."

"Jen’s accomplishments on the softball field and in the classroom are exemplary," said head softball coach JenWard. "Her work ethic, dedication and impeccable character make her a pleasure to coach and a great teammate. We’re so proud that she’s being recognized with this award."

DiCandilo is planning on majoring in economics with a concentration in mathematical economics and, following her graduation from Haverford, plans to pursue a Master of Business Administration degree.