UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State junior Taylor Schram (Canonsburg, Pa.) has been named the Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year, presented to a figure from the Pittsburgh area who has made the most outstanding accomplishment in sports in the past year.
Schram joins Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen, who was this year’s male recipient. Schram becomes just the second current Penn State student-athlete to win the award, with Kelly Mazzante winning it in 2003.
Schram and McCutchen will honored at the 77th Annual Dapper Dan Dinner & Sports Auction, presented by BNY Mellon, on Feb. 6, 2013 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. Proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania youth and sports education programs.
Schram is coming off a stellar season, as she helped lead the Penn State women’s soccer program to the NCAA Championship match for the first time in program history. The Canon-McMillan High School product was a big part of the Nittany Lion attack, tallying 11 points on five goals and an assist while splitting time between being a midfielder and forward throughout the season. Trailing 1-0 in the national championship match against North Carolina, Schram scored in the 18th minute to tie the game up at one. The junior netted two goals on Oct. 14 in a 2-1 victory at Iowa.
Schram joined her teammate, Maya Hayes, on the U.S. U-20 World Cup team this year, as the U.S. defeated Germany in the finals on Sept. 8 by a count of 1-0 to win the World Cup. Hayes and Schram were among a total of 21 players that were selected to the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup team.
Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was the Dapper Dan Sportsman of the Year in 1982 and 1998. Former Nittany Lion football players Dick Hoak (1968) and Franco Harris (1977) also earned the Dapper Dan honor.
Selected since 1999, former Lady Lion basketball standouts Suzie McConnell-Serio (1999) and Kelly Mazzante (2003) have been selected the Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year, as was Penn State’s undefeated and NCAA Championship women’s volleyball team in 2009. Tickets for the Dapper Dan Dinner can be purchased by visiting www.post-gazette.com/dapperdan or by calling 412-263-3850. A cocktail reception and silent auction begins at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and awards ceremony at 7 p.m.