Franks Video: https://youtu.be/K1lRbu9mQPw
TROY, N.Y. - In conjunction with the NCAA's Division III Week, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Athletic Department is celebrating its student-athletes by highlighting and promoting the achievements of two in particular with a pair of videos. The films will take a look into the collegiate careers of Amanda Lynch and Andrew Franks, illustrating the impact they have had on their respective programs.
A senior from Middletown, N.Y., Lynch was a four-year member of the women's basketball team. A team captain, she become the first Capital One National Academic All-America selection in women's basketball in program history, after averaging a team-high 16.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last season. She is biomedical engineering major with a 3.88 cumulative grade point average and is a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.
Lynch initially joined the women's lacrosse team following the conclusion of her basketball career and made her first appearance on Saturday against Bard College, recording one shot on goal. A three-year starter on her high school lacrosse team, she is looking to contribute to an Engineers squad that has won three consecutive Liberty League titles. She will return to play lacrosse in 2016 as a graduate student.
Senior placekicker Andrew Franks set numerous records in his four seasons at Rensselaer. Hailing from Carmel, Calif., he connected on 15 of 24 field goal attempts this year, while also breaking his own school mark with a 54-yard kick. Among his multiple post-season accolades, were Liberty League Special Teams Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, while also being named a First Team National All-American by D3football.com. A Liberty League All-Academic selection, he was also an ACFA All-America.
Franks took part in the first NFL Pro Day in RPI history on Monday, when scouts from three teams worked him out in East Campus Stadium. He displayed his strong kicking leg as well as his accuracy in hitting field goals of 50 and 55 yards, while also sending kick-offs seven yards into the end zone.
Division III Week is a positive opportunity for all individuals associated with Division III to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on the campus and surrounding community. During the week, Division III schools are encouraged to conduct a type of outreach activity that falls into one of three categories: academic accomplishment; athletic experience; or leadership/community service/campus involvement.
For more information, visit www.ncaa.org/about/division-iii-week-2015.