Story Courtesy of Springfield College

Springfield, Mass. - January 19, 2026 - Springfield College and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame presented the 13th annual Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Scholarship to Springfield College Sport Management student-leaders and student-athletes Natalie Lucas (Madison, Conn.) and Derek DePasquale (Silver Spring, Md.). The presentation was made on Monday, January 19, 2026, as part of the 2026 Panini Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena. Both Lucas and DePasquale were key contributors during the event, the leading high school basketball showcase in the country featuring the nation's top recruits.

As part of their responsibilities, Lucas and DePasquale assisted with more than 70 student event staff workers and more than 30 student liaisons during the event. They were part of training sessions for volunteers of the event; collaborated with the Springfield College Office of Conferences and Special Events and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coordinating schedules for each day; and were part of all event operations during the five-day tournament.

Lucas, has maintained a 3.6 GPA. She has worked the Hoophall Classic the last three years, serving as a volunteer, liaison, and supervisor. Lucas is a member of the Springfield College Women's Basketball team, and a representative on the Student-Athlete Leadership Team (S.A.L.T.). She is currently completing her practicum with the Springfield College Department of Athletics focusing on Student-Athlete Development and Compliance. In addition, she has volunteered at the Travelers Championship Golf Tournament and the American Hockey League's Springfield Thunderbirds. 
 
DePasquale, has maintained a 3.7 GPA while competing as a student-athlete on the Springfield College Golf team. DePasquale has worked the Hoophall Classic for three straight years. He has served as a team liaison, supervisor, and this year, was one of the head supervisors. In addition, DePasquale has worked with the American Hockey League's Springfield Thunderbirds as a Game Operations Intern. He is now prepared to take his leadership skills overseas during the 2026 spring semester, as he will be studying abroad in Florence, Italy. 
 
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Scholarship is presented annually to Springfield College Sport Management majors within the School of Physical Education, Performance and Sport Leadership. Awardees have maintained a successful grade point average and demonstrated a combination of service to Springfield College and the Hoophall Classic.

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