This scholarship is dedicated to the memory of Amanda Strous, who was a beloved member of the Shippensburg University Field Hockey team, first as a player and later as an assistant coach. Amanda Strous played field hockey at Shippensburg from 2007-2010, graduating in the spring of 2011 with a bachelor of science in psychology and a minor in art. She was a forward who played in 79 games for the Raiders, totaling 24 goals and 13 assists for 61 career points.
As a senior in 2010, a season in which Shippensburg competed in the NCAA Division II National Championship game, Amanda served as a team captain and had a career year. She totaled 11 goals and five assists.
After spending her first year after graduation as an assistant coach at Hamilton College N.Y., Amanda returned to her alma mater in the fall of2012 – beginning a three-year run as an assistant coach on the Field Hockey team, while studying for her master’s degree.
In 2013, Amanda was the primary assistant on the Shippensburg squad that won its first ever NCAA Division II National Championship. Two years later, she earned her master’s degree in mental health counseling from Shippensburg.
While she was earning her master’s degree, Amanda was a master’s level intern in the University Counseling Center. She was admired and deeply appreciated for her work as a counseling trainee and was considered to be a truly dedicated professional who loved her work. Her clients benefitted from her emotional presence and concern for their well being.
Field Hockey was Amanda’s passion and a guiding force in her life. It was not just the sport, but the bonds that were formed and the family it became. It was more than just being an athlete; it was the life lessons she learned as a student-athlete that she applied to work as an assistant coach and student counselor.
Though her own life was short, Amanda immeasurably touched the lives of many people. With this scholarship, Amanda’s love of the sport, her team spirit, generosity, desire to help others and largeness of heart will live on in perpetuity.
Make a gift to the Amanda K. Strous Memorial Scholarship