Some athletes are born with skills separating them from the rest. Others are molded by determination and desire. Alison DeMarzo, a Tiger Cross Country athlete from 1992 through 1996, stands as an example of the latter. In all things, she exemplified a spirit unwilling to quit, unwilling to compromise, unwilling to settle for anything other than her own best efforts.

The DeMarzo Award is presented each year to the cross country athlete who best represents that same determination and desire. She, like Alison before her, reminds us that to run the race, to contribute to the team effort, and to wipe the mud from our faces is why we compete against those born with skills we might never possess.