Princeton University Athletics
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Bender & Travis Named Fall 2023 PNC Achievers
October 20, 2023 | Football, General, Women's Rugby
A pair of Princeton student-athletes have been honored for their tremendous work on the field, in the classroom and in the community with their selection as Fall 2023 PNC Achievers. Leilani Bender (rugby) and Jalen Travis (football) were recently honored at the October PVC Luncheon.
LEILANI BENDER '24 (Rugby)
Leilani Bender is a senior flanker for Princeton women's rugby. The two-year captain has been instrumental in leading the Tigers while transitioning to varsity status these past two seasons. She has been honored with the program's Most Versatile Player Award as well as the Phil Rogers Award for leadership and sportsmanship.
Bender has also been a positive force in the community, actively volunteering with Reading with the Tigers, PVC youth sports clinics and serving as a tutor and teaching assistant for middle and high school students. She is a student leader within Campus Recreation and serves with Natives of Princeton helping to bring visibility and awareness to Native and Indigenous issues.
An All-Academic honoree and Shapiro Prize recipient, Bender is a Civil and Environmental Engineering major from Honolulu, Hawaii.
JALEN TRAVIS '24 (Football)
Jalen Travis is a senior captain and offensive lineman for Princeton football. An All-League performer and Ivy League champion, Travis has helped guide the Tigers to an 80% winning percentage during his Princeton career. He was recently named to this year's Senior Bowl watchlist for top NFL prospects.
In 2020, Travis founded the Just Action Coalition in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota to engage, educate and empower youth in social justice activism. On Campus, Travis is a Student-Athlete Wellness Leader and co-director of the Minority Pre-Law Association. He is also a liaison for Princeton's Advocacy and Activism Student Board and was awarded a Truman Scholarship to attend law school and pursue a career in public service.
Travis is an Anthropology major pursuing a certificate in African American Studies.
Achieve. Serve. Lead.
— Princeton Tigers (@PUTIGERS) October 20, 2023
Leilani Bender (@PUWRFC) & Jalen Travis (@PrincetonFTBL) embody this motto and were recently honored as the Fall 2023 @PNCBank Achievers!
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LEILANI BENDER '24 (Rugby)
Leilani Bender is a senior flanker for Princeton women's rugby. The two-year captain has been instrumental in leading the Tigers while transitioning to varsity status these past two seasons. She has been honored with the program's Most Versatile Player Award as well as the Phil Rogers Award for leadership and sportsmanship.
Bender has also been a positive force in the community, actively volunteering with Reading with the Tigers, PVC youth sports clinics and serving as a tutor and teaching assistant for middle and high school students. She is a student leader within Campus Recreation and serves with Natives of Princeton helping to bring visibility and awareness to Native and Indigenous issues.
An All-Academic honoree and Shapiro Prize recipient, Bender is a Civil and Environmental Engineering major from Honolulu, Hawaii.
JALEN TRAVIS '24 (Football)
Jalen Travis is a senior captain and offensive lineman for Princeton football. An All-League performer and Ivy League champion, Travis has helped guide the Tigers to an 80% winning percentage during his Princeton career. He was recently named to this year's Senior Bowl watchlist for top NFL prospects.
In 2020, Travis founded the Just Action Coalition in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota to engage, educate and empower youth in social justice activism. On Campus, Travis is a Student-Athlete Wellness Leader and co-director of the Minority Pre-Law Association. He is also a liaison for Princeton's Advocacy and Activism Student Board and was awarded a Truman Scholarship to attend law school and pursue a career in public service.
Travis is an Anthropology major pursuing a certificate in African American Studies.
Players Mentioned
Flanker
/ Women's Rugby
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