When Stephanie Cleary graduated this summer, Bombers basketball lost a star guard. But it appears that the world will be gaining a champion educator.

An English major who plans a career in education, Cleary set so many records at Ithaca that they almost defy enumeration. In her junior year she set the school's single-season record for steals with 154—the most by any player, man or woman, at any level of college basketball. In her senior year she became Ithaca's career leader in three-point baskets, steals, free throws, and scoring. She was named Empire 8 player of the year, and she went on to earn all-American honors—the first in the program's 39-year history. Through it all, Cleary performed equally well in the classroom, earning a spot on the District I all-academic team and graduating with a 3.5 grade point average.

"What was so special about Ithaca College was the support that I had from everyone," she said. "My teammates, my coaches, the athletic directors, my friends, everyone always supported me so that I could do my best and reach my full potential." To Cleary, trust, leadership, and hard work were the fundamentals of success. Now she hopes to pass along those lessons as her future unfolds. After graduate school, she plans a career in education working with special-needs children, and she hopes to remain active in basketball through coaching.