Harlem Lacrosse alumni and HWS students Indiah, Leah and Richard were honored as the inaugural recipients of the Sean Fox Memorial Scholarship. All three were long-time participants in the Harlem Lacrosse-NY program and have been involved since middle school. Indiah is a freshman who is planning on majoring in biology and becoming a surgeon. Leah is a sophomore who plans to declare as a sociology major. Richard is a junior anthropology major who hopes to spend his next semester abroad in Japan.

Sean Fox’s life was defined by lacrosse, community, service to others and always, always, trying to “make the assist.”

A fixture in the game, Sean grew up in Cortland, NY, and later matriculated at Hobart & William Smith Colleges (HWS) where he won five national championships -- four as a player and one as an assistant coach. Sean was the consummate teammate -- he understood better than anyone how to support and love those around him and led by example, bringing his best effort and positive attitude every single day.

Sean earned universal respect for his humility, kindness, and mentorship. Without fail, he made himself available to guide others, offering his wisdom and experiences, to coaches, parents, colleges and student-athletes.

“Whether it was playing on the field, coaching youth, high school, college, or club lacrosse, filling in as an official, speaking with parents and players about their child’s next step, mentoring young coaches and colleagues, having a toss with a new player, or inspiring his sons (Connor and Trevor) to develop their own passion for the sport; Sean’s mission was to generate within others a similar love and respect for the game of lacrosse that had been instilled in him,” Sean’s wife Kristin Fox said.

Sean would later bring that same ethos and effort to his career and was an industry leader in lacrosse as the CEO of Brine for a decade and later as one of the key members at 3d Lacrosse and later 3STEP Sports. Sean enjoyed a high level of professional success, and viewed this as being inexplicably linked to lacrosse throughout his career. Sean was grateful to the game and to the lacrosse community for enriching his life, and there was nothing more meaningful to Sean than paying it forward. Legendary lacrosse coach and Sean’s mentor, Coach Dave Urick, asked this of Sean and his Hobart teammates: “Give back to the game that gave so much to you”.

When Sean tragically passed away in Summer 2021, Sean’s co-worker at 3Step Sports and VP of Lacrosse Greg Waldbaum knew how important it was to continue to build on Sean’s legacy of making wherever he was a brighter, better, and more inclusive place.

“Sean was an amazing person who always thought about others before himself,” Waldbaum said. “I believed there was a path to doing something very meaningful to honor Sean into the future.

Waldbaum, who is also a member of Harlem Lacrosse’s advisory board, then began spitballing with another advisor board member and Sean’s college friend at HWS Jim Mulvey.

“Doing something special in memory of Sean with Hobart, Harlem Lacrosse and lacrosse in general was important to me, because I knew these topics were near and dear to Sean,” Walbaum said.

Mulvey added: “Sean was always inquiring about the Harlem Lacrosse students over the years, not only about their lacrosse abilities - but their academic achievements as well. A scholarship in Sean's memory to help cover these student's financial gap on college tuition and avoid having to take on large loans seemed to be the perfect way to celebrate Sean's life.”

Soon thereafter the Sean Fox Memorial Scholarship was established and there was an outpouring of support from folks who Sean had impacted throughout his life – during his days at HWS, his tenure at 3d Lacrosse and 3Step Sports or just as a supportive father on the sideline for Connor and Trevor.

The scholarship committee consisting of Sean’s family, former co-workers, and college linemates crafted an application process to award Harlem Lacrosse students who attended Hobart & William Smith Colleges and who like Sean are defined by selflessness to others, community-building, and a commitment to growth.

“Sean had a vision for the players he connected with. He wanted teammates who were disciplined, respectful, hard-working, loyal, competitive, and committed,” Sean’s wife Kristin Fox said. “Most importantly he envisioned players having fun along the way while building the character that would serve them well throughout their lives.”

In the first year of the scholarship, Harlem Lacrosse alumni and HWS students Indiah, Leah and Richard were honored as recipients. All three are long-time participants in the Harlem Lacrosse-NY program who have been involved since middle school. Indiah is a freshman who is planning on majoring in biology and becoming a surgeon. Leah is a sophomore who plans to declare as a sociology major. Richard is a junior anthropology major who hopes to spend his next semester abroad in Japan. All three spoke about the opportunities Harlem Lacrosse has provided and the benefits of the broader network that exists at HWS.

“I think my first year I didn’t step out of my comfort zone,” Leah added. “This year I have found myself much more and am way more comfortable talking to people, joining clubs, and being involved on campus.”

They were each awarded Sean Fox Memorial Scholarships after filling out an extensive application that both looked at what they have accomplished but also what they’re excited to achieve this year as campus leaders. The Sean Fox Memorial Scholarship was critical to these students and families being able to pursue their considerable academic passions and create their own legacies on campus.

Said one of the parents about the impact of receiving the award: “We did not have the resources to afford [college] … As a family, we truly appreciate the Sean Fox Memorial scholarship which lifted a weight off our shoulders during these difficult times. It was truly a blessing.”

In many ways, having such a profound impact on others is a continuation of Sean’s relentless focus on “making the assist” and finding ways to always support and advocate for those around him.

Added Kristin Fox: “For Sean, the game of lacrosse and the community surrounding the sport made life better and provided a foundation for life’s most important lessons while providing lifelong friendships and enhancing the possibility for professional opportunities. It was very meaningful to Sean to think about a young player's future, and almost a calling for Sean to help players and their families generate the positive outcomes that he received throughout his life.”

The scholarship committee is excited to continue to grow the Sean Fox Memorial Scholarship and to support many more students who share Sean’s inclusive and ever-generous spirit, including those who attend colleges and universities beyond HWS. College remains critically important to young people as they aim to access career opportunities, and the Sean Fox Memorial Scholarship committee is eager to reduce systematic barriers in ways that Sean would’ve been proud to be involved.

Sean’s son Connor Fox summarized the focus of the scholarship: Lacosse was [Sean]’s ultimate passion and he truly saw it as a vehicle for so many great things in life. He really believed in the lacrosse community and all of the things the game can teach players, and focused intently on ensuring that everyone who’s gained in some fashion from the sport makes a defined effort to give back to it.”