PHILADELPHIA - Recently graduated senior from the University of Pennsylvania women's lacrosse team, Julia O'Mara has been named the winner of The Yeardley Reynolds Love ("YRL") Unsung Hero Award, presented by the One Love Foundation.

Presented annually, the YRL Unsung Hero Award recognizes the accomplishments of two Division I lacrosse players (one male, one female) who demonstrate dedication, integrity, humility, hard work, community service, leadership, kindness and sportsmanship – all qualities that Yeardley Love exemplified throughout her life. These student-athletes make a significant contribution to the team in ways that may not be measured in goals, saves or ground balls.

A three-time Ivy League regular-season champion with the Quakers, O'Mara was with the program since arriving as a freshman in the fall of 2015. After sustaining her second concussion in four weeks during her sophomore season, her fourth concussion overall, she decided to medically retire from the sport of lacrosse but told both her coaches and her teammates she wouldn't be going anywhere.

Since then, O'Mara continued as a full member of the team, attending every practice, game, meal, road trip and all other team events. She made it a mission to participate in Penn's offseason run tests as well, taking it upon herself to help her teammates that may struggle with passing. In fact, O'Mara implemented a morning run club, assisting in building the fitness of everyone on the team.

Off the field, O'Mara was a mentor with the Young Quakers West Philadelphia Sports Mentorship Program. Participation in this program invovles serving as a Big Quaker mentor for girls from a local West Philadelphia public school through weekly lacrosse practices and academic programs. As part of the this program, O'Mara dedicated every Friday from 3:30 – 5:30 working with the girls from Comegys and Lea Elementary Schools. O'Mara also served on the board of Penn's "One for the World" organization, working with other undergraduate students to integrate effective charitable giving into post-collegiate life.

O'Mara recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Science, majoring in materials science engineering and a minor in engineering entrepreneurship. She is set to work in the Business Technology field for Blackstone in their Innovations group

ABOUT THE ONE LOVE FOUNDATION
Founded in 2010 to honor the memory of Yeardley Love, One Love's mission is to end relationship abuse by educating young people about healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviors and empowering them to be leaders driving change in their communities. For more information, please visit www.joinonelove.org.