UNCASVILLE, Conn. (Oct. 7, 2009) - Connecticut Sun point guard Lindsay
Whalen will be among distinguished company Friday night when she serves as
one of six grand marshals in the 2009 University of Minnesota Homecoming
Parade.Her fellow grand marshals will include former Vice President Walter Mondale, legendary author Garrison Keillor, NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Bell, and MSP Communications Vice President Deb Hopp. Jeanie Borlaug Laube will represent her father, Nobel Peace Prize recipient Norman Borlaug, who had planned to be a grand marshal before passing away on Sept. 12th.
"It's a pretty amazing honor to be selected with some of the people who have been picked this year," said Whalen, who led the Golden Gophers to their first Final Four appearance as a senior in 2004. "They covered all different areas of alumni. I'm really looking forward to it."
The six grand marshals - chosen by the University of Minnesota Homecoming Committee - will help celebrate what is being described as "The Ultimate Homecoming," and the parade is expected to draw approximately 30,000 spectators.
"This is a very special Homecoming at the University of Minnesota because our Gopher football team has returned to campus after 28 years of playing downtown in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome," said Margaret Sughrue Carlson, the University of Minnesota Alumni Association's chief executive officer. "We wanted grand marshals who represent the achievements of all alumni, and particularly, grand marshals who have made major contributions that have changed our state, our nation and our world."
Whalen captivated the state during four years at the University of Minnesota, helping build the Golden Gophers into a national powerhouse. She graduated as the all-time leading scorer - male or female - in school history, and was selected the 2004 Sportsperson of the Year by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
"I have been CEO of the alumni association for 25 years, and Lindsay is, without a doubt, the most impressive women's athlete to play during that time," Carlson said. "Lindsay is an outstanding scholar-athlete and person. I know her personally. I'm absolutely thrilled she has this honor and is in such esteemed company."
The fourth overall pick of the Connecticut Sun in the 2004 WNBA Draft, Whalen has become one of the elite point guards in the world. She is the all-time assist leader in Sun history, and helped lead the team to consecutive WNBA Finals in 2004 and 2005. In 2008, Whalen finished second to Los Angeles Sparks rookie Candace Parker in league MVP balloting.
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