Bucknell’s Louie Germain earns national humanitarian award

Bucknell senior defenseman Louie Germain was named the Bison’s recipient of the inaugural Coach Liam Gleason Humanitarian Award, a national honor that puts Lewisburg’s men’s lacrosse program in a tribute built around service, leadership and community impact.

The award was created in January by family members, former coaches and friends close to Liam Gleason, the Siena coach whose death in December at age 41 prompted one of the sport’s most visible remembrance efforts. Each NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse program selected one student-athlete for the honor at the end of the 2026 season, and the Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association said the inaugural class included 77 Division I players, plus Kennedy Gleason, Liam’s daughter.

The tribute has already extended beyond the award itself. The coaches’ association announced it on Feb. 9 and said coaches across all three NCAA divisions wore green ribbon “LG” lapel pins during the Feb. 13-15 weekend. More than 1,000 pins and educational materials were distributed, and the association said Gleason’s organ donation saved four lives. Siena said Gleason died Dec. 3 after injuries from an accident at home, and that he was survived by his wife, Jaclyn, and children Kennedy, Penn and Tate, along with his parents, Kevin and Susan, and his brother, Brendan. Siena also said he had guided the Saints to an 11-5 record, a share of the MAAC regular-season title, a fourth MAAC tournament championship and national rankings in May 2025.

Germain’s selection reflects more than his play on the field. Bucknell said the political science and government major carried a 3.95 cumulative GPA, served on the executive board of the National Society of Leadership and Success and took part in Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute programs as an Igniting Leader and a member of the Team Leader Round Table group. He has also earned the Bison Elite Award, the President’s Award and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District recognition.

On the field, Germain overcame a season-ending injury in his sophomore year to become a steady piece of the Bucknell defense. In 2026 he played in all 13 games with five starts, finishing with seven ground balls, six caused turnovers and one assist. His busiest defensive outing came in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinals, when he posted a season-high three caused turnovers in Bucknell’s 6-5 overtime loss to Colgate.

Bucknell coach Frank Fedorjaka said Germain exemplifies “the highest levels of leadership and humility” and called him “the epitome of a team-first individual.” For Bucknell, the recognition is another example of a student-athlete representing the university through community-minded leadership, not just results on the scoreboard.