Little Rock soccer senior Fali Garuba has been awarded the second annual Kevin A. Crass Heart of a Trojan Award at the Trojans’ Senior Honors Luncheon on May 1. 
The award, initiated in 2017, is given annually to a Little Rock student-athlete based on community service, leadership and dedication to their team.

A captain for the Trojans in 2017, Garuba played in 75 games during her Little Rock career, scoring 18 goals and adding 11 assists for 47 total points. She ranks in the top-10 all-time in program history in goals, assists, points, shots and game-winning goals, helping lead the Trojans to the Sun Belt Conference semifinals in each of the past two seasons.

The Pflugerville, Texas, native is a nursing major, boasting a 3.56 GPA, showing her capacity to balance a challenging school course load, collegiate soccer obligations and undertaking a handful of leadership roles. An active member both on campus and in the community, she served as a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and as a leader in Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, coordinating and taking part in numerous service events.

Garuba joins former Trojan baseball pitcher Cory Malcom as the second recipient of the award.

The award’s namesake, Kevin Crass, is an avid supporter of the Little Rock Athletic program, as well as an ambassador, community leader and benefactor in the Little Rock community for over 30 years.

Crass has assisted in multiple ways to the department, including serving as a color analyst for the Trojan men’s basketball team for the past two years, recently completing a two-year term as chair of the Trojan Advisory Council. He and his wife, Cathy, have been named the honorees for the 10th annual SpectacUALR, being held in October.

The award was given as part of the annual Trojan’s Senior Honors Luncheon, recognizing those Little Rock student-athletes who will be receiving their degrees and expressing appreciation for their efforts on behalf of the Trojan Athletic department.