Bove, a stellar student and starting midfielder on the lacrosse team, also finds time for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The term student-athlete doesn’t accurately describe senior lacrosse player Emil Bove. More categories are needed. How about scholar-leader-worker-friend?
Bove manages to find time for Division I sports, a demanding class schedule, University service and a part-time job, but that’s not all. Some of his favorite hours during his hectic week revolve around 7-year-old Khalil Stewart, his friend in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

“Khalil puts things into perspective for me,” said Bove, a Seneca Falls native. “When I pick him up, he’s not worried about whether I won a lacrosse game or how I did on a test. He just wants to throw the ball around. I spend a couple of hours with him on Sundays, and it’s really nice. And I usually talk to him on the phone at least once a week.”

So many things are important to Bove that he must be careful not to become overloaded. “A lot of it has to do with keeping my priorities straight,” he said. “As long as I remain focused, all my priorities fall in line. School and sports are my top priorities, but they are not one and two. They are more like 1A and 1B. I manage to keep them both high on the list.”

First and foremost, Bove is a scholar. He carries a 4.0 cumulative Grade Point Average in the demanding double major of public policy and economics. His outstanding academic achievements have earned him Presidential Scholar honors and a berth on the prestigious Verizon University Division Academic Men’s At-Large All-American team.

Bove, who was working part time in the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority during the spring and then worked full time there over the summer, started all 16 games for the Great Danes’ men’s lacrosse team last season. The squad won the program’s first America East Conference regular-season championship and played in the league tournament’s title game. As a long-stick midfielder with defensive responsibilities, Bove was third on the team in ground balls with 39.

“Emil is a bit of a Renaissance man,” said Albany head lacrosse coach Scott Marr. “He really came out of his shell this season. Becoming captain helped him maturity-wise. He brings his work ethic to the table every day.”

Bove plans on being a lawyer some day, and there were other colleges he could have attended toward that end, but he chose UAlbany because of all the things it has to offer. “I was looking at Cornell, but they didn’t offer me the opportunity to play lacrosse unless I tried out for the team as a walk-on,” he explained. “Here, I can help build a program. Also, as far as being well rounded, this has worked out better for me. There are so many things to do here at Albany, and it has helped me become a better person all the way around.”

— Bob Weiner