Carla Overbeck became somewhat of a household name this year as a pivotal member of the U.S. women's soccer team, but she has been an excellent role model for young people for quite some time.

Administrators at the College of Notre Dame (Maryland) recognized that fact this fall and awarded Overbeck the school's President's Medal, which recognized her many achievements both on and off the field.

"Carla, in addition to her significant contributions to her team, has outstanding individual achievements and qualities that are positive examples to young women," said Notre Dame President Mary Pat Seurkamp.

Overbeck is probably best known as co-captain of the 1999 U.S. Women's World Cup championship team. She was the most valuable player in the World Cup final against China and as a member of the World Cup all-star team.

But Overbeck has had a lifetime worth of success in soccer and in life, where she is a college graduate, an assistant soccer coach, and mom to two-year-old Jackson Overbeck, her son with husband Greg Overbeck.

Overbeck was captain of the 1996 gold-medal winning U.S. Olympic Team, and she played every minute of all five games at the 1996 Olympics.

She's also known as the "Cal Ripken of Soccer," holding the U.S. record for consecutive, complete international games (39 games against 18 teams in six different countries).

Overbeck was a star at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where her team won the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship four times, and she was an all-American selection for three years.

Overbeck graduated from North Carolina in 1990 with a degree in psychology. She is an assistant women's soccer coach at Duke University, and she also makes numerous appearances on behalf of the sneaker and apparel company FILA, where she was the first female athlete to have a signature shoe.

Overbeck realizes that all of life is not athletics, and she is not afraid to share that view with young people.

"Soccer is an important part of my life, but it's not my whole life," Overbeck said. "I have a great education, a wonderful husband and a beautiful son. Someday, hopefully far away, I won't play competitively any more, and I have something solid to fall back on."

Special medal on special day

Notre Dame (Maryland) chose to honor Overbeck with the school's President's Medal, which is awarded in recognition of outstanding personal qualities and professional achievement exemplifying the goals of education at the school.

"Carla stands as a symbol of the intelligence, strength and vitality of a strong leader in today's world," said athletics director Margie Tversky. "These attributes are often discovered and refined through participation in collegiate athletics. The college chose to honor Carla Overbeck because of her examples of leadership and achievement, as well as her impact, and that of her team, upon women's athletics."

The school elected to honor Overbeck on a special day known as School Sisters of Notre Dame Foundation Day. On that day, the school commemorates the anniversary of its founding in 1873 and celebrates its founders.

"Today we honor a woman who, like the School Sisters of Notre Dame, has made a difference in the lives of women, challenging them to do something extraordinary," said Casey Hentz, a senior and co-captain of the school's soccer team.

Overbeck received the award at a special luncheon attended by 600 guests, including students, alumnae, faculty and staff. More than 400 students from 32 Maryland high schools also attended.

After the luncheon, Overbeck made herself available for a question-and-answer session with Notre Dame student leaders and the high-school students in attendance.

While acknowledging that the media attention since the World Cup had been overwhelming at times, Overbeck said that she really hadn't minded it much because it gave young girls the chance to see female role models in athletics, something that her generation had lacked.

"I'm just happy to be moving along the sport (of soccer) and being someone kids look up to," she said.

The day concluded with a soccer game between Notre Dame and Villa Julie College. Overbeck signed autographs and spoke with spectators before the game, and she also participated in pregame festivities, including special presentations to senior soccer players.