With the spring sports season canceled at its very beginning (or before it even started, for some Union teams) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UnionAthletics.com will spend the next few months spotlighting many of the Union seniors whose athletic careers came to a premature end. Previous senior profiles can be viewed by heading to http://www.unionathletics.com/seniorspotlights.
 
Omar Lebbar has spent three years with the Union men's crew teams, serving in the important role of coxswain. After spending his first season in the novice 8 boat, he moved up to direct the second varsity 8 during his junior campaign, helping the team to a sixth-place finish at the Liberty League Championships. He sat on the varsity and varsity 4 boats during his senior fall.
 
Off the water, the mechanical engineering major was named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team last season and the Dean's List student also was a member of the World Around U International Students Association.
 
What has been your favorite moment as a student-athlete at Union?
As a member of the men's crew team, the spring season was always the best. Going on the water every afternoon to watch the sunset was the highlight of my day. My favorite moment was our trip to Long Lake where we had dinner with our rivals from St. Lawrence University. 
 
How has being a student-athlete at Union benefited you over the last four years?
Being a student-athlete and specifically the coxswain of the men's crew team has taught me numerous skills. This experience has taught me how to contribute to the team spirit and how to be an effective leader. In fact, one of the most important qualities of a coxswain is respect, and in order to gain the respect of the team, it is important to set the example by always being sharp, punctual and caring. 
 
What has been your most meaningful experience outside of athletics?
I have traveled a lot outside of athletics. In the fall of my junior year, I was on a term abroad in Prague, Czech Republic, and had the opportunity to travel all around Europe. I visited Prague again the following summer among other European cities, and I am planning to travel even more in the future, perhaps visit parts of Asia and South America. 
 
Who was/is your favorite professor at Union and why?
My favorite professor at Union is Professor Bradford Bruno [Professor of Mechanical Engineering] in the mechanical engineering department. During my sophomore year, I took two classes with him in thermodynamics, and his teaching style immensely piqued my interest in the field. The following summer, I was the recipient of the Stanley Black and Decker fellowship at Union and worked with him, Professor Rieffel and an alumnus, Matt Egglin '19, on the design of a computer cooling system. I continued working on this project as part of my senior capstone with Professor Wilk, and was very passionate about it. Today, as I am seeking a job in the sector of energy systems and thermodynamics, and I realized that this interest would have been completely different had I not taken those two classes with Professor Bruno. 
 
Do you have plans for post-graduation yet?  If so, what are they?
I am planning to remain in the United States and pursue a professional career. 
 
What advice would you give to younger athletes about their time at Union?
Firstly, I want to mention that joining an athletic team is a great opportunity to meet new people. With your team, you get to live incredible moments, especially after winning a competition. In addition, it teaches discipline and the ability to work well with others. One advice I would give to younger athletes is to stay disciplined. The athletic experience is not only about having fun and being part of a community, it also comes with hard work and discipline. Athletics is not just a fun extracurricular activity.