ITHACA, N.Y. - The Ithaca College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics hosted its 2020-21 Senior Student-Athlete Awards Banquet inside Emerson Suites on Monday, May 17. After a virtual event last summer, Ithaca was thrilled to recognize this year's senior class in-person before they all graduate this weekend.

The event has become an annual tradition for the department, extending gratitude to the entire graduating class of student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to their athletics and studies over their collegiate careers. Highlighting the day were the presentation of the year-end senior awards, as the department recognized the top academic, athletic and overall performers with the distribution of numerous accolades.

Prior to the start of the awards presentations, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Susan Bassett '79 requested a moment of silence to observe the memory of sophomore Thomas Fine, a pole vaulter on the men's track & field team, who passed away suddenly over the weekend.
 
Following the recognition of Fine's life, Bassett delivered her opening remarks and then welcomed President Shirley Collado to the podium to address more than 90 seniors in attendance on Monday.
 
From there, the banquet moved to the awards ceremony, where 75 seniors were inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, as presented by Barb Belyea '82, faculty athletics representative. Belyea then acknowledged this year's six student-athletes who obtained the highest GPAs during the fall, winter and spring seasons – Kelly Farrell (women's cross country), Joshua Endy (men's cross country), Malia Farrar (women's swimming & diving), Adam Wagner (wrestling), Devi de Oliveira (women's crew) and Aaron Shoemaker (baseball).
 
The final academic awards presented were the Bernard Senior Scholar-Athletes, which go to the top male and female GPA over seven semesters. Those went to de Oliveira and Wagner.
 
Paul Geisler, professor in exercise science and athletic training, delivered his remarks and presented the Mark H. Alderman Athletic Training Service Award to Kyle Stolba and the Rodney H. Dusinberre Athletic Training Excellence Award to Alessandro Vecchi.
 
The next two awards handed out were the Robert C. Deming Leadership Award. The Robert C. Deming Award is named for the former Ithaca College Athletic Director and is presented to the student-athlete who has been recognized for athletic ability, maintaining high standards in the classroom and demonstrated outstanding leadership on campus and in the community. 
 
Caroline Grant of women's lacrosse and Courtney Christoforo from gymnastics were the recipients of the Deming Award.
 
Next, was The James K. Harris Memorial Award, which recognizes the most outstanding and versatile student-athlete who excelled in two-or-more varsity sports, while representing the qualities of leadership, loyalty, and team spirit. 
 
This year's honoree was Libby Ryan, who competed on the women's crew and sculling teams.

The final awards of the day were the Ben Light Male Senior Athlete and Iris Carnell Female Senior Athlete Awards.
 
The Ben Light Male Athlete of the Year is the honor presented to the senior male student-athlete who has demonstrated excellence in sport leadership in competition, as well as ability in the classroom.
 
The Iris Carnell Female Athlete of the Year is presented annually to the senior female student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding athletic ability, leadership and contributions to her team.
 
This year's Ben Light award winner was Stanley Zaneski of men's swimming & diving and the Iris Carnell award recipient was Reagan Stone from women's volleyball.