ITHACA, N.Y. - The Ithaca College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics hosted its 2021-22 Senior Student-Athlete Awards Banquet inside Emerson Suites on Monday, May 16. Ithaca was thrilled to recognize this year's senior class in-person before they all graduate later 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 delivered her opening remarks and then welcomed the recently appointed 10th president of Ithaca College, Dr. La Jerne Terry Cornish.
From there, Dr. Cornish welcomed more than 90 seniors who were in attendance on Monday and the attendees had brunch inside Emerson Suites. The banquet moved to the awards ceremony where 98 seniors were inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, as presented by
Barbara 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 –
Laura Severance (volleyball),
Andrew Miller (football),
Abby Marraccino (women's swimming & diving),
Tristen Schiafo (wrestling), Emerson Bieck (women's crew) and
Timothy Cook (men's outdoor track & field).
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
Laura Severance and
Timothy Cook.
Jennifer McKeon, associate professor in exercise science and athletic training, delivered her remarks and presented the Mark H. Alderman Athletic Training Service Award to Kiana Telano and Giana Earrusso. She would then present the Rodney H. Dusinberre Athletic Training Excellence Award to
Logan Ninos.
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. Head coach
Kaitlyn Wahila presented the award to her student-athlete,
Victoria Sestito.
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 honorees were
Logan Bruce, who competed on the women's indoor & outdoor track & field teams as well as
Luke Tobia who excelled as a three-sport athlete competing for the football team and on the indoor & outdoor track & field 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
Buzz Shirley of baseball and the Iris Carnell award recipient was
Meghan Matheny from the women's indoor & outdoor track & field teams.
Ithaca's list of Chi Sigma Alpha honorees nearly broke the 100 student-athlete threshold this season. The award was bestowed to all senior student-athletes who maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.40-or-higher during their collegiate careers. Honorees included:
