ITHACA, N.Y. - The Ithaca College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics hosted its 2022-23 Senior Student-Athlete Awards Banquet inside Emerson Suites on Monday, May 15. Ithaca was once again 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 while also honoring Barbara Belyea '82 for her service as the faculty athletics representative.

 
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 – Rachel Richards (women's soccer), Max Perry (football), Jamie Rossig (women's track & field), Ryan Medeiros (men's track & field), Erika Elcsisin (women's rowing) and Nathaniel Oczkowski (men's 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 Erika Elcsisin and Nathaniel Oczkowski.
 
Jennifer McKeon, associate professor in exercise science and athletic training, delivered her remarks and presented the Mark H. Alderman Athletic Training Service Award to Izabella Roth. She would then present the Rodney H. Dusinberre Athletic Training Excellence Award to Allison Egan.
   
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 Michael Toerpar presented the award to his student-athlete, A.J. Wingfield.
 
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 was Anthony D'Addetta who excelled as a two-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 Dom Mikula from the men's indoor & outdoor track & field teams and the Iris Carnell award recipient was Cameryn Nichols from the gymnastics program.
 
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:

Rebecca Andrews
Katie Arseneau
Nicholas Bahamonde
Matthew Beyer
Lauren Brady
Jessica Bredin
Sara Brown
Madison Casale
Katie Champagne
Amberly Christiansen
David Cifonelli
Ben Coates
Camryn Coffey
Kailey Collins
Arla Davis
Zoe Davis
Allison Dell'Orto
Emily Dorn
Katharine Downey
Allison Egan
Erika Elcsisin
Jake Erickson
Nicole Fortunato
Andy Frank
Donte Garcia
Meredith Garrity
Henry Grant
Kennedey Heichel
Ashton Herd
Caroline Herz
Josephine Holman
Kayla Howley
Daniel Hutchinson
Grace Isaksen
Danny Jagoe
Tava Kasper
Aidan Keenan
Martha Kemp-Neilson
Erin Kiley
Sarah Kohberger
Katy Krueger
Zoe Kyriakopoulos
Rachel Lange
Brianna Lennon
Sophia Mahoney
Madison Martinez
Meghan Matheny
Cade McDermott
Shaye McKenna
Ryan Medeiros
Gil Merod
Morgan Mullen
Cameryn Nichols
Nathaniel Oczkowski
Camryn O'Leary
Cristea Park
Nya Pauldon
Karalyn Pawcio
Robbie Penhollow
Max Perry
Jane Pfeufer
Elizabeth Pillow
Jennifer Pitts
Ally Post
Rachel Richards
Adrian Rosario-Beato
Rachel Rose
Leo Rosenblum
Jamie Rossig
Anna Rubino
Olivia Rubino
Delaney Rutan
Holden Shatouhy
Emily Shorb
Kyle Sicke
Derek Slywka
Dehron Smith
Natalie Smith
Michael Snowden
Max Sobel
Stephen Soravilla
Liam Spellman
Julia Tomanovich
Karley Whalen
Alex Whatley