ITHACA, N.Y. - The Ithaca College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics hosted its 2024-25 Senior Student-Athlete Awards Banquet inside Emerson Suites on Thursday, May 15. Ithaca was once again thrilled to recognize this year's senior class in-person before they all graduated over the weekend.
It was also the final senior awards banquet for IC Director of Intercollegiate Athletics,
Susan Bassett '79, who is set to retire at the conclusion of this year.
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 official start of the ceremony, Bassett and Ithaca College President La Jerne Terry Cornish delivered opening remarks to a packed room of over 100 attendees.
After brunch, Bassett turned the program over to
Margaret Shackell, associate professor for accounting and business law and Ithaca's NCAA FAR, to present academic awards. Shackell began with the Chi Alpha Sigma award recipients (listed at the bottom) and transitioned to the male and female scholar-athletes for each season and Bernard Senior Scholar-Athlete Awards.
The six scholar-athletes honored obtained the highest GPA in their respective season – fall, winter and spring – while the Bernard Scholar-Athlete Awards are presented to the highest male and female GPA through seven semesters.
Scholar Athletes
Female
Fall: Maggie Galewski, Soccer
Winter: Marlena Bailey, Gymnastics
Spring: Annika Michel, Golf
Male
Fall: Patrick Bierach, Cross Country
Winter: Matthew Mitros, Swim & Dive
Spring: Drew Taylor, Outdoor Track & Field
Bernard Senior Scholar Athlete Award
Marlena Bailey and Patrick Bierach
From there, head baseball coach
David Valesente and assistant golf coach
Sophia Israel presented 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.
This year's winners were
Rheanna DeCrow and
Collin Feeney.
Up next was
Tyler Heisey, speaking on behalf of head cross country coach
Erin Dinan Frahm, who presented 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.
Drew Taylor was presented with the Harris Award, but was not in attendance as he was competed at the AARTFC Championships in Massachusetts.
The final awards of the day were the Iris Carnell Female Senior and Ben Light Male Senior Athlete Awards.
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.
Swimming & diving assistant coach
Chris Griffin presented the Iris Carnell Award to
Kailee Payne.
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.
Head coach of men's basketball
Waleed Farid presented the award to
Logan Wendell.
Ithaca's list of Chi Sigma Alpha honorees recognize all senior student-athletes who maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.40-or-higher during their collegiate careers. Honorees included:
| Jonah M. Alefantis |
| Lily M. Babcock |
| Marlena M. Bailey |
| Ashley S. Bailey |
| Patrick H. Bierach |
| Bryce R. Bleibtrey |
| Daniel W. Borenius |
| Angela D. Burke |
| Meara C. Bury |
| Austin J. Bush |
| Julia M. Cascone |
| Carolina M. Cedraschi |
| Ellie R. Chelnick |
| Abby G. Chesshire |
| Skye R. Cohen |
| Jake S. Connolly |
| Anna C. Cornell |
| Taylor M. Crain |
| Rheanna K. DeCrow |
| Natalie M. Descalso |
| Jordyn L. Dolan |
| Justin T. Drews |
| Kyla P. Eisman |
| Collin Feeney |
| Tess Ferguson |
| Jillian R. Freyman |
| Maggie E. Galewski |
| Kaylie M. Goodwin |
| Caroline Z. Grass |
| Caleb J. Grassi |
| Jackson K. Gray |
| Chase T. Gulick |
| Maddie E. Hall |
| Josie L. Hampton |
| Matt M. Haycook |
| Rachel J. Hersch |
| Grace S. Hickey |
| Caroline T. Hoskins |
| James E. Hughes |
| Miles R. Kenaston |
| Sammi G. Klemm |
| Sam J. Kline |
| Jack G. Longo |
| Nicole R. Lonski |
| Santi A. Ludwig |
| Natalie E. MacArthur |
| Ryan T. Maher |
| Riley C. Maynard |
| Bella K. McCollister |
| Annika E. Michel |
| Peyton Miller |
| Matthew Mitros |
| Isabella R. Mittelman |
| Liam F. Murphy |
| Owen B. O'Neill |
| Catherine T. Papa |
| Zoe Paradis Stern |
| Kailee N. Payne |
| Connor Pedersen |
| Grant A. Peters |
| Pj J. Roth |
| Kaitlyn A. Russell |
| Faith L. Sabatier |
| Logan M. Scully |
| Lily C. Seyfert |
| Jenell S. Slesser |
| Samuel I. Smith |
| Chris A. Sohl |
| Matthew J. Stevens |
| Laura Suppa |
| Drew R. Taylor |
| Connor S. Tierney |
| Owen H. Tobias-Wallingford |
| Sam J. Tourangeau |
| Anya E. Watkins |
| Logan G. Wendell |
| Annabella F. Yorio |
| Harry A. Zielinski |
