PHOTO GALLERY
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Hartford Department of Athletics honored its student-athletes at the annual end of the year banquet on Tuesday night at the Chase Family Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion. Each year, the Department of Athletics honors student-athletes for their success in the classroom, on the field or court and in the community.
Prior to presenting the annual awards, the Hawks took time to honor more than150 student-athletes who achieved a grade point average of higher than 3.5 over the Spring 2012 and Fall 2012 semesters. In addition the 21 student-athletes who earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average in either semester were also presented with a gift.
Next up in the program was the presentation of the Hawk Appreciation Award and Outstanding Contribution Awards. The Hawk Appreciation Award is presented to members of the University community whose day-to-day commitment, loyalty and professional manner have played a key role in fostering University of Hartford Athletics. This year's Hawks Appreciation Award was presented to Lee Peters, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at the University.
The Outstanding Contribution Award is presented annually to someone within or outside the University community whose contributions, support and loyalty to the athletics program has been instrumental to its success. Two Outstanding Contribution Awards were presented on Tuesday to two couples who can best be described as “superfans,” Jim and Bonnie Conaty and Tom and Suzy Reich.
Next to be presented was the S. Edward Weinswig Outstanding Scholar Athlete Award, which is presented to a male and female graduating senior who has the highest cumulative grade point average. The 2013 honorees were Alex Hall (women's basketball) and Bobby Giuliani (men's track& field). Two additional academic awards were presented for the second time in 2013. The first was the Farmington Bank Excellence in Business Award which was again presented to Hall, while the Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center Excellence in Science award was presented to women's golfer Sarah Sideranko.
After recognizing the many student-athletes who earned America East, America Sky and MAAC honors throughout the 2012-13 year, the program moved along to the presentation of the Service Award to six University of Hartford students who have contributed to the success of the Department away from the spotlight of the playing fields. Ryan Adams was honored for his service as a student assistant in the academic offices and a math tutor. Jessica Baker, Shannon DePaul and Stephanie Crandall were all recognized for their support of athletics through their involvement with the Dance Team and the Pep Band. The final two Service Awards were presented to Bobby Giuliani and Adam Singer. Giuliani was honored for his work as a member of the front office staff, while Singer's two years serving as a manager with the men's basketball led to his distinction.
The next set of awards honored Hawks student-athletes for success beyond the field of play. First was the Best Team Community Service Award, presented to two teams who displayed the most enthusiasm and highest level of participation in community service events throughout the 2012-13 academic year. This year's Community Service Awards were presented to the men's lacrosse team, who earned the recognition for the fourth-straight year, and the softball team, who was honored for the first time.
Next came the Hawks Sportsmanship Awards, which recognizes any individual team, player or coach that while participating in intercollegiate athletics during the past year displayed any of the values associated with sportsmanship, including caring, civility, fairness, honest, integrity and responsibility. This year's Sportsmanship Awards were presented to Anthony Santaga (men's soccer) and Lindsey Schmaltz (cheerleading).
The next award was the Unsung Hero Award, which is given to student-athletes whose efforts and contributions reflect the high ideal of sport. The 2013 Unsung Hero award was presented to Natalie Bonham (women's track & field) for continuously sacrificing her individual success for that of the her team. In its fourth year of existence, the Iron Hawk Award was voted on by the strength and conditioning staff and honored 16 student-athletes who were named to the All Iron Hawk Team.
Next came the presentation of the Athletics Director Awards in which three individuals were recognized with the award presented by Director of Athletics Patricia Meiser. The first two awards were presented to a pair of women's soccer players Amelia Pereira and Erin Quinlan for their success on the field. Pereira was named the 2013 America East Striker of the Year and was also named an NSCAA Third Team All-American, helping lead Hartford to the America East Championship game. Quinlan was presented an Athletics Director Award after being named the America East Goalkeeper of the Year for the second straight season. This past year Quinlan held opponents to less than one goal on average, including allowing just five goals in eight conference games. She also recorded eight shutouts in 2012.
After presenting the 57 members of the 2013 graduating class with a senior gift, the Hawks honored 31 of those seniors who were named to the Coca Cola All-Senior Team. The 2013 honorees include Pat Knauth (baseball), Shealagh Begley (women's soccer), Amelia Pereira (women's soccer), Erin Quinlan (women's soccer), Caitlin Alves (women's soccer), Julianne Oberholtzer (women's soccer), Caroline Dixon (women's soccer), Brendan Lake (lacrosse), Nick Ceme (lacrosse), Garrett Dollard (lacrosse), Rory Nunamacher (lacrosse), John Peterson (men's basketball), Ruthanne Doherty (women's basketball), Nikkia Smith (women's soccer), Alex Hall (women's basketball), Daphne Elliott (women's basketball), Bobby Giuliana (men's track & field), Chris Rodriguez (men's track & field), Priscilla Appiagyei (women's track & field), Natalie Bonham (women's track & field), Kirsten LaPointe (women's golf), Sarah Sideranko (women's golf), Erica Phelps (softball), Kate Wacyk (softball), Jordan Haines(softball), Melani Maxwell (softball), Kami Nethersole (volleyball), Marco Neves (men's tennis), Josh Isaccson (men's tennis), James Stamopolous (men's soccer) and Kevin Lewis (men's soccer).
The final award of the evening is the Coaches Top Hawk Award, which is presented to one male and one female student-athlete in their final year of eligibility. The Top Hawk is someone who represents the department as a well-rounded student-athlete. They are a hard worker in athletics, a success in the classroom and a quality leader amongst our student-athletes. The 2013 Top Hawk Awards were presented to Bobby Giuliani (men's track & field) and Caitlin Alves (women's soccer).
Alves has helped lead the women's soccer team to a 37-26-11 overall record in her four years at Hartford, including the best winning percentage in a single season since 1997 when the Hawks finished 13-2-3 in 2011. In her time at Hartford, Alves scored 15 goals including a career-best 10 as a junior which also led the America East Conference. She finished her junior year earning National Soccer Coaches Association All-America distinction while also being named to All-Northeast and All-New England Teams. Alves will graduate this month as a health sciences major in the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions.
Giuliani has been a four year member of the cross country and track and field teams representing a small number of athletes in the department who compete in all three seasons during the year. In his career, Giuliani has put his name on two school records as a member of the medley relay and 4x800-meter relay teams. He has been named to the America East Commissioner's honor roll five times while at Hartford and is a two-time All-Academic Team honoree. Giuliani will graduate this month with a health sciences degreed from the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions and will pursue his postgraduate work in physical therapy.
