BOSTON – Graduated senior David MacKinnon, who played four years each for the Hartford baseball and soccer teams, has been named the America East Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the organization announced today. MacKinnon also won the award in 2015-16, becoming the first Hartford student-athlete to garner the recognition twice.
 
The Easton, Mass., native is the fifth student-athlete from the conference to win the award in consecutive years, and the first since Binghamton tennis player Sven Vloedgraven (2009-10 and 2010-11).
 
Earlier this spring, MacKinnon was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Division I Baseball Team for the second time in his career. As a junior in 2016, MacKinnon became the first America East baseball player to earn Academic All-America honors.
 
MacKinnon's honor caps off a stellar year for the Hawks in garnering academic recognition, as Hartford took home a share of the America East Walter Harrison Academic Cup for having the highest GPA in the conference. The Hawks had a 3.31 mark in the classroom – the highest ever posted by a league institution.

MacKinnon graduated in May with a degree in accounting from the Barney School of Business, finishing his academic career with a 3.87 cumulative GPA. He earned President's List (3.75+ GPA) distinction six times, was named to the Dean's List once and earned America East Commissioner's Honor Roll (3.5+) recognition in each of his eight semesters at Hartford.
 
A first baseman, MacKinnon was one of three Hawks selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, being chosen by the Los Angeles Angels in the 32nd round of the Major League Baseball draft earlier this month and is currently with the Orem (Utah) Owlz, in the Pioneer (Rookie) League. He holds a .468 batting average with 16 RBI and 19 runs in his first 17 professional games.
 
During his final season in a Hawks uniform, MacKinnon was the only Hawk to start in all 50 games. He posted a .327 batting average, leading the team in hits (68) and runs scored (44).
 
MacKinnon finished his career as the program's all-time leader in hits (269), runs (155) and putouts (1,508). He ranks second in team history in games played (196), at-bats (750), doubles (51) and fielding percentage (.990) and ranks among the all-time top-five in total bases (343; third), walks (82; fifth) and batting average (.359; fifth).

He also had a strong career for Tom Poitras on the soccer pitch. He helped the Hawks to three appearances in the America East Finals in his four years as a goalkeeper, and added All-Rookie Team honors in 2013 and Second Team All-Conference recognition in 2014. He wrapped his career second on the school's all-time shutouts list and tied for fourth on the school's wins list.