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Bucknell Senior Athletes Honored at Annual Awards Dinner
April 28, 2009
  LEWISBURG, Pa. - Nineteen outstanding Bucknell senior student-athletes were presented awards at the 48th Annual Department of Athletics & Recreation Senior Recognition Dinner, held Tuesday evening in the Terrace Room on campus. The outstanding careers of some 128 senior athletes were honored at the dinner, and standout rower Page Kannor (Boise, Idaho/Boise) and swimmer Mark Kawczenski (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Hanover Area) walked off with the evening's top honor, the Christy Mathewson Award, which goes to the outstanding male and female senior athletes. Kannor this season became Bucknell's first four-year member of the varsity eight, and this past weekend she helped the Bison to their fourth consecutive Patriot League women's rowing championship. The varsity eight was also named the Patriot League Boat of the Year for the fourth straight year. Throughout her career, Kannor has been a part of gold-medal boats at the ECAC Championships, the Muphy Cup, the Knecht Cup and the Reading Amateur Regatta in England. The Bison finished last season ranked No. 24 nationally, a program high. Kawczenski won gold in the 50-yard freestyle at the 2009 Patriot League Swimming & Diving Championships at Kinney Natatorium, and earlier in his career he twice won league titles in the 100 backstroke. He was a part of three silver-medal relays in 2009, and he is a four-time conference scorer in the 100 back, 50 free and 100 free. A four-time All-Patriot League selection, including three first-team citations, Kawczenski is the school record-holder in the 100 back. He also has the second-best time in the 50 free (just .09 off the record) and is part of four school-record relays. Elsewhere, two-time Patriot League Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year Jennifer Dervarics (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus) and Patriot League 400-meter dash champion Kerry Boyle (Conyngham, Pa./Hazleton Area) were given the Bison Club Award, presented to the senior athletes who best exemplify the winning spirit of the University's athletic program. The Alvin F. Jackson Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award, presented for outstanding academic and athletic achievement, and future promise as Bucknell alumni, went to two-time All-Patriot League cross country runner Gillian Nordquist (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) and record-setting hurdler Kevin MacLeod (East Longmeadow, Mass./East Longmeadow). Women's water polo all-time scoring leader Aubrey Rowe (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and men's water polo standout Gabriel Heiber (Caracas, Venezuela/Miami Beach) were awarded the Lee S. "Bud" Ranck Memorial Award, presented for outstanding spirit and contributions to the Bucknell athletic program. The Bradley N. Tufts Award went to Amanda Brown (Richardson, Texas/L.V. Berkner), a two-time First Team All-Patriot League selection in women's basketball, along with 2009 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year Billy Haire (Darien, Conn./Darien). The Tufts Award is given in recognition of exceptional athletic achievement and contribution to Bucknell athletics. The Robert A. Latour Service Award, presented for extraordinary service to Bucknell and local communities, went to Patriot League 500-meter dash champion Megan Hathaway (Belmont, Mass./Belmont) and football captain Kevin Mullen (Export, Pa./Penn-Trafford). The Bryan-Humphreys Award, presented to an individual for outstanding versatility within his/her sport, went to three-time First Team All-Patriot League women's soccer player Nicole Marotta (Bridgewater, N.J./Mount St. Mary Academy) and men's lacrosse standout John Togneri (Longmeadow, Mass./Loomis-Chaffee). The Edward W. Pangburn Award, presented for sportsmanship, fellowship and contribution to the University, went to all-conference women's basketball player Lauren Schober (Chicago, Ill./Regina Dominican) and men's soccer all-star Mark Schmiegel (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North). Jeweliet Yost (Ventnor, N.J./Atlantic City), the coxswain on each of Bucknell's last three Patriot League champion varsity eights, and men's tennis' No. 1 player Ryan Sandburg (Orange, Calif./Canyon) earned the Ronald J. "Pete" Pedrick Award, presented in recognition of demonstrated improvement and special contributions to Bucknell athletics over a four-year period. Field hockey's Jacquie Kataneksza (Harare, Zimbabwe/Arundel School) was bestowed the `Ray Bucknell Diversity Award for her work with the Bucknell African Students Association (BASA) and other community service organizations in an effort to raise awareness for the plight of her native country. Senior Damara Farkas was presented the E. Harold Biggs Memorial Award as the most outstanding student athletic trainer. In addition to the student-athlete awards, two alumni and one staff member received special awards. Dennis Hopple, Bucknell's Associate Registrar, received the ECAC Appreciation Award, which is presented to students, faculty, staff or friends of Bucknell for extraordinary contribution to the Bucknell department of athletics. Sharon Nichols `91 and William Ledgerwood '74 were presented Alumni Athlete Achievement Awards, given to former Bucknell athletes who have achieved success in their chosen profession. Bucknell Senior Athletic Awards Summary |
