Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University department of athletics honored its student-athletes for the 2009-10 school year Sunday evening at its 16th annual All-Sports Banquet, held at the Charles L. Sewall Center.

Led by master of ceremonies Chris Shovlin, the radio play-by-play voice of Colonial athletics for the last 23 years, Robert Morris presented most valuable player plaques to each of its 23 intercollegiate sports, while nine individuals and one team were also honored, respectively, with the Presidential Scholar-Athlete Award, Most Outstanding Senior Female and Most Outstanding Senior Male Awards, the RMU Athletic Department Appreciation Award, the Susan K. Hofacre Student Fan of the Year Award and the second annual Female and Male Strength & Conditioning Student-Athletes of the Year. 

Garnering the Presidential Scholar-Athlete award, presented by Robert Morris University president Dr. Greg Dell'Omo, was senior Adam Lawrence (Big Run, Pa. / Dubois Area) of the football team. Lawrence owns a cumulative grade point average of 3.94 as an environmental science major and was a three-year starter at outside linebacker.

In addition, the Colonial softball team took home the Team GPA award, presented by Colonial Athletic Club President Dr. Jerry Keller. The Colonial softball team posted a 3.63 team GPA during the 2008-09 academic year, the highest of RMU's 23 Division I programs.

Taking home the RMU Athletic Department Appreciation Award was Jim Vitale ('81). Awarded annually to an individual from outside the athletic department that displays exemplary service, Vitale is an account executive for Tyler Mountain Water Company and is also on the Moon Township Board of Supervisors. He is also a former president of the Colonial Athletic Club and is present at many athletic events throughout the course of a season.

For the second time in three years, Matthew Feryus was awarded the Susan K. Hofacre Fan of the Year Award for his constant presence at many RMU sporting events throughout the year. A native of North Huntingdon, Pa., and an actuarial science major, Feryus, who received a standing ovation from everyone in attendance, displays passion unmatched by many of his peers at Colonial sporting events. 

Director of Athletics Craig Coleman, M.D., who awarded Feryus with his award, also passed out the honor of Co-Outstanding Senior Female to Angela Pace (Westchester, N.Y. / Woodlands) of the women's basketball team and Melitta Brown (York, Ontario / Sacred Heart) of the women's track and field program.

Pace was named both the Northeast Conference Player of the Year and the NEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 after helping lead the Colonials to their third NEC regular-season championship. She averaged 15.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.7 steals per game and in her three years in a Colonial uniform scored 880 points and grabbed 508 rebounds.

Overall a five-time All-NEC selection, Brown is a two-time NEC individual champion in the long jump, winning the event at both the 2008 indoor and outdoor track and field championships. A 2008 Canadian Olympic Trials qualifier, Brown owns the school record in the long jump for both indoor (18.875") and outdoor (18'10.50") track and field. She also participated in the NCAA East Regional once and was also an All-ECAC performer.

Coleman also presented the Co-Outstanding Senior Male award to Rob Robinson (Waldorf, Md. / Globe Institute of Technology) of the men's basketball team and Sherrod Evers (Philadelphia, Pa. / Mastbaum Area) of the football squad.

In two seasons at Robert Morris after transferring from the Globe Institute of Technology, Robinson was a key piece for a program that has claimed back-to-back NEC Tournament championships and subsequent appearances in the NCAA Tournament. In two seasons, the Colonials posted a record of 45-17 (.726) with Robinson in the starting lineup. He averaged 9.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 2009-10 and in 66 career games scored 691 points, grabbed 365 rebounds and shot 51 percent from the floor.

A three-year starter at wide receiver for the Colonials, Evers established a new RMU single-season record in 2009 with 47 receptions. Evers finished his senior season with 668 receiving yards and six touchdown catches and on his career ranks third all-time in career receptions (94), fourth in career receiving yards (1,408) and sixth in touchdown catches (11).

The winners of the second annual Strength & Conditioning Student-Athletes of the Year, presented by RMU head strength & conditioning coach Todd Hamer, were awarded to junior Annie Dubovec (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Kenston) of the RMU softball team and sophomore Paul Evans (Elma, N.Y. / Iroquis Central) of the football squad.

A total of 26 student-athletes were honored with Most Valuable Player plaques at the 2010 All-Sports Banquet. A look at the list: