Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU Department of Athletics honored its student-athletes for the 2021-22 school year Thursday with the Colonial Choice Awards, which took place for the first time at the UPMC Events Center. RMU presented most valuable player plaques to each of its 15 programs, while 14 individuals and two teams were honored with major awards.
Garnering the Presidential Scholar-Athlete was Keturah Hunter of the track & field team,
Esther Castedo of women's basketball and
Dylan Young from football. The Presidential Scholar-Athlete is bestowed to the senior student-athletes who combine both athletic and academic excellence throughout their respective careers. Hunter, who is pursuing a master's degree in cybersecurity & information assurance, has maintained a 3.96 cumulative GPA. Castedo is a management major with a 3.86 GPA, while Young has recorded a 3.72 GPA while studying cyber forensic & information security as well as data analytics.
Earning accolades for the Highest GPA Awards, which are bestowed to senior student-athletes with the highest cumulative GPA, were
Kelley Flynn of women's lacrosse and
Cole Chase of golf. Flynn has compiled a perfect 4.00 GPA while studying nursing, while Chase has notched a 3.89 GPA as a finance major.
Claiming the Team GPA Award was volleyball, which earned the honor for fourth consecutive year and fifth time overall. The Colonials recorded a team GPA of 3.837 during the 2020-21 academic year, the highest of RMU's 15 NCAA Division I programs.
Volleyball was one of two programs honored Thursday, as the RMU women's basketball team took home the UNITE Award, one of the newest awards and bestowed to the program that displays exemplary community service. The Colonials have contributed their time at the Sewickley Community Center and with Moon Parks & Recreation throughout the year, among other initiatives, as well as took part in Scouting and Scavenging, which challenges sports and business to collect hotel toiletry items for those in need.
Earning the RMU Athletic Department Appreciation Award, which is handed out annually to an individual or individuals from outside the department that display exemplary service, was the Athletic Field Grounds Crew under the division of facilities management. The tireless efforts of individuals like Nate Bickerstaff, Jacob Logan and John Tucci in preparing various facilities for competition throughout the academic year is vital for the Colonials.
Other new awards handed out Thursday at the Colonial Choice Awards include the Department of Athletics "Ignitor" Award, which is given to a freshman or transfer that has made an immediate impact on their respective program. Garnering the 2022 honor were freshmen
Bryan Akongo (men's soccer) and
Alaina Koutsogiani (softball).
The sixth annual Outstanding Faculty Award, given out in assistance with the RMU Center for Student Success, was Dr. Vicki Donne, D.Ed., of the education department. Donne owns over 30 years of experience as a deaf educator in the public schools with 15 years at RMU, including 10 years as department head of education.
Also new in 2022 is the RMU Strength & Conditioning "Juice" of the Year, given to a male and female student-athlete who puts forth the most consistent effort in the weight room. Fifth-year
Estelle Katende of track & field and sophomore
Joshua Sweat from football garnered the award.
Bestowed with the Sports Medicine Comeback of the Year award was fifth-year
Alyson Londot of the volleyball program, who returned in 2022 after suffering a season-ending knee injury. Handed the Susan Hofacre Student-Athlete of the Year, which is given to a student-athlete that combines athletics, academics and community service, was senior
Jayme Sanner of rowing. Both Londot and Sanner are the first recipients of their respective awards as part of the Colonial Choice Awards.
Concluding the major awards was the Outstanding Senior Male and Outstanding Senior Female plaudits, which recognize the graduating student-athlete that has performed with excellence and distinction throughout their respective careers. Fifth-year
Corson Kealey of the lacrosse team earned the male honor, while fifth-year
Emma Granger was selected as the female recipient.
A total of 17 student-athletes were honored with MVP awards as part of the 2022 RMU Colonial Choice Awards. To view a
complete list of winners, please use the
link associated with this article.
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