Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU Department of Athletics honored its student-athletes for the 2022-23 school year Wednesday with the Colonial Choice Awards, which took place at the
UPMC Events Center. RMU presented most valuable player plaques to each of its 15 programs, while 13 individuals and two teams were honored with major awards.
Garnering the Presidential Scholar-Athlete, presented by RMU President
Dr. Michelle Patrick, was
Jamie Keller of women's lacrosse and
Kahliel Spear of men's basketball. The Presidential Scholar-Athlete is bestowed to the senior student-athletes who combine both athletic and academic excellence throughout their respective careers. Keller, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., has maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.82 while studying engineering, manufacturing and management. Spear, an economics major, has compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.91.
Earning accolades for the Highest GPA Awards, which are bestowed to senior student-athletes with the highest cumulative GPA, were
Hannah Fowler of rowing and
Mike Zolnierczyk of men's soccer. Fowler has posted a perfect 4.00 GPA as an early childhood education major, while Zolnierczyk is a finance major with a 3.96 GPA.
Claiming the Team GPA award was women's basketball, which recorded a 3.746 GPA during the 2021-22 academic year. It was one of two awards for women's basketball, as the squad also earned the UNITE Award, which is bestowed to the team that has demonstrated a strong commitment to building and embracing the RMU and surrounding community through service.
Also earning a team award at the 2023 Colonial Choice Awards was men's lacrosse, which was bestowed the Best Overall Team Performance of the Year Award. The Colonials were honored for their
18-17 victory over Utah in the 2022 ASUN Tournament championship game in Birmingham, Ala.
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 Matt Hyatt, RMU's Associate Director of Facilities & Maintenance, and Dylan McKenna, RMU's Manager of Event Technology and Broadcast Engineer in Charge of Information Technology.
The seventh annual Outstanding Faculty Award, given out in assistance with the RMU Center for Student Success, was Dr. Frank Hartle, RMU's Interim Dean for the School of Informatics, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Taking home 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, was redshirt senior
Jamar Shegog of the football team and senior
Avery Winchell of softball.
A pair of student-athletes from soccer were honored with the RMU Ignitor Award, which is given annually to a female and male who have made an immediate impact on the success of their respective program. Given to a freshman or transfer student in their first year at RMU, the award celebrates contributions that impact both athletic success and team culture, with
Malia Kearns of women's soccer and
Victor Koah of men's soccer garnering the 2023 accolades.
Bestowed with the RMU Sports Medicine Comeback of the Year award was
Jenna Irwin of the lacrosse program, who returned this spring after suffering a season-ending knee injury exactly one year ago. 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
Colleen Tifft, also of women's lacrosse.
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. Garnering the honors were Spear and Keller, respectively.
A total of 17 student-athletes were honored with MVP awards as part of the 2023 RMU Colonial Choice Awards. To view a
complete list of winners, please use the
link associated with this article.
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