Page 6 - Summer 2017 Rochester Athletics Newsletter | University of Rochester

Celebrating Our 2016–2017 Rochester Scholar-Athletes

Athletic Department Awards

At the annual Athletic Awards Dinner on May 4, 2017,
seven Rochester athletes were recognized for outstanding achievement.

MERLE SPURRIER AWARD raise awareness funds for children with on the cross country and track team
Sayaka Abe, a senior on the women’s pediatric cancer, and is a member of the from Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, majoring
field hockey team, was selected as Fellowship of Christian Athletes. in microbiology with a 3.9 GPA. He is a
the recipient of the Merle Spurrier member of the Provost’s Circle Scholar
Award. This award recognizes the SYLVIA FABRICANT AWARD and a Garnish Scholar winner. Franklin
senior woman who has made the most Sarah Kaminksy was selected as the works at the Campus Times as humor
outstanding contribution to women’s recipient of the Sylvia Fabricant Award. editor, is a research assistant in the
sports by exemplifying such qualities as This award is presented to a female Ghaemmaghami lab in the Department
leadership, enthusiasm, and service in athlete or athletes for outstanding of Biology, and is a workshop leader for
her four years at the University. Abe, from sportsmanship in the women’s biology. Franklin finished 6th at the UAA
Putnam Valley, New York, is a chemical intercollegiate sports. From New Championships and received First Team
engineering major with a 3.88 GPA. Abe Jersey, Sarah was named to the UAA All-UAA honors. Swanger is a senior on
received the NFHCA Academic Award, is All-Academic Team for three years, is #6 the men’s soccer team and a Rochester
a member for the Tau Beta Pi Engineering on the Rochester career list for three- native. He is a financial economics major
Honor Society, a lota Book Award for pointers made, and #5 for three-point and has a 3.75 GPA. He is a member of
Early Scholarship Achievement, and attempts. Sarah is a chemical engineering the Keidaean Honor Society and a three-
more. On the field, Sayaka was a two- major, a member and captain in the St. time Academic All-UAA. He is a political
time captain for the field hockey team Sebastian Society, and was a teaching science department research assistant
and a four-year starting midfielder. Her assistant at an elementary school. and is an assistant soccer coach for a local
awards include First Team All-American, JOHN VITONE AWARD U11 boys’ team. Swanger was a two-
a selection to the Liberty League First Mario Yanez, a senior on the squash year captain, a three-year All-UAA award
Team, and North Atlantic Region Player of team, was selected as the winner of the winner, and played in every match during
the Year. John Vitone Award for 2017. The award is his four years.
given to the male sportsman of the year.
LOUIS ALEXANDER AWARD TERRENCE L. GURNETT AWARD
Sam Borst-Smith, a senior on the men’s Yanez has a record of 70-15 making him Laura Lockard, a senior on the women’s
basketball team, was honored as the the record holder for most wins in the track and field team, received the
recipient of the Louis Alexander Alumni history of Yellowjacket squash history. Terrence L. Gurnett Award presented
Award for 2017 as the top men’s senior He was a First Team All-American all to a female athlete who has shown
athlete at the University. This award is four years, Liberty League All-Academic excellence in the classroom and serves
given to the senior male athlete who has Team Blanket, and played one season on as a role model for the school. Lockard
made an outstanding contribution to the the men’s varsity soccer team, making is a Pennsylvania native with a 3.89
life of the University through significant an important contribution. Per Coach GPA in microbiology and a minor in
achievements in athletics and general Martin Heath, “[Mario] always shows chemistry. She is a Provost’s Circle
student activities. Borst-Smith, from San respect for his opponents, referees, Scholar, a member of the Keidaean Honor
Pedro, California, received eight national teammates, coaches, and the institutions Society, and works as an immunology
recognitions, four regional recognitions, he represents.” researcher in the Sant Lab at the
and two UAA recognitions, which PETER DIPASQUALE AWARD University of Rochester Medical Center,
included First Team All-American in D There were two recipients this year for as well as serves as a workshop leader
III News and Men’s Player of the Year in the Peter DiPasquale Award for 2017. for biochemistry. Lockard was a NYSCTC
the UAA. Borst-Smith finished his career Eric Franklin and Ben Swanger were Champion in the 4x400 relay, an 11-time
as #1 in steals and seventh in points. Off awarded as the men’s Scholar-Athletes for medalist and was part of the indoor
the court, he volunteers for the Go4the academic excellence. Franklin is a senior 4x200 and indoor and outdoor 4x400
Goal Foundations, whose goal is to relays that set school records.