ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The America East Conference bestowed its 2011-12 annual awards at a dinner in Annapolis, Md. on Wednesday evening. In total, six trophies were handed out, highlighted by Boston University receiving its seventh straight Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner’s Cup and University of Hartford claiming its first Academic Cup in 15 years. Additionally, Stony Brook University’s Lucy Van Dalen was named America East Woman of the Year, Hartford’s Kevin Brandon and Boston U.’s women’s soccer team earned Male and Female Sportsmanship honors, respectively, and University of Vermont’s Elyse Ogletree earned the CFES Service Award. 

Boston U. Barely Edges Albany to Retain Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner's Cup

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - In the closest race in conference history, Boston University claimed the 2011-12 America East Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner’s Cup by just two points over University at Albany, the conference announced this evening at its annual awards dinner in Annapolis, Md. The Terriers have now won seven straight Cups and 10 of the last 11.

The Commissioner’s Cup annually recognizes the strongest athletic program in America East as determined by a scoring system which rewards a school for success both during the regular season and championship competition in the conference’s 20 sports.

“Congratulations to the entire Boston University athletic department on this impressive feat and its ongoing success within our league,” said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. “Accolades are also due to the University at Albany and its staff on making this the closest Commissioner’s Cup race in conference history. This year’s achievements, which all nine of our member institutions have contributed to -- nine NCAA wins, a trip to the College World series, a national champion, 30 All-Americans -- are some of the best highlights in America East history and lay the foundation for even more success in years to come.”

For the seventh time in the last 10 years, every America East school won a conference championship or was runner up. The Terriers captured five America East Championships, six regular-season crowns and five runner-up finishes to help net 397 points, the second most in seven years under the current scoring system. Albany garnered the third-most points in the current system, finishing just two points behind Boston U. with 395 points. Stony Brook earned its most points in school history (331) and came in third place. Only 11 points separated the next three schools with UMBC finishing fourth (232 points), Binghamton coming in fifth (224) and New Hampshire placing sixth (221). Vermont (199), Hartford (190) and Maine (153) rounded out the field.

“I’m very proud of our coaches and student-athletes for their continued success, especially in the face of rising levels of competitive spirit in the America East Conference,” said Boston University Vice President and Director of Athletics Mike Lynch. “Seven straight Commissioner’s Cup titles is obviously quite an accomplishment.”

Boston U., which has won a conference-best 12 Commissioner’s Cups, swept regular season and tournament titles in women’s soccer and softball, both of which went on to win NCAA contests. The Terriers also captured championships in men’s and women’s swimming & diving, their first sweep since 1994,  and in women’s indoor track & field while finishing as runners-up in men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s indoor track & field and women’s outdoor track & field. The field hockey, women’s lacrosse and men’s soccer programs also won regular-season crowns.

Albany placed second for the fifth time in the last six years after winning a league-best seven championships. The Great Danes became the first America East program to sweep the men’s cross country and men’s indoor and outdoor track & field titles since 1998 and also swept the regular-season and tournament crowns in volleyball, won their first championship in women’s basketball, their second straight women’s lacrosse crown and their fourth consecutive women’s outdoor track & field championship. Albany was also runners up in men’s lacrosse, women’s soccer, softball and women’s indoor track & field.

Stony Brook finished in third place, the second time in the last three years it has finished in the top third of the league. The Seawolves, who won five conference titles, swept the regular-season and tournament crowns in men’s lacrosse and baseball, which went on to become the first America East program to advance to the College World Series since the league started sponsoring baseball in 1990. SBU also won titles in women’s cross country, men’s lacrosse and women’s tennis, the regular-season title in men’s basketball and was runner up in men’s basketball, women’s lacrosse and volleyball.

UMBC earned five runner-up finishes, which tied for the most in the league, en route to a fourth-place finish, its third fourth place or better showing in the last five years. The Retrievers were runners up in women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming & diving and men’s and women’s tennis. The Retrievers also had top-four finishes in men’s and women’s lacrosse, women’s indoor and outdoor track & field and volleyball.

Binghamton came in fifth place, its ninth consecutive year with a fifth place or better finish. The Bearcats claimed their fifth consecutive men’s tennis title and placed second at the men’s outdoor track & field championship. Binghamton also earned the third-most points of any school in baseball, men’s indoor track & field and women’s outdoor track & field.

New Hampshire placed sixth, just three points behind Binghamton for fifth place. The Wildcats swept the regular-season and tournament crowns in field hockey for the first time in program history and also earned a runner-up finish in women’s cross country. UNH also earned the second-most points in volleyball by finishing second in the regular season.

Vermont improved two spots from last year’s finish by earning more than a quarter of its points in men’s basketball. The Catamounts were second in the regular season and went on to win its fifth conference title since 2003. The Catamounts also earned the third-most points in men’s soccer.

Hartford trailed Vermont by just seven points for seventh place. The Hawks were runners up in men’s soccer, earned the second-most points of any women’s soccer program by finishing second in the regular season and had top four placements in women’s basketball and men’s lacrosse.

Maine finished as the runner up in baseball one year after claiming the title. The Black Bears also were third in men’s cross country and earned the fourth-most points in field hockey and softball.

The Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner’s Cup is named in honor of the first commissioner of America East. Haskell served as commissioner of the conference from 1987 until his retirement in 1997.

The scoring system for the Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner’s Cup is as follows: In sports where regular-season round robin competition is conducted, the first-place institution in the final standings receives four points times the total number of teams involved in conference play. The second-place institution receives four less points; third place receives eight less points, and so on. Additionally, the America East (tournament) champion receives two points times the total number of teams participating in the championship. The second-place institution receives two less points; third place receives four less points and so on down to the last-place institution which receives two points.

In sports where regular-season round robin competition is not conducted (cross country, tennis, track & field, swimming & diving), the first-place institution at the America East championship receives two points times the total number of teams participating in the championship. The second-place institution receives two less points; third place gets four less points and so on down to the last place team which receives two points.

 

 

Hartford Claims First Academic Cup in 15 Years

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The University of Hartford edged out University of Vermont by one one-hundredth of a decimal point to win the school’s first America East Academic Cup since 1996-97 as announced this evening at the league’s annual awards dinner in Annapolis, Md. The Hawks earned their second Academic Cup all-time, snapping the Catamounts’ seven-year grasp on the award.

The Academic Cup, established by the America East Board of Directors in 1995, is presented to the institution whose student-athletes post the highest grade-point averages during that academic year. In all, seven of America East’s nine institutions compiled grade-point averages over 3.0, while 72 percent of the league’s teams (108-of-149), 10 more than in 2010-11, had GPAs of 3.0 or better. Furthermore, the league’s 3,400-plus student-athletes compiled a 3.06 average during the 2011-12 season, just one one-hundredth off of last year’s record high.

“The America East Conference and its institutions continue to consistently perform at a high level in the classroom which is a real strength across this league,” said Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. “I would like to commend the University of Hartford, its student-athletes, faculty and staff on this year’s Academic Cup as it is a true testament to the commitment of all of those groups to ensure their student-athletes are students first.”

The Hawks finished the 2011-12 academic year with a 3.16 GPA, while Vermont came in with a 3.15. University of New Hampshire finished closely behind with a 3.14. Binghamton University (3.11), University of Maine (3.04), Boston University (3.03), UMBC (3.00), Stony Brook (2.98) and Albany (2.93) round out the institutional averages.

Fourteen of Hartford’s 16 athletic programs earned a 3.00 GPA or higher over the last year and a league-high five teams recorded the highest GPA of their America East peers. The Hawks’ baseball (3.28), men’s lacrosse (3.07), softball (3.38), men’s outdoor track and field (3.12) and volleyball (3.37) programs all led the conference in each respective sport for team GPA.

The Vermont women’s cross country program topped all teams with a conference-high 3.55 GPA, while the Binghamton men’s tennis team led all America East male squads with a 3.50 team GPA.

The Bearcats had the most teams register a 3.00 or higher with 15 of their 19 teams achieving that mark. Binghamton and Vermont each had four teams lead the way in their respective sports.

Other sport winners were: men’s basketball, Albany (3.21); women’s basketball, New Hampshire (3.25); men’s cross country, Maine (3.29); field hockey, Vermont (3.27); women’s lacrosse, UMBC (3.21); men’s soccer, Binghamton (3.16); women’s soccer, Maine (3.42); men’s and women’s swimming and diving, Boston U. (3.02, 3.24); women’s tennis, Binghamton (3.19); men’s indoor track & field, Binghamton (3.14); women’s indoor track & field, Vermont (3.37); and women’s outdoor track & field, Vermont and Stony Brook (3.33).

The overall institutional grade-point averages were calculated by dividing each student-athlete’s quality points by the total credits completed for grade.

Vermont, which has won a conference-best eight Academic Cups, won the award seven years in a row prior to this year and also took home the award in its inaugural year (1995-96), while Hartford was the winner in 1996-97. New Hampshire won the Academic Cup in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 and Binghamton garnered the cup in its first two years in the conference (2001-02, 2002-03). Maine, which shared the cup with Vermont in 2006-07, also won the honor in 2003-04.

America East is proud to have one of most comprehensive academic awards programs in the country. In addition to the Academic Cup, an All-Academic team comprised of student-athletes that excel both academically and athletically is chosen in each of the conference’s 20 sports by a committee consisting of faculty athletic representatives, academic advisors and sports information directors. Additionally, a scholar-athlete, someone who distinguishes himself/herself as the top student-athlete in his/her sport, is awarded. From that group, one male and one female is selected the America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Finally, the conference recognizes all student-athletes who achieve at least a 3.0 GPA on its Academic Honor Roll, with those achieving a 3.50 average or better receiving Commissioner’s Honor Roll status.

 

 

Stony Brook Standout Van Dalen Tabbed Woman of the Year

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Stony Brook University cross country and track and field standout Lucy Van Dalen received the 2012 America East Woman of the Year award this evening at the conference’s annual awards dinner in Annapolis, Md. The honor recognizes the conference’s senior female student-athlete who has best distinguished herself throughout her collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership.

The conference’s Senior Woman Administrators narrowed the pool of 12 institutional Woman of the Year nominees down to three finalists on May 30, and chose Van Dalen as the conference winner. The other finalists were University at Albany volleyball student-athlete Laurie Gonzalez and Binghamton University women’s basketball player Viive Rebane.

To be nominated, student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2012 spring season, received her undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2012 term and had a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale).

Van Dalen will now be forwarded to the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee to be considered for the 2012 NCAA Woman of the Year. The selection committee will select the top 10 winners in each NCAA division (I, II and III). From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the top three in each division. Finally, the members of the CWA will vote from among the top nine to determine the 2012 NCAA Woman of the Year. America East is permitted to send two nominees for consideration due to Van Dalen’s status as an international student, so Rebane will also be nominated for the national award as the conference runner-up

Van Dalen, who became Stony Brook’s first-ever National Champion by winning the mile at the 2012 NCAA indoor track meet, has won multiple conference championships and six All-America honors throughout her illustrious career in cross country, the 3,000 meters, 1,500 meters, 800 meters and one mile races. Most recently, the senior closed out her collegiate career with a fourth-place finish in the 1,500-meter race at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Meet

She has also garnered Scholar-Athlete awards from the America East and the SUNY Chancellor and been elected to the Golden Key International Honour Society and the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Van Dalen, invited by the Dean of Students to the University President’s Luncheon Series earlier this year, graduated Magna Cum Laude last spring with a 3.78 undergraduate GPA and owns a 4.00 GPA as she pursues her master’s in sociology.

The New Zealand runner is also an avid participant and chorus member of the Wanganui Baptist Church in her hometown for which she traveled on a mission trip to build an education center in the slums of Fiji.

In conjunction with the changes in the nomination process for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, the America East Woman of the Year award was established for the 2005-06 athletic season. Beginning in 2006, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) started receiving conference-designated nominees in lieu of the previous institution- and state-based nomination format.

Year-by-Year America East Woman of the Year Honorees
2012    Lucy Van Dalen, Stony Brook (cross country/track & field)
2011    Nikki Branchini, Albany (lacrosse)
2010    Emily Pallotta, Boston U. (soccer)
2009    Kristen Millar, Vermont (lacrosse)
2008    Sarah Hudak, Boston U. (field hockey)
2007    Marisa Ryan, Boston U. (cross country/track & field)
2006    Ashlee Reed, Albany (volleyball)

 

 

Hartford’s Brandon, Boston U. Women’s Soccer Earn Sportsmanship Awards

ANNAPOLIS, Md. --  University of Hartford’s Kevin Brandon and Boston University’s women’s soccer team were named the 2011-12 America East Sportsmanship Award winners, the league announced this evening at its annual awards dinner in Annapolis, Md.

This year’s winners, which were determined in a vote by the America East Sportsmanship Committee, are now automatically eligible for the NCAA Sportsmanship Awards, which the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct will determine in July.

To be nominated, an individual or team must have demonstrated consistently the values of caring, fairness, civility, honesty, integrity and responsibility in his or her daily participation in intercollegiate athletics. The student-athlete or team nominees must be a member of an intercollegiate athletics team during the 2011-12 academic year.

Brandon, a senior track & field athlete, earned the Male Award by displaying the essence of sportsmanship during his final collegiate meet. Despite being one of the fastest runners on his team, Brandon surrendered his spot on the Hawks’ 4x800-meter relay squad at the New England Championships to a sophomore. Brandon, a team captain, felt that giving a younger teammate the chance to run would help build continuity which would help the team going forward and that benefit was more important than his desire to run. The Hawks ended up placing eighth and earning All-New England status.

Boston University’s women’s soccer team, the Female Award winner, showed that it is possible to win with class. The Terriers, who went 19-3-1, won their fifth straight America East title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, did not receive any disciplinary cards, yellow or red, in any of their 23 games. The Terriers were one of just 13 men’s and women’s programs nationwide to receive the NSCAA Gold Certificate for zero cards.

America East began awarding a conference Sportsmanship Award to a male and female student-athlete for the 2005-06 academic year based on the same principles and criteria as the NCAA Sportsmanship Awards. The 2008 female recipient, Hartford’s Latasha Jarrett, went on to be named the NCAA’s Division I Sportswoman of the Year.

All-Time America East Sportsmanship Award Winners
           Male                                                   Female
2012    Kevin Brandon, Hartford                 Boston U. Women’s Soccer Team
2011    Albany Men’s Basketball Team        America East Swimmers & Divers
2010    Stephen Marino, Stony Brook         Lindsay Makowicki, Hartford
2009    Rich Lieberman, Hartford               Maine Softball Team
2008     Cavell Johnson, UMBC                  Latasha Jarrett, Hartford
2007     Ross Lohr, Boston U.                   Kristin Drabyn, UMBC
2006     Chris Spivey, Hartford                  Rachel Laws, Binghamton

 

 

Vermont’s Ogletree Honored With CFES Service Award

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - America East Conference Commissioner Amy Huchthausen presented University of Vermont senior Elyse Ogletree with the 2012 America East/CFES Service Award at the conference’s annual meeting in Annapolis, Md. this evening. In the second year of the award, the honor recognizes leadership within the America East/College for Every Student (CFES) mentoring partnership and dedication to service throughout the year.

As Vermont’s only student co-coordinator of the Catamounts’ partnership with the Integrated Arts Academy in Burlington, Ogletree’s passion for the program was outstanding from day one of the mentorship. Without being asked, she took on the role of coordinator and initiated all of the plans, activities and scheduling, and spent countless hours working on the program while juggling the demands of being a track and field athlete, her academics and membership in Vermont’s Honors College.

Ogletree brainstormed the newest addition to the mentorship program, involving the elementary-aged CFES mentees in the Student-Athlete Advisory Council’s (SAAC) talent show to raise money for Special Olympics-Vermont. She coordinated the open to the talent show which featured the mentees and their University of Vermont mentors singing “Wavin’ the Flag” from the Soccer World Cup Games and tied the event into the Academy’s music and art curriculum. To prepare for this event, Ogletree organized a campus visit with the Vermont student music majors as the group’s choir teachers and included programming to help the mentees experience the University’s music programming.
 
Ogletree also used her leadership role to organize an Earth Day campus visit as part of the America East Student Service Month in April, giving the mentees a tour of a campus green building and concluding the tour with an Earth Day activity and hike. She put together all the programming and planning on her own and did so thoroughly, including scheduling back-up weather plans and gathering the appropriate gear for that possibility.

Despite graduating this spring, the senior has been actively involved in strategizing for next year’s mentorship program and has helped in crafting future CFES events. In her four-year career, Ogletree was a member of SAAC, participating in various fundraising events and giving back to the community through storm-relief efforts, celebrity server events to raise money for flood victims and volunteered her time for Special Olympics-Vermont.

Ogletree was a member of the track and field team competing in the pole vault and the javelin. The native of Wayland, Mass. received her bacherlor’s  degree last month in psychology with a minor in business. She was a three-year member of the UVM Honors College which requires a minimum GPA of 3.4.

UMBC junior Shioma Obemeata and Boston University senior Tewado Latty were the other nominees for the America East/CFES Award.

The America East Conference/CFES partnership was launched in the fall of 2010. Collegiate student-athletes serve as mentors for CFES scholars at partnership school. The college-student activities include tutoring sessions, joint community service projects and campus tours that often involve watching a collegiate athletic event. The America East/CFES partnership is the first ever between an NCAA conference and the organization.

About CFES

College For Every Student (www.collegefes.org) is a non-profit organization that has created college-access partnerships with more than 500 schools across the country serving more than 100,000 students. CFES partners K-12 schools with colleges to implement three primary core practices: Pathways to College-- college visits, and partnerships with colleges and college students; Peer Mentoring-mentee/mentor relationships; and Leadership Through Service-leadership development workshops and community service. For more information, please visit www.collegefes.org, or call 518-963-4500.

About America East Conference

Into its third decade of operation, America East (www.AmericaEast.com) has evolved into one of the most comprehensive NCAA Division I conferences with a commitment to broad-based, competitive athletics programs, complementing the academic integrity and missions of the member institutions. Progressive in its approach to its more than 3,400 student-athletes, America East recognizes champions in each of its 20 sports and also conducts the nation’s most comprehensive academic recognition program for student-athletes. With a geographic footprint covering the Mid-Atlantic to Northeast regions of the United States, America East strives to develop champions in academics, athletics and leadership at its nine member institutions: University at Albany, Binghamton University, Boston University, University of Hartford, University of Maine, UMBC, University of New Hampshire, Stony Brook University and University of Vermont.

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