The FIU Athletic Department held its annual Athletic Academic Awards Banquet April 9 at U.S. Century Bank Arena. Each Panther team was honored for its accomplishments on and off the field throughout the 2011-12 academic year.
Coaches, student-athletes and FIU staff were welcomed by Master of Ceremonies Bill Beesting, associate dean of Undergraduate Education. Senior Associate Athletic Director/SWA Julie Berg provided the opening remarks. Sophomore Rachel Slowik, a member of the FIU softball team, gave the invocation. Following a dinner buffet, each coach spoke of his or her team’s character and accomplishments and presented team-specific awards. Various athletic department awards were also presented.
A full listing of 2011-12 award recipients can be found below.
Volleyball : MVP – Jovana Bjelica; VIP (Very Important Player) – Andrea Lakovic; Hustle Award – Silvia Carli
Women’s Golf: MVP – Shelby Coyle; MVP – Katie Mundy ; Most Improved – Yolecci Jimenez
Golden Dazzlers: Leadership Award – Cristina Bosmenier; VIP (Very Important Player) – Chelsey Alvarez; Hustle Award – Victoria Camus
Cheerleading: MVP – Kevin Cruz; Leadership Award – Sean Michael Suarez; VIP (Very Important Player) – Emonni Wood
Football: MVP – T.Y. Hilton; Offensive MVP – Kedrick Rhodes; VIP (Very Important Player) – Jose Cheeseborough
Women’s Basketball : MVP – Jerica Coley; Most Improved – Fanni Hutlassa; Leadership Award – Finda Mansare
Women’s Tennis: MVP – Rita Maisak; Most Improved – Karyn Guttormsen; Leadership Award – Lisa Johnson
Men’s Soccer: Offensive MVP – Quentin Albrecht; Defensive MVP – Anthony Hobbs; Leadership Award – Joseph Dawkins
Women’s Soccer: Hustle Award – Sara Stewart; Hustle Award – Kim Lopez; MVP – Kaitlyn Savage
Swimming & Diving: Swimmer of the Year – Johanna Gustafsdottir ; Diver of the Year – Sabrina Beaupre; Freshman of the Year – Johanna Gustafsdottir
Men’s Basketball : MVP – DeJuan Wright; MVP – Jeremy Allen; Most Improved – Manuel Nunez
Baseball : Most Improved – Michael Ellis; Hustle Award – Nathan Burns; Leadership Award – Pablo Bermudez
Men’s Track & Field : Leadership Award – Sebastian Castillo; Most Improved – Khristian Campbell; MVP – Tyson Kemp
Men’s Cross Country: MVP – Sebastian Castillo; Hustle Award – Josh Estrada; VIP (Very Important Player) – Julius Michael
Women’s Track & Field: MVP – Marissa McElveen; MVP – Benia Gregoire ; Leadership Award – La’Shae White
Women’s Cross Country: MVP – Daniela Espino ; Hustle Award – Catherine Ventura; Leadership Award – Samia Adan
Softball : MVP – Ashley McClain; Leadership Award – Brie Rojas ; VIP (Very Important Player) – Mariah Dawson
Athletic Department Awards : Academic Excellence Award – Victoria Miliucci (Women’s Soccer) ; adidas Athletic Director’s Award – Swimming & Diving Team ; Student-Athlete of the Year – Jerica Coley (Women’s Basketball); Michael Felsberg Spirit Award – Swimming & Diving Team ; Dr. Paul D. Gallagher Community Service Team Award – Baseball ; CHAMPS/Life Skills Challenge Cup Award – Swimming & Diving Team
Sporting Behavior Award Team Nominees: Mike Martinez – Baseball; Carmen Miloglav – Women’s Basketball; Tai Canady – Women’s Cross Country; Sebastian Castillo – Men’s Cross Country; Rupert Bryan Jr. – Football; Tania Tare – Golf; Luke Bray – Men’s Soccer; Victoria Miliucci – Women’s Soccer; Ashley McClain – Softball; Johanna Gustafsdottir – Swimming & Diving; Tyson Kemp – Men’s Track & Field; La’Shae White – Women’s Track & Field; Jessica Egan – Volleyball
Overall Female Sporting Behavior Award Winner: La’Shae White (Women’s Track & Field)
Overall Male Sporting Behavior Award Winner: Mike Martinez (Baseball)
About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports, and is a proud member of the Sun Belt Conference and an affiliate member of Conference USA (men’s soccer). Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU’s campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including U.S. Century Bank Arena and Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium.
Student-athletes honored at annual awards banquet: The FIU Athletic Department held its annual Athletic Aca… http://t.co/0gYANtA5 #FIU
Student-athletes honored at annual awards banquet #FIU http://t.co/vdQg4aX8