University of the District of Columbia Athletic Department Hosts Student-Athlete Recognition Luncheon
WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia Athletic Department hosted its annual Student-Athlete Recognition Luncheon on Friday, April 26th, 2013 in the UDC Gym.
Master of ceremonies, Matt Rienzo (Associate Director of Athletics for Marketing and Communications) guided the 100 student-athletes and staff in attendance through a program that included remarks by Director of Athletics, Patricia Thomas, and the presentation of several awards including: the Competition Cup winner, Academic Awards, Team Awards (most valuable player and coach's award) and the Reslyn Henley Memorial Award.
The women's basketball team was crowned the winner of the UDC Competition Cup for a second consecutive year. The team is chosen based on three criteria: academic performance, attendance at other UDC sporting events and community outreach.
Associate Director of Athletics for Academics, Kendra Greene took over the microphone for the academic award portion of the event. She announced the names of 10 student-athletes who belong to the 4.0 GPA club (from the Fall 2012 semester), the 30 student-athletes who made the Dean's List (earned a 3.5+ GPA while maintaining a 3.0+ cumulative GPA) and the 66 student-athletes who made the Director's List (earned a 3.0 GPA for Fall 2012 semester).
Next was the presentation of team awards. See below for list of award winners by sport.
To conclude the event, recent UDC Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Dr. Michael Glascoe, presented the Reslyn Henley Memorial Award to senior men's soccer player Mario Banegas.
Banegas is a Honduras native and hails from Frederick, Maryland where he went to Urbana High School. He has played four seasons of soccer at the University of the District of Columbia. During his stay, he played in 59 games, of which he started in 50, and recorded career totals of eight goals and four assists. A fine example of a student-athlete, Banegas studies Political Science and has a cumulative 3.64 GPA. He has also demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities as a three-year captain of the soccer team and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President.
Team Awards
Men's Soccer:
Roque Hernandez (MVP)
Atunde Akum (Coach's Award)
Men's Cross Country:
Hillary Mugun (MVP)
Baldin Needham (Coach's Award)
Women's Cross Country:
Simone Grant (MVP)
Kimoy Mais (Coach's Award)
Women's Indoor Track & Field:
Shauna-Kay Creary (MVP)
Atiya Amis (Coach's Award)
Women's Outdoor Track & Field:
TBD (MVP)
TBD (Coach's Award)
Women's Basketball:
Denikka Brent (MVP)
Tatyana Calhoun (Coach's Award)
Men's Tennis:
Aleksandar Grabovac (MVP)
Miguel Uzcategui (Coach's Award)
Women's Tennis:
Kristyna Nepivodova (Co-MVP)
Jessica Nunez (Co-MVP)
Volleyball:
Vanessa Garley (MVP)
Tara Usko (Coach's Award)
Men's Basketball:
Michael Terry (MVP)
Keith Brooks (Coach's Award)