Senior Athlete Banquet Program

TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) 2014-15 senior student-athletes were recognized at the annual banquet in a first-class event held at the Hilton Garden Inn with nearly all the senior student-athletes, coaches, staff members, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson and numerous members of the Cabinet in attendance. Each student-athlete was presented a senior gift by Dr. Jackson and Dr. Lee McElroy, the Interim Director of Athletics.
 
Also as part of the event were senior reflections from Amanda Lynch and Reggie Colas and the newest members of Olympia, the athletic department's student-athlete honor society, were honored. Forty individuals were chosen from this year's senior class.
 
Other highlights of the event included the awarding of the Rensselaer Alumni Association (RAA) Team of the Year, which was presented to the 2014 men's outdoor track & field team. Among the accomplishments of that team, which was coached by Colin Tory, were a Liberty League Championship - the sixth consecutive for the program, a New York State Championship - the fourth straight, and a third place finish at the ECAC Championship in Troy last May. There were 17 All-Liberty League honorees, including the Field Performer of the Year (Zac Borelli), eight on the First Team, and 25 league all-academic selections.
 
The Rensselaer Alumni Association Team of the Year Award was created by the RAA Board of Trustees and was first awarded in 1981 to recognize the accomplishments of Rensselaer's intercollegiate athletic teams. One award, which consists of a certificate for each team member and a $1,000 gift to the program, is presented each year. Nominations are solicited from the athletics department and are approved by the RAA Executive Committee.
 
Also honored were field hockey player Molly Zuk and basketball player Jarrett Boeglin, who were named the Henry Kumpf Award winners. Al Shibley, former Sports Information Director and current public address announcer, was honored with the Tom Sheehan Award. The Kumpf Award is given annually to a senior student-athlete who has demonstrated a strong degree of motivation, desire and determination in contributing to the success of the team. The Sheehan Award is presented to recognize an individual outside of athletics who has made outstanding contributions to the department.
 
Head Strength and Conditioning coach Joe Schoenleber presented the Annual Strength & Conditioning Career Athlete Awards, which are given to two senior student-athletes who, during their athletic careers, have been leaders in the strength & conditioning environment. This year's honorees were Lynch from basketball/lacrosse and Nick Borkowski from football.

Colas, who played football and basketball, and Bailei Tetrault of the basketball team, were both awarded Perseverance Awards for overcoming significant physical or personal obstacles and demonstrating exceptional effort in exhibiting their commitment to their teammates and the Institute. 
 
Those inducted into Olympia were Casey Olsen, Chloe Hutchinson, Hannah Clough, Adam Kalish, Michael Rizzo, Miguel Hummel, Colin Lenhoff, Aubrey Kalashian, Ellen Tomljanovic, Jamie Wakefield, Erin Riley, Erin Amarello, Lydia Wolter, Meg Colitz, Lynch, Michael Souliotis, Brandon Mader, Josh Dugas, Nick Palmiero, Tyler Listing, Jared Jensen, Tim Lesuer, Sean Conroy, Kristina Weltzin, Rob Dewald, Matt Koziol, Casey Colligan, Zachary Moro, Taylor Mahoney, Kelly O'Brien, Taylor Korytko, Curtis Leonard, Tyler Gumina, Devan Hayes, Dylan Landry, Christine Artim, Jacob Andrews, Andrew Franks, Colas, Borkowski and Jay Yaskanich.