Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Senior Athletes Saluted at Annual Awards Dinner
5/1/2012 8:00:00 AM | Bison Club
May 1, 2012
| BUY PHOTOS
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Twenty-one outstanding Bucknell senior student-athletes were presented awards at the 51st Annual Department of Athletics & Recreation Senior Recognition Dinner, held Tuesday evening in the Terrace Room on campus. The outstanding careers of 140 senior athletes were honored at the dinner, and track and field stars Stephanie Fulmer (Pottstown, Pa./St. Pius X) and Robert Arent (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) claimed the evening's top honor, the Christy Mathewson Award, which goes to the outstanding male and female senior athletes.
Fulmer is just the third Bison student-athlete to earn All-Patriot League honors in cross country four times. She also owns five Patriot League Championship gold medals in track and field, including a win in the mile at the 2009 indoor meet, at which she earned Rookie of the Meet honors. Among her numerous top-10 marks are the eighth-fastest mile in school history as well as the No. 3 time in the 3,000 meters.
Arent is an eight-time Patriot League track and field champion, with five of those gold medals (three indoors, two outdoors) coming in the 400-meter dash. He is also the fastest hurdler in school history, owning Bucknell records in the 60 and 110-meter high hurdles as well as the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. Arent, a former walk-on, became the first athlete in Patriot League history to win both the open 400 meters and the 400-meter hurdles in the same meet.
Fulmer and Arent will be looking to add to their impressive resumes this weekend at the Patriot League Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Worcester, Mass.
Elsewhere, Patriot League shot put and discus champion Sarah Bella (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham) and javelin All-American Ted Heitzman (Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia) were given the Bison Club Award, presented to the senior athletes who best exemplify the winning spirit of the University's athletic program.
The Alvin F. Jackson Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award, presented for outstanding academic and athletic achievement, and future promise as Bucknell alumni, went to rowing standout Jillian O'Mara (Bainbridge Island, Wash./Bainbridge) and football Academic All-American Tim Bolte (Towson, Md./Loyola Blakefield).
Field hockey standout Mallory Smith (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) and four-time All-Patriot League swimmer Eric Sokolosky (Branford, Conn./Branford) were awarded the Lee S. "Bud" Ranck Memorial Award, presented for outstanding spirit and contributions to the Bucknell athletic program.
The Bradley N. Tufts Award went to Minjoo Lee (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston), an All-Big South golfer and two-time Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year, along with men's basketball star Bryan Cohen (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Abington Friends), who was a three-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honoree. The Tufts Award is given in recognition of exceptional athletic achievement and contribution to Bucknell athletics.
A brand new award debuted this year: the John F. Zeller Award, presented to the senior student-athlete for outstanding contributions to Bison Athletics, while exemplifying the best of Bucknell in the manner that John Zeller did in his 68 years of service to the University. John Zeller graduated from Bucknell in 1941 with a bachelor of arts degree in political science. After serving his country in World War II and the Korean War and graduating from law school at Penn, he became a full-time member of the political science department at Bucknell in 1952. In 1955 he became the university's chief financial officer, and he later held titles of Vice President for Business and Fiscal Affairs and General Counsel Emeritus, and in 1984 he was President of the University prior to the appointment of Gary Sojka.
The inaugural Zeller Award winner is Bob Donato (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport), an All-Patriot League centerfielder and leadoff hitter for the Bison baseball team.
The Robert A. Latour Service Award, presented for extraordinary service to Bucknell and local communities, went to rower Christine Holodnik (Pittsburgh, Pa./Oakland Catholic) and swimmer Matt Segar (Carmel, Ind./Carmel).
The Bryan-Humphreys Award, presented to an individual for outstanding versatility within his/her sport, went to Rebecca Misko (Morristown, N.J./Madison), a Patriot League champion in the discus and a championship-meet scorer in the shot put, hammer throw and javelin, along with Andrew Powell (Charlton, Mass./St. John's), a conference champion in the decathlon, heptathlon and high jump as well as an All-Patriot League fullback on the Bison men's soccer team.
The Edward W. Pangburn Award, presented for sportsmanship, fellowship and contribution to the University, went to four-year soccer starter Casey Crowley (Hamilton Square, N.J./Peddie School) and All-Patriot League defensive lineman Josh Eden (State College, Pa./State College Area).
Emily Liggett (Grosse Point, Mich./Lawrenceville School (N.J.)), a former walk-on who has become a standout distance runner for the Bison, joined record-setting defensive back Bryce Robertson (Reserve, La./East St. John) and two-time All-Patriot League lacrosse attackman Billy Eisenreich (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) as winners of the the Ronald J. "Pete" Pedrick Award, presented in recognition of demonstrated improvement and special contributions to Bucknell athletics over a four-year period.
The `Ray Bucknell Diversity Award went to All-Patriot League swimmer Taylor Harris (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central).
Senior Sara Palmer was presented the E. Harold Biggs Memorial Award as the most outstanding student athletic trainer.
In addition to the student-athlete awards, two alumni and one staff member received special awards. Chrissy Findlay, former Bucknell women's soccer coach who now serves as the department's liaison in the Office of Admission, received the ECAC Appreciation Award, which is presented to students, faculty, staff or friends of Bucknell for extraordinary contribution to the Bucknell department of athletics.
Former softball and basketball standout Lisa Fink Povsic `93 and track and field athlete George Pierson `84 were presented Alumni Athlete Achievement Awards, given to former Bucknell athletes who have achieved success in their chosen profession.
Bucknell Senior Athletic Awards Summary
ECAC Appreciation Award: Chrissy Findlay.
Alumni Athlete Achievement Award: Lisa Fink Povsic '93 (softball/basketball), George Pierson `84 (track & field).
E. Harold Biggs Memorial Award: Sara Palmer.
`Ray Bucknell Diversity Award: Taylor Harris (swimming).
Ronald J. "Pete" Pedrick Award: Emily Liggett (cross country/track & field), Billy Eisenreich (lacrosse), Bryce Robertson (football).
Edward W. Pangburn Award: Casey Crowley (soccer), Josh Eden (football).
Margaret L. Bryan-Albert E. Humpreys Award: Rebecca Misko (track & field), Andrew Powell (track & field/soccer).
Robert A. Latour Service Award: Christine Holodnik (rowing), Matt Segar (swimming).
John F. Zeller Award: Bob Donato (baseball).
Bradley N. Tufts Award: Minjoo Lee (golf), Bryan Cohen (basketball).
Lee S. "Bud" Ranck Memorial Award: Mallory Smith (field hockey), Eric Sokolosky (swimming).
Alvin F. Jackson Jr. Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award: Jillian O'Mara (rowing), Tim Bolte (football).
Bison Club Award: Sarah Bella (track & field), Ted Heitzman (track & field).
Christy Mathewson Award: Stephanie Fulmer (track & field), Robert Arent (track & field).
