Jack Roberto Receives Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character
6/30/2025 11:24:00 AM | Men's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Jack Roberto, a 2025 Bucknell graduate who co-captained the Bison's Patriot League-champion men's soccer team last fall, has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character. Roberto was named along with Holy Cross men's basketball student-athlete Caleb Kenny and Colgate women's basketball student-athlete Sophia Diehl.
Roberto was a four-year member of the Bison men's soccer team, playing a variety of positions. As a senior, he was a key member of Bucknell's defensive unit that allowed a league-low 1.05 goals per game. Including two postseason matches, the Bison conceded only six goals in 11 games against Patriot League opponents. Bucknell blanked Colgate 3-0 in the title match to claim its first conference title in 10 years.
Roberto's contributions to Bucknell Athletics extended well beyond the soccer pitch. He was an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and as a senior he served as SAAC President. Under Roberto's leadership, Bucknell's SAAC successfully organized a Mental Health Week, a Kick-or-Treat Halloween event, a Black History Month Reading Initiative with a local elementary school, and several additional community engagement initiatives.
As a member of the SAAC executive board, Roberto helped mentor the other executive board members as well as the team SAAC representatives. Roberto was also selected as a member of the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute starting in his sophomore year and continuing through his senior year. He was one of 12 select participants in the top tier of the Leadership Institute -- Legacy Leaders -- after having successfully completed each of the prior levels.
Roberto's extracurricular involvement reached across campus. He was one of a handful of student-athletes on the Bucknell Committee on Athletics, which is also comprised of academic deans, faculty members, and the vice president for Athletics & Recreation. The CoA meets regularly throughout the year to discuss campus issues specifically pertaining to student-athletes, and his contributions were so exemplary that he was invited to speak in front of the Board of Trustees.
"During his time at Bucknell and as a member of the men's soccer team, Jack exemplified what it means to be a Patriot League scholar-athlete," said Eline Vermeulen, associate athletic director for Student-Athlete Enrichment. "As a three-year member of the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute and our 2024-25 SAAC president, Jack's commitment to leading and empowering his fellow student-athletes was evident throughout his career. While leading his team to its first Patriot League Championship since 2014, his leadership extended well beyond the locker room and soccer pitch and could be seen in his dedication to the Bucknell and Lewisburg communities. Winning the Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character is a testament to his integrity, perseverance, and the positive impact he made as both a student-athlete and a leader. We are so proud of all of Jack's accomplishments and look forward to seeing what the future has in store for him."
A finance major at Bucknell, Roberto was a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta, Beta Alpha Psi, and Mortar Board honor societies. He served as an analyst with the Bison Finance Society, and at Bucknell's year-end Athletics awards ceremony, he received the John F. Zeller Award for outstanding contributions to Bison Athletics. He was also recognized at Bucknell's Leadership & Inclusive Excellence Awards with the Bison Award for Excellence in Co-Curricular Activities. That award honors seniors who have made significant contributions to various co-curricular and community activities.
Roberto is the ninth Bucknell student-athlete to receive the Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character since its inception in 2011-12. He joins Andrea Seifert (rowing, 2015), Ryan Frazier (men's basketball, 2015), Jesse Klug (men's soccer 2016), Sune Swart (women's basketball, 2017), Meghan Kovac (softball, 2018), Abby Kapp (women's basketball, 2021), Nicole Rivait (softball, 2022), and Clara McCormick (field hockey, 2023) as Bucknell recipients.
Roberto was a four-year member of the Bison men's soccer team, playing a variety of positions. As a senior, he was a key member of Bucknell's defensive unit that allowed a league-low 1.05 goals per game. Including two postseason matches, the Bison conceded only six goals in 11 games against Patriot League opponents. Bucknell blanked Colgate 3-0 in the title match to claim its first conference title in 10 years.
Roberto's contributions to Bucknell Athletics extended well beyond the soccer pitch. He was an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and as a senior he served as SAAC President. Under Roberto's leadership, Bucknell's SAAC successfully organized a Mental Health Week, a Kick-or-Treat Halloween event, a Black History Month Reading Initiative with a local elementary school, and several additional community engagement initiatives.
As a member of the SAAC executive board, Roberto helped mentor the other executive board members as well as the team SAAC representatives. Roberto was also selected as a member of the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute starting in his sophomore year and continuing through his senior year. He was one of 12 select participants in the top tier of the Leadership Institute -- Legacy Leaders -- after having successfully completed each of the prior levels.
Roberto's extracurricular involvement reached across campus. He was one of a handful of student-athletes on the Bucknell Committee on Athletics, which is also comprised of academic deans, faculty members, and the vice president for Athletics & Recreation. The CoA meets regularly throughout the year to discuss campus issues specifically pertaining to student-athletes, and his contributions were so exemplary that he was invited to speak in front of the Board of Trustees.
"During his time at Bucknell and as a member of the men's soccer team, Jack exemplified what it means to be a Patriot League scholar-athlete," said Eline Vermeulen, associate athletic director for Student-Athlete Enrichment. "As a three-year member of the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute and our 2024-25 SAAC president, Jack's commitment to leading and empowering his fellow student-athletes was evident throughout his career. While leading his team to its first Patriot League Championship since 2014, his leadership extended well beyond the locker room and soccer pitch and could be seen in his dedication to the Bucknell and Lewisburg communities. Winning the Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character is a testament to his integrity, perseverance, and the positive impact he made as both a student-athlete and a leader. We are so proud of all of Jack's accomplishments and look forward to seeing what the future has in store for him."
A finance major at Bucknell, Roberto was a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta, Beta Alpha Psi, and Mortar Board honor societies. He served as an analyst with the Bison Finance Society, and at Bucknell's year-end Athletics awards ceremony, he received the John F. Zeller Award for outstanding contributions to Bison Athletics. He was also recognized at Bucknell's Leadership & Inclusive Excellence Awards with the Bison Award for Excellence in Co-Curricular Activities. That award honors seniors who have made significant contributions to various co-curricular and community activities.
Roberto is the ninth Bucknell student-athlete to receive the Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character since its inception in 2011-12. He joins Andrea Seifert (rowing, 2015), Ryan Frazier (men's basketball, 2015), Jesse Klug (men's soccer 2016), Sune Swart (women's basketball, 2017), Meghan Kovac (softball, 2018), Abby Kapp (women's basketball, 2021), Nicole Rivait (softball, 2022), and Clara McCormick (field hockey, 2023) as Bucknell recipients.
Players Mentioned
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