AWARDS PHOTO GALLERY  |  FULL CEREMONY VIDEO

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College Department of Athletics held its annual Senior Student-Athlete Awards Ceremony on Friday afternoon on Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium, recognizing the achievements of Union's 122 seniors and other friends and contributors to the department. In addition, 13 year-end awards were announced to Union's outstanding student-athletes and staff members.
 
Director of Athletics Jim McLaughlin '93 opened the afternoon by reflecting the challenging yet rewarding season that Union's student-athletes experienced both on and off the fields of competition, followed by President David R. Harris, who addressed the seniors and also presented the Presidential Award for Academic Achievement to the women's golf team. In addition, baseball senior captain and Student Forum president Matt Toy spoke on behalf of his classmates.
 
Seniors and staff members were recognized with some of the department's year-end awards, while all Union senior student-athletes received their Senior Gifts at the event as well.
 
A full list of 2020-21 award winners are listed below:

Stephen Ritterbush '68 Award
Presented annually, by select vote, to the student who best exemplifies "mente et corpore" sound mind in sound body -- the attributes of scholar-athlete, and board of trustee member Stephen Ritterbush, Class of 1968.  Stephen's outstanding intellect, forthright character, and incisive leadership distinguished him both on and off the field at Union and beyond.
Marina Angelopoulos (Women's Crew)
The first two-time winner in the history of the award, Angelopoulos again served as captain of the Union women's crew team and helped the varsity 8 boat to three wins in four races this season while receiving votes in the national rankings. Off the water, she boasts a 3.966 GPA as a political science and Chinese double major, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa as a senior, and earned the College's Rotary Foundation Endowed Prize for International Study, given to a senior who shows the greatest promise and interest in international relations.
 
Matt Toy (Baseball)
Toy was a true leader on and off the diamond for Union College over the last four seasons. On the field, he had a career year as a senior, earning All-Liberty League second-team honors with a .415 batting average and serving as team captain. Off the field, he served as president of the Student Forum and received the Alan Lake Chidsey (1925) Citizenship Award, given to a senior for distinctive contributions to the advancement of responsible government in student affairs.

Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award
For outstanding performance in the classroom, community and playing arena. 
Amanda Ashmen (Women's Soccer and Track & Field)
Ashmen earns her class' Scholar-Athlete of the Year award for the third straight year. A three-season athlete for Union, she spent four years with the soccer team and three seasons as a leader with the indoor and outdoor track & field teams. She set the school 2,000-meter steeplechase record during her final outdoor track season while also playing 43 games on the pitch over three years. Off the field, she boasts a 3.89 GPA as a computer engineering major and earned the R. E. Morgan Memorial Award, given to a senior with high scholarship in computer engineering.

Ryan Ehrets (Football and Track & Field)
Ehrets also is honored with his class' Scholar-Athlete of the Year award for the third time in four seasons and also is a three-season athlete at Union with the football and indoor and outdoor track & field teams. On the gridiron, the center was named to the D3football.com All-East Region third team in 2019 and earned All-Liberty League honors in all three seasons as the anchor of the team's offensive line. In the classroom, he has a 3.815 GPA as a mechanical engineering major and is one of only four Union student-athletes since 2001 to earn three CoSIDA Academic All-District honors. 

Robert M. Ridings Memorial Award
Presented to the senior female athlete for her attitude, ability, participation and achievement in intercollegiate sports.
Lindsay Gerrato (Women's Lacrosse)
Gerrato had an excellent senior season to cap off a phenomenal four-year career for the women's lacrosse team. She was named to the All-Liberty League first team in 2021 after leading Union with 26 goals and 11 assists for 37 points, becoming just the third player in program history to lead the team in points for three straight seasons, and ranked 11th in Division III in draw controls per game. For her career, she finished second all-time in draw controls at Union in addition to 14th in goals and 20th in points despite missing parts of her last two seasons.
 
William B. Jaffe '26 Athletic Award
Presented to the senior male athlete voted by the Athletic Department to be outstanding athlete of the year, taking into account the character and motivation of the individual in addition to athletic excellence.
Colin Kelly (Baseball)
Kelly left his name all over the Union baseball record book in his decorated career. A two-time D3baseball.com and ABCA All-Region selection and a 2018 consensus All-American, he was named to the All-Liberty League first team as a senior after hitting a team-best .418 with 10 homers, 27 runs scored and 28 runs batted in in just 19 games, and finished the year second in Division III in home runs per game. He leaves Union as the all-time leader in home runs, runs batted in and total bases, while also sitting second in runs and slugging percentage, and eighth in hits.

Dante Scott (Track & Field and Football)
Scott also left his mark on his program, graduating as one of the top jumpers in Union track & field history. He earned Field Athlete of the Meet honors at both of his final two Liberty League Championships, winning the award at the 2020 indoor championships and the 2021 outdoor championships, and was a Liberty League champion in both the long jump and triple jump. Scott also graduates as the school's all-season record holder in the long jump and was a eight-time All-Conference selection in his career.
 
Award for Academic Excellence
Presented to a senior athlete for outstanding performance in the classroom.
Lisa Spagnuolo (Women's Golf)
Spagnuolo was named co-valedictorian of the senior class after boasting a perfect 4.0 GPA as a neuroscience major. Union's 2020 ECAC Medal of Merit recipient, she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa during her junior year, a year in which she also finished third in school history in both single-season and career scoring average for the women's golf team. She also is a three-time Liberty League All-Academic Team honoree and was named a WGCA All-American Scholar on two occasions as well.

Conor Willsie (Men's Soccer)
Willsie boasts one of the top GPAs in the senior class as well, bringing a 3.982 GPA into his final trimester as an electrical engineering major. The senior earned three prizes at Union's Prize Day, winning the Warner King '06 Prize (to the senior in engineering who has contributed most to the traditions and ideals of the College), the Daniel F. Pullman Engineering Prize (to a senior of high scholastic standing in engineering), and the Ralph W. Stearns '07 Prize (to an outstanding student in electrical or computer engineering). He also is a three-time Liberty League All-Academic Team honoree and was named a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection this year as well.

President's Commission on the Status of Women Leadership Award
To the senior female student-athlete who has done the most to promote athletics for women at Union College.
Abby Stack (Field Hockey)
Stack has been a leader on and off the field for the Union field hockey program during her career. She earned Union's Minerva Prize this year, given to a female student whose work best combines the scholarly study of women or gender with activities that enhance the life of women on campus. In addition, she is president of both the U-Marketing group and the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership society, the treasurer of Campus Kitchens, and a STEP mentor.
 
Leadership Award
For exceptional leadership of a team in competition and on campus, providing positive direction for their fellow student-athletes.
Megan Brown (Women's Tennis) 
Brown has been an integral part of the Union women's tennis team's continuous improvement over the last four seasons. A two-year team captain, she earned All-Liberty League second-team honors as a senior after moving up into the first singles and first doubles roles to lead a young team to success. The 2020 ECAC Medal of Merit winner and the 2019 Female Sophomore Athletic Prize honoree, she finished her career ninth in career singles wins and eighth in career doubles wins at Union.

Award for Community Service and Community Outreach
Presented to a senior athlete for outstanding performance in community service.
Corina Lindsay (Women's Basketball)
Lindsay was a key contributor on the court for the women's basketball team over four years but made an even bigger impact off the court. The Joel A. Halpern (1961) Prize winner for a student who has made a commitment to service in the local community, she founded the Strong Girls United program that matched college student-athletes with elementary and middle school girls to provide mentorship, guidance and support. She also worked consistently with City Mission to draft pandemic protocols and procedures, and also served as the social justice program coordinator for the women's basketball team.

Athletics Appreciation Award
Cheryl Rockwood (Athletic Training)
In addition to her normal role as the head of the athletic training staff, Rockwood also served a leading role in the coordination of the College's COVID testing protocols this year, helping to direct the operation of the school's testing center and finding ways to keep our student-athletes and our campus safe. A legendary figure among Union Athletics, Rockwood's guidance, support and leadership have helped thousands of Union student-athletes during her long tenure on campus.