Celebrate Excellence: Highlights from Felician University’s 2018 Athletics Award Dinner!

On Sunday, May 6, 2018, Felician University Athletics celebrated senior student athletes as well as those being inducted in to Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society, at an awards ceremony and dinner held at the Holiday Inn in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. The event honored Felician athletes, recipients of 2017-2018 Athlete of the Year designations, and new inductees and second year honorees into Chi Alpha Sigma.

Each student receiving awards during the event was introduced by their respective coach. Senior athletes Amanda Nowak, Matthew Diesel, and Bruce Strickland were each presented Athlete of the Year Awards, and were introduced by University President, Dr. Anne Prisco, Athletic Director, Ben DiNallo, Jr., and Associate Director of Athletics, Andrew Toriello.

This year’s Chi Alpha Sigma inductees were Giana DiTonto, Samantha Lederle, Paulina Calero, Kaitlyn Buck, Mia Montoya, Ashley Owens, Jeannette Roldan, Jason Aponte, Thomas Greco, and Steven Slagmolen.

To be considered for induction in to Chi Alpha Sigma, students must meet multiple criteria, including maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher, be recommended by coaches or senior athletic staff, and be of good moral character.

“I have a lot of respect for every student athlete…but especially the ones that can go to practice six days a week, go to games that are two, three hours away, and achieve like this in the classroom,” reflects Mark Mentone, Sports Information Director. “It speaks to their ability to accomplish at a high level.”

This celebration of Felician Athletes emphasizes the University’s focus and philosophy of developing the “total person,” focusing on the student as an individual as well as an athlete.