2017 BU Student Athlete Awar
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LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS On behalf of Boston University and our Department of Athletics, it is my honor to welcome you all to tonight’s event. Traditionally, our annual Student-Athlete Awards Reception has focused on our graduating seniors. Thanks to a collaborative effort with SAAC, we have not only brought in the entire student-athlete body this year, but also introduced a new set of awards: The Rhettys. Our goal is to make this evening a memorable one for everyone involved. The dedication of our student-athletes is unmatched, and we cherish the opportunity to honor their successes in all aspects of college life. Thank you to everyone in our department — student- athletes, coaches & staff — for your efforts in making Boston University a special place where we all can learn, grow and excel. You make us Who We Are. I would also like to wish the members of the Class of 2017 the best of luck in their future endeavors. We are so very proud to call you Terriers. Go BU! Drew Marrochello BOSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENT-ATHLETE AWARDS RECEPTION MAY 1, 2017 VIDEO PRESENTATION MASTERS OF CEREMONIES RACHEL BLAUNER WOMEN’S SOCCER BRIDGET CONWAY WOMEN’S SOCCER WELCOME DREW MARROCHELLO DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE ALDO “BUFF” DONELLI LEADERSHIP AWARDS JOSEPH P. MERCURIO CAMPUS COMMUNITY RECOGNITION AWARD STUDENT-ATHLETE SERVICE AWARD JOHN B. SIMPSON AWARDS LEADERS OF DISTINCTION & MERIT AWARDS ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS SCHOLAR-ATHLETE RECOGNITION E. RAY SPEARE AWARD GRETCHEN SCHUYLER AWARD TEAM GPA AWARD THE RHETTYS UNSUNG HEROES BREAKOUT ATHLETES UPSET OF THE YEAR PLAY OF THE YEAR MOMENT OF THE YEAR ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER RECOGNITION TERRIER PRIDE AWARD MILDRED BARNES AWARD MICKEY COCHRANE AWARD WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD CONCLUSION Joseph P. Mercurio Campus Community Recognition Award Given on behalf of Boston University’s In addition to his numerous responsibilities Department of Athletics, the Joseph P. involving event and facility management Mercurio Campus Community Recognition and scheduling, he has served as an Award honors an individual whose support administrator for 11 varsity sports. over the past year has proven invaluable Weinberger also taught for several years in and limitless. the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation in the University’s Sargent College starting in The Campus Community Recognition Award 2004. In May of 2014, he was awarded an was renamed in honor of Mercurio in 2011 Honorary Scarlet Key from BU. after he received the award following his 30-plus years of service to the campus and A friend to thousands of Terriers over his support of the Department of Athletics. Alan Weinberger the years and a familiar face to hundreds While serving as Executive Vice President of opponents and officials, Weinberger from 1995-2011, Mercurio oversaw an era will retire later this year as the longest of unprecedented growth at BU and his friendship with, tenured staff member in department history. The interest in and overall enthusiasm for Athletics played a number of relationships he has fostered up and down significant role in the success of the department. Commonwealth Ave. over his four-plus decades is both remarkable and unmatched. This year, the award is presented to Alan Weinberger, our Associate Athletic Director for Facilities. And it’s safe to say that he will always hold the school record for saves in a men’s soccer game (34 vs. Babson, Weinberger has been on campus for over 46 years, having 9/30/72). arrived in the fall of 1970 as an undergraduate on the men’s soccer team before going on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in rehabilitation RECENT MERCURIO AWARD RECIPIENTS counseling. 2016 Dan Solworth Dean of Students Chief of Staff 2015 Bill Walter Facilities Managment & Planning While in graduate school, the New Jersey native joined 2013 Student-Athlete Advisory Council the athletics staff as a facilities assistant and later 2012 Nancy Lyons Sr. Assoc. Athletic Director moved into the newly created role of assistant facilities 2011 Joseph Mercurio Executive Vice President manager. In 1993, Weinberger was elevated to director of 2010 Brian Durocher Women’s Ice Hockey Coach facilities and then became an assistant athletic director 2009 Chris Parks Director of BU Bands three years later. He has been in his current role as 2008 Dave Walko Development associate athletic director since 2011. 2007 Dick Steele Facilities Management Student-Athlete Service Award The Boston University Student-Athlete As the coordinator of programs for Brothers Service Award recognizes a senior United, an organization that seeks to bring student-athlete who has demonstrated a black males together and enable them to commitment to serving Boston University, take active roles in the Boston University the Department of Athletics and the community, Flynn planned weekly social Greater Boston community over the course events to further unify men of color on of his or her time at BU. campus and aided in the many community service initiatives they partook in during Award recipients have shown commitment the academic year. through involvement in campus organizations and activities, volunteer Through his time at the Howard Thurman work, the Student-Athlete Advisory Center for Common Ground, Flynn helped Committee (SAAC), University and/or Justin Flynn develop a community support system that Men’s Track & Field Athletics Department committees and other will remain at Boston University long after service-oriented activities. he is gone. The recipient of the 2017 Student-Athlete Service Award “Justin Flynn is just an exceptional person both on is Justin Flynn of the men’s track & field team. and off the track,” said director of track & field Robyne Johnson. “In only his second year, he was named team A Rochester Hills, Michigan native, Flynn has left a captain and has taken that role to heart. He makes sure remarkable footprint on not only the track & field team to lead team practices and motivate his fellow teammates but also the BU community as a whole. whenever possible. He has a huge impact on the track & field team and on the community and will leave BU with As BU student body vice president of finance, Flynn has many well-deserved honors.” managed and maintained the entire student government budget and financial records. As the financial director During his time at BU, Flynn also became a member of for the Gender and Advocacy Progress Week, Flynn the Boston University Scarlet Key Honor Society and created outside partnerships with local businesses and the Bloom Leadership Academy, as well as serving as a organizations, and recruited and managed the GAP Week three-year captain on the track & field team. finance team. After graduation, Flynn hopes to put his business degree But it is at the Howard Thurman Center for Common to work creating real change through investments Ground and the Brothers United program where he truly in businesses that look to positively affect change made an impact. in society. He also hopes to put his experiences in public policy, finance, and real estate to work on urban development and community building initiatives in underserved neighborhoods. STUDENT-ATHLETE SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS 2016 Anna Veselovsky W Swimming & Diving 2015 Eline Vermeulen W Rowing 2014 Chelsea Glincman W Swimming & Diving 2013 Tina Hoppe W Swimming & Diving 2012 Erica Casacci Softball 2011 Krystyn McIntyre W Basketball Alex Thornton W Rowing 2010 Ashley Leichliter W Ice Hockey Kristen Williams W Swimming & Diving 2009 David Barth M Track & Field 2008 Molly Gallagher Softball 2007 Ross Lohr M Tennis Aldo “Buff” Donelli Leadership Award Named in honor of the Terrier football Serving this past year as captain of the coach from 1947 to 1956 who also served men’s tennis team, Jake De Vries has as the Director of Athletics for five years, been a staple for the program on and off this award is presented to a senior who the court over the past four seasons. The has demonstrated outstanding leadership Irvine, California, native helped guide the both on and off the field. The recipient Terriers to three Patriot League semifinal is chosen by the Hall of Fame executive appearances and collected more than 38 committee after nomination by the wins in both singles and doubles action Athletic Department. during his collegiate career. As president of the Student-Athlete “Jake is very deserving of this award,” Advisory Committee (SAAC) and a captain Charlotte Castronovo said head coach Dejan Stankovic. “He’s of the women’s lacrosse team, Charlotte Women’s Lacrosse always on task and is the first to get to Castronovo is a true leader and ambassador practice and the last to leave. He’s the of Boston University athletics. most inclusive player I’ve had who involves everyone on the team and is also a great Castronovo, whose parents are both BU leader by example. I can always rely on him alums, has been a standout on defense for to help solve any issues that may arise.” the Terriers. The Garden City, New York, native has started every game over the In the classroom, he’s been named to three past three years and guided the team to Patriot League Academic Honor Rolls and four straight Patriot League tournament has been twice named an ITA Scholar- appearances. Athlete for boasting a GPA above 3.50. Along with her presence on the field, she is He’s also made valuable contributions equally impactful off it. In her role as SAAC Jake De Vries to the community through his work president, Castronovo organized numerous Men’s Tennis with SAAC, including serving this past community service events for student- academic year as the Vice President. For his athletes, and has spent time serving for exemplary work on campus, he was awarded the Salvation Army and Athletes 4 Autism.