BEHREND'S DROZYNSKI, MOUNT'S MIRANCE RECEIVE AMCC FAR AWARD

The Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) around the AMCC have voted on and selected the 2020 FAR Award Winners. On the women's side is Mount Aloysius College's Katie Mirance, while Penn State Behrend's Chris Drozynski represents the men's side. Mirance and Drozynski were chosen from among 21 outstanding student-athletes named to the AMCC All-Academic Team, earning the prestigious honor after a successful four years in the classroom, in the community, and in their respective sport. 

Mirance, a criminology major, also picked up minors in sociology and English, graduating from Mount Aloysius with a 4.0 GPA in May. The women's soccer player received numerous academic honors, including being a Mercy Presidential Scholar, was inducted into the National Criminal Justice Honor Society and Chi Alpha Sigma (the national student-athlete honor society), and was on the Dean's List every semester. Mirance was also named the 2020 Mercy Scholar of the Year, received the 2020 Criminology Department Award, and was also named the Mount Aloysius Female Student-Athlete of the Year. On the soccer field, Mirance was a two-year team captain and represented the team on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She was an AMCC all-conference third team selection and was chosen by her peers to the AMCC All-Sportsmanship team. Additionally, Mirance served as a peer mentor and tutor, was on the Mock Trial Team, and was a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. She was part of Operation Storybook with the Cambria County Prison where she conducted interviews with incarcerated mothers and recorded audio books to give to their children. Furthermore, Mirance participated in MPOWER, an anti-bullying project through Mount Aloysius, while also participating in a mission trip in conjunction with TOM's shoes where she assisted in distributing 2,371 pairs of shoes to lower-income children. Mirance has accepted a full ride to the University of Delaware and received accelerated acceptance to the PhD program for Sociology. She will be doing a teaching or research assistantship for UD where she will focus on addressing the issue of sexual assault, primarily in the college environment. 

Drozynski, a cross country and track & field student-athlete, graduated with a 3.98 GPA in computer engineering. He was a four-year member of the AMCC men's cross coutnry all-conference team. Drozynski was also a four-year all-ECAC qualifier for the track & field team, while also earning all-Atlantic honors his junior and seniors seasons. He represented his teams on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, and was named the Behrend Academic Athlete of the Year. Drozynski also earned the Scholarship/Leadership Award for both cross country and indoor track & field his senior year. Drozynski has accepted a job with Amazon in Seattle, WA and will begin in June. 

FEMALE BEST OF THE REST: Alfred State College junior cross country and track & field student-athlete Kate Frascella is a nursing major with a 3.94 GPA, she was named the 2019 ASC Academic Award Winner, was a member of the AMCC third place team, named to the AMCC All-Sportsmanship Team, and was a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor's Student-Athlete Award...D'Youville College senior softball player Therese Losardo graduated with a 3.99 GPA in Psychology, was a four-time AMCC Peak Performer, four-time Honors Presidential Dean's List scholar, the 2018-19 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the D'Youville Student Employee of the Year...Hilbert College senior softball player Maia Delaney graduated with a 3.98 GPA in forensic science/crime scene investigation, she was the winner of the 2020 McGrath Award for exemplary achievement academically and athletically at Hilbert, she is a three-time AMCC academic all-conference team member and a three-time individual Peak Performer, she was named to the 2018 AMCC all-tournament team, a 2019 AMCC second team all-conference member, and a two-time team MVP...La Roche University senior women's soccer and bowling student-athlete Jessica Nakamura graduated in May with a 3.899 as a double major in Accounting & Management and Finance, she was a four-time AMCC Peak Performer and member of the Academic All-Conference Team and inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma and Delta Mu Delta honor societies, she was a 2020 AMCC second team all-conference selection for the women's soccer team and received the team MVP award, she served as a resident assistant for three years and a student tutor for four years, while also volunteering on the alternative spring break service learning trip...Medaille College junior women's soccer player Courtney Kline has a 4.0 GPA in accounting, is an AMCC Peak Performer, is in the Medaille College Honors Program, and received numerous academic awards and is in several academic honor societies; she has started all soccer games since her freshman season, recording three goals and an assist in 2019; she volunteered for the Ronald McDonald House and participated in the highly competitive Disney College Program...PS-Altoona senior women's basketball player Kaley Strittmatter graduted in May with a 3.85 in elementary and early childhood education with a minor in special education, she is an AMCC Peak Performer and member of the Academic All-Conference Team, she started all 26 basketball games this season, averaging 8.7 points per game; she is a member of the Pennsylvania State Student Education Association and Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education, while also being a three-time member of the AMCC All-Sportsmanship Team...PS-Behrend senior cross country and track & field student-athlete Erica Koenig graduated with a 3.84 GPA in marketing, was a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, two-time AMCC all-conference member in cross country, was named the Behrend Academic-Athlete of the Year and earned the Scholarship/Leadership Award her junior year...Pitt-Bradford senior softball player Jordan Uhing graduated with a 3.864 GPA in exercise science, is a three-time member of the AMCC Academic All-Conference Team and a two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association Academic All-American; As a pitcher, she led the AMCC in 2019 in shutouts, complete games, saves, and was second in ERA, she was named to the AMCC all-tournament team; Uhing was the softball team's SAAC representative, and was a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Epsilon Kappa honor societies, as well as the National Society of Leadership and Success...Pitt-Greensburg senior women's soccer player Tori Conroy graduated with a 3.35 GPA in biological sciences, she was named to the 2020 AMCC Academic All-Conference Team, was part of the 2019 AMCC regular season and championship teams, she was a three-time AMCC all-conference selection and and a 2019 NCAA DIII Great Lakes Region third team selection, Conroy was a 2019 team captain and earned the most wins in program history (47). 

MALE BEST OF THE REST: Alfred State College junior baseball player AJ Gartland carries a 4.0 GPA in architecture, he was named the 2019 & 2020 ASC Academic Award Winner and represents the baseball team on SAAC...D'Youville College senior men's basketball player Simeon Heard has a 3.58 GPA, as he is working towards a BS in accounting and an MS in international business, while also picking up a minor in Spanish; He played in every basketball game this season, averaging 6.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game; He is a leader on campus, as he serves as a student ambassador, is a three-year member of SAAC, and participated in several community service projects on behalf of SAAC...Hilbert College senior baseball player Henry Bowers graduated with a 3.58 GPA, as he majored in liberal studies and picked up a minor in digital media and communications, he received the 2020 McGrath Award for exemplary acheivement academic and athletically at Hilbert, was a three-time member of the AMCC Academic All-Conference Team, a two-time Peak Performer, and was indumucted into Chi Alpha Sigma; He made 28 appearances with 17 starts, ranking in the top ten in Hilbert history in multiple categories, while also receiving the 2018 Coach's Award; He was a stand leader at New Era Field, helping coordinate annual fundraising efforts, and also served as a volunteer with the Special Olympics...La Roche University junior men's soccer and cross country student-athlete Zachary Bauerle carries a 3.947 GPA in political science and history, he is a member of the AMCC Academic All-Conference Team, a Peak Performer, and member of Chi Alpha Sigma; He won the LRU Invitational on 10/20/18, was named the AMCC Runner of the Week on 10/22/18, and placed first once again on the LRU spring cross country meet on 4/13/19; On the soccer field, he appeared in 10 games and started one this past season...Mount Aloysius College senior baseball and golf student-athlete Michael McCourt graduated with a 3.95 GPA in business administration with a minor in legal studies, he made the Dean's  STList every semester, was a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, and was the 2020 MAC Male Student-Athlete of the Year; He was a 2019 AMCC third team all-conference selection, member of the 2019 AMCC all-tournament team, and was named to the D3 National Team of the Week (4/9/19); McCourt has volunteered with several organizations such as Project Bundle Up, Habitat for Humanity, and a local animal shelter...Medaille College junior men's soccer and tennis player Thomas Greenhalgh carries a 3.84 GPA in accounting, he is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, an AMCC Peak Performer, and received the Medaille Medal for five consecutive semesters on the Dean's List; He started in eight soccer games this past fall and scored one goal for the AMCC regular season champion while picking up a spot on the AMCC All-Sportsmanship Team in 2019...Penn State Altoona senior men's volleyball, swimming, and soccer student-athlete Tanner Yaw graduated with a 3.53 GPA in business (accounting), he was named the PSA male student-athlete of the year both his sophomore and senior years; Yaw was a member of the 2017 NEAC MVB championship team, he was part of the freestyle relay team that placed first against Bethany College, and also finished in first place in the 100 fly against PS-Behrend, while also earning a spot on the AMCC men's soccer All-Sportsmanship Team; He was a member of SAAC, participated in Autism Awareness Program with the Altoona Curve, a campus volunteer for move-in days, and served as a camp counselor for Palmyra Area Recreation and Park Commission...Pitt-Bradford senior baseball player Tyler Hoops graduated with a 3.767 in pre-medicine, he was a three-time member of the AMCC Academic All-Conference Team and member of Chi Alpha Sigma; through nine games this season, he was hitting .324 with five RBI and four triples; He was a member of the UPB SAAC and served as a resident advisor.