The CUNY Athletic Conference announced that Claudia Chan (Hunter), Greg Waldvogel (Baruch), Ohionameh Aregbeyen (BMCC), and Hui Li Gan (Queensborough) have been named the 2006-2007 Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The four student-athletes were honored at the 2007 Michael Steuerman Scholar-Athlete Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 16th at Baruch College. In addition, 35 honorable mention scholars and several All-Americans were recognized at the annual event.
Perhaps Hunter head coach Andrew Netti states it best about his star student-athlete. “She may not be the greatest swimmer that we have had, but I do not know if there has ever been a finer all-around student-athlete than Claudia Chan.” The Fresh Meadows, New York native has certainly provided a long list of evidence to back up her coaches strong words. In the classroom, the CUNY Honors Program student maintains a sparkling 3.69 grade point average in Elementary Education & English with a minor in Studio Art. A Dean’s List student six times, the Cardozo graduate has developed into one of the top leaders that Hunter has ever seen. A three-time team captain, Chan has served as the school’s SAAC Co-President the past two years and “she personally went out and found swimmers to compete on the team,” according to Netti. In the pool she has simply been the best in CUNY over her brilliant career, winning the conferences Performer of the Year Award in three of her campaigns, as well as earning the CUNYAC Championship Most Valuable Performer Award three different times. During her career, the Hawks enjoyed a 36-19 record and she led the team to three CUNYAC titles. Additionally, she holds the school-record in the 200 individual medley, owns a pair of CUNYAC Championship records (100 & 200 freestyle), and won 11 CUNYAC Championship gold medals throughout her tenure. Chan has also volunteered her time coaching the Cross Island YMCA Barracudas and is involved in the Public Service Scholar Program, having worked with Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan.
The most decorated player to ever play men’s volleyball at Baruch, Greg Waldvogel has spearheaded the Bearcats’ charge as they have developed into a perennial CUNYAC and local power. But the West Hempstead, New York product will be remembered at the Lower East Side Manhattan campus for much more than his aerial acrobatics and powerful swing on the court. The holder of a 3.61 grade point average in Finance & Investments, the CUNY Honors Program student is well on his way to an exciting future in the business world, having already completed an internship with Bear Stearns. The Baruch Presidential & Rosenberg Scholarship recipient spent the fall 2006 semester abroad in Lyon, France and now speaks several languages. “Gregory’s greatness comes from his mental toughness and ability to change, a quality rarely found at his age,” according to his head coach Justin Stack. “He has an ability to draw from within, rather than be influenced by others; this makes him a natural leader,” he added. The 2006 CUNYAC Player of the Year helped lead the Bearcats to back-to-back CUNYAC titles in 2006 and 2007. He finished his standout career with 1,373 kills, an average of 3.61 per game. In addition, he was named the 2004 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year and was a First Team All-Star in 2005. Away from Baruch, Waldvogel spends his Sunday’s at Ridgewood Pentecostal Church, as a member of their choir and orchestra (trombone). He also volunteers as a counselor for inner city children at Pilgrim Camp in upstate Brant Lake, New York.
To say that Ohionameh Aregbeyen has made an impact at the Borough of Manhattan Community College would be a colossal understatement. Aregbeyen maintains a scintillating 3.97 grade point average in Liberal Arts while pursuing a minor in Science. A three-time Dean’s List student, the Brooklyn native has been a major figure in the Panthers’ climb to national prominence in men’s soccer. In 2005, the team captain helped put BMCC on the map as the squad reached the Division III National Junior College Association Final Four in Herkimer, New York. The Panthers lost a heartbreaking decision in the semifinals, falling in penalty-kicks, but they bounced back to win the consolation game and finished third in the country. Aregbeyen, who scored two goals and had five assists in 2006, was recognized this past season with Second Team All-American honors after being named a First Team All Region selection. Known for his ability to repeatedly beat one or two defenders in the flank with phenomenal solo play, Aregbeyen is considering several Division II schools and plans to major in Physical Therapy. Last summer, the outside left back was a member of the CUNYAC Goodwill Tour Men’s Soccer team that traveled to South Africa.
Hui Li Gan has only been a member of the Queensborough Community College Women’s Swimming & Diving Team for one season. But what a season it has been! The Flushing resident, who moved to the United States from her native China in 2003, helped lead the Tigers to a 12th place performance at the National Junior College Athletic Association Championships this past March. Affectionately know by her teammates as Jackie, the Tigers’ top swimmer placed sixth in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 breaststroke at nationals, earning All-American status in the two events. Just prior, she set a new standard in the 100 breaststroke at the 2007 CUNYAC Championships, winning the gold medal with an outstanding time of 1:13.82. Further, she garnered a gold medal in the 100 breaststroke at the North East District Meet and was the runner-up in the 200 breaststroke. “Jackie has been a great role model for our team,” said Queensborough head coach Young Kim. “Her winning attitude has made our whole team better, and without her, we may not have been able to compete nationally. I contribute her success to her determination, positive thinking, management, respect for people, and strong commitment to her goals.” Gan has made a huge impact in the classroom as well, earning a terrific 3.53 grade point average in Business Management, and was an Academic All-Region selection this past year. A member of the Asian Society Club, Gan also manages to find the time tutoring children in the local Chinese community.
2007 Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mentions
Baruch
Alex Sokol
Sara Ayoub
Mercedes Zegarra
Brooklyn
Steve Siozos
Luke Heywood
Brittany Natiello
Nancy Vuong
CCNY
Neil Khalid-Salim
Alex Stewart
Mechelle Barnwell
City Tech
Sherard Harewood
Hunter
Michael DeRise
Krystin Suarez
Abu Sufian
John Jay
Melissa Rodriguez
William Birmingham
Melissa Escalera
Brennon Taylor
Lehman
Lianee Torres
Christopher Diplan
Daniel Gurdak
Staten Island
Eros Qama
Soumitri Seshadri
Bukurije Begai
York
Lenroy Brown
Queensborough
Luis Rojas
Jorge Jerez
Jodi Vitale
Kingsborough
Chio Weng Wong
Paul Rittenhouse
Yamelete Rosa
Allana Paul
Hostos
Caedia Fraser
Julie Castillo