CUNYAC

2010 City University of New York Athletic Conference /

Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Photo by: Greg Armstrong

The 2010-11 CUNYAC SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR (left to tight): CUNY Vice Chancellor FRANK SANCHEZ, STELLA SHIFRIN (Hunter), VICTOR TLEPSHEV (KCC), LISA KURNER (QCC), AGUSTIN LASTRA (BARUCH) and ELIZABETH STEUERMAN, whose legendary husband bears the ceremony's name.

On Wednesday, May 18, the CUNY Athletic Conference celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Michael Steuerman Scholar-Athlete Awards, an end of the year celebration of the incredible accomplishments for the 2010-11 academic and athletic season. This year, the gathering was held on the neutral campus of Queens College, where the CUNYAC headquarters are all year around.

For the Silver Anniversary salute, the best and brightest of CUNYAC student-athletes, coaches, administrators and friends were rewarded for their notable efforts on the field, in the classroom, in the office, in the community and beyond. Four Scholar-Athletes of the Year were recognized, along with 38 honorable mention scholar-athletes. In addition, the presentation of the CUNYAC Commissioner’s Cup, a salute to the year’s 30 (and counting) All-Americans and our special award, the ‘Friend of CUNY’ were all unveiled.

The featured tribute awards a male and a female Scholar-Athlete of the Year on the senior and community college levels, whose athletic and academic success were deemed to be above and beyond by the selection committee. Given the extraordinary accomplishments of all of the honorable mentions, it is a credit to our selected winners to stand at the top of this group of exemplary students. The big winners this year were Lisa Kurner (Queensborough, Women’s Cross Country & Track and Field), Agustin Lastra (Baruch, Men’s Cross Country & Swimming and Diving), Stella Shifrin (Hunter, Women’s Fencing) and Victor Tlepshev (Kingsborough, Men’s Soccer).

"Our best keep getting better, as evidenced by these four exceptional scholar-athletes," said CUNYAC Executive Director Zak Ivkovic. "The fact that three of our four winners hail from Argentina, Israel and Japan clearly shows that CUNY continues as America's education dream machine."

Here are their stories:

LISA KURNER, QUEENSBOROUGH
Community College Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
by Gregg Cohen

Photo by: Greg Armstrong

QCC All-American Lisa KurnerIf there’s a hurdle in front of her, she’ll go right over it. The only question is how high can Lisa Kurner leap?

Two years ago, an 18-year old enrolled at Queensborough Community College, an international student from Osaka, Japan, In 2011, Kurner is now an Academic and Athletic All-American for the Tigers, boasting an incredible 3.95 grade point average.

“I am more impressed with Lisa’s success because she was never on any athletic team in her high school career,” said veteran Tigers Head Coach Chris Olmetchenko. She never ran cross country or track before last year. Success has given her more confidence to train more and I’ve never coached a student-athlete that’s been able to balance academics and training as well as Lisa.”

In her first CUNYAC Cross Country Championship in 2009, she placed 61st, in just under 36 minutes. Last fall, she was the second Community College finisher, in 14th place among 71 female runners at Van Cortlandt Park, traditionally one of the hardest courses in the Country-- having cut over eight minutes from her time a year earlier. She also placed fifth at the NJCAA Region XV Championships and ran at Nationals in 2010.

That same attitude is what made the 5’6” Fresh Meadows, Queens resident an instant success in track and field. Last spring, she became an All-American with three of her Tigers’ teammates at the 2010 NJCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, finishing second in the 4x400 Meter Relay with three teammates. She also competed at the NJCAA’s ten days ago, finishing fourth in Nation in the 400 Meter Intermediate Hurdles.

“I simply enjoy running and learning so I give 100% of my effort to training,” continued Kurner. “Training for track helps me manage my stress, a time out from studying and it refreshes my mind. It motivates me even more to study after training. I also try to impress this on my teammates. They’re my family here and I want to help them succeed.”

Kurner visited New York City during her high school years and knew she wanted to study in here. A quiet somewhat introverted girl, she was ready to emerge. She craved the culture, the people, the energy of New York, having been looked at differently in Japan, as a child of a Japanese mother and a German father. She was thrilled to come to New York, go to college, gain confidence and broaden her horizons.

On campus, Kurner is tutor at the QCC Learning Center for the past two years in Italian and German. With no family in the United States, she relies on her teammates and coaches for support, especially in light of the earthquake and Tsunami in Northern Japan two months ago.

Kurner and her teammates have recently started fundraising for the relief effort at QCC athletic contests and other campus events. She hopes to expand the efforts in the near future and see her homeland when she goes back to visit her family in the summer, before she comes back to New York in the fall.

She will continue her studies within CUNY, and has been accepted to Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business, where she will major in Management Entrepreneurship in the fall. As far as post-graduate goals, Kurner is interested in a career in children’s clothing, combining fashion, children and sports.

AGUSTIN LASTRA, BARUCH
Senior College Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
by Michael Lewis

Photo by: Greg Armstrong

Two-Sport Star Agustin Lastra

Like many students in the City University of New York system, Agustin Lastra has been forced to juggle his academics between outside activities.

At Baruch College the Argentine native played soccer before captaining the cross country team and becoming a vital member of a swimming team that won consecutive CUNYAC championships.

He worked for a couple of local businesses before becoming an intern at Goldman Sachs.

In the classroom, the 24-year-old Lastra accrued a 3.8 grade-point average as a finance major. So, it should not be surprising that Lastra was named one of four CUNYAC Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

“If I don’t feel like I’m busy or I don’t have a lot to do, I think I have too much time on my hands,” he said.

Lastra’s secret? Focus.

“When I was in class, my mind was in class,” he said. “When I was at practice, my mind was there. My focus made my life a lot easier outside the classroom.”

Lastra decided to pursue two other sports in 2008. He had been interested in the Iron Man competition, which one of his uncles ran -- so cross country and swimming would be perfect. He credited both his coaches. “I don’t know what they saw [in me], but I gave it a shot,” Lastra said. “I got great gratification from both sports, especially in the winter. It’s horrible to run.”

When he joined the swim team, Lastra admitted he struggled. “I drowned for a month,” he said. “I had a lot of encouragement from teammates.” Lastra helped Baruch earn its first CUNYAC swimming title in 2010, adding a second one this winter. He swam the 1,650-meter freestyle, the longest collegiate event.

“He has gone from being a kid who can swim to someone who could do the longest and most difficult event,” said swimming coach Charles Lampasso, who was impressed with Lastra’s commitment. “He gives 120 percent no matter what he’s doing.”

Cross Country coach Matt Soja was impressed with Lastra’s leadership ability. “Even though he was not the fastest runner on the team, he probably was the most ambitious and most motivated, which translated into strong improved performances for the entire team,” Soja stated.

“What is most impressive is that Mr. Lastra found the energy and time to lead an NCAA sports team despite his tough academic course load and full-fledged job search in the fall of his senior year. Many times he would come to practice in between a job interview and midterm exam. Yet I knew he would never complain because he wanted to be a positive example to younger runners on the team.”

Lastra’s attitude transferred to the classroom. Albert Murphy, an associate professor in the Department of Economic and Finance, wrote in a recommendation that he was impressed that Lastra was “more concerned with understanding course material than with simply ‘getting a good grade.’

So, it should not be surprising that Lastra has secured a full-time position with Goldman Sachs after graduation.

It’s just a matter of knowing how to juggle your life and focusing.

STELLA SHIRFIN, HUNTER
Senior College Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
by Matt Dispensa

Photo by: Greg Armstrong

NCAA Fencing Qualifier Stella Shifrin

It is hard to believe that upon arriving at Hunter in 2007, Stella Shifrin had no prior experience in fencing. Surprisingly, the Brooklyn resident was initially interested in volleyball, but it was too late to try out for team when she arrived her freshman year in September. Not knowing anything about the sport of fencing, Shifrin decided to give it a try and the rest is history.

She does not only excel athletically, but she is an exemplary student as well, obtaining Cum Laude honors with a 3.57 grade point average, while completing a double major in political science and vocal performance. Shifrin is very passionate about singing as shown through her membership in the Opera Club and Vocal Repertory Club. On the Dean’s List for nearly her entire college career, she has also been a two time recipient of the Amelia Ottenger Award for Debate. Additionally, she is in the Thomas Hunter Honors Program, was the recipient of the Richter Scholarship, and won the Distinguished Freshman Award and Outstanding Delegate and Peer Award for the model United Nations team.

As a four-year starting athlete, Stella made the most of her experience at Hunter and is a classic example that commitment and dedication can go a long way. From having a limited fencing knowledge at the beginning, to becoming a NCAA Championship participant and competing against the best (including Division I scholarship competitors), she has accomplished so much in such a short time and still has yet to reach her peak.

She was named to the EWFC All-Conference First Team in 2009 and was named the Sabre Fencer of the Year in 2010 and 2011. As a sophomore, she placed 26th at the NCAA Regional meet and ultimately finished third her senior year. She also won the 2010 NIWFA Christmas Invitational and the 2011 EWFC Individual Championship.

Rounding out her career, Stella participated in the 2011 NCAA National Championship at the Ohio State University where she finished 22nd, beating Division I athletically scholarship fencers from the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, Ohio State, Air Force, Brown and Penn State.

Stella attributes her success to numerous factors; hard work, sacrifice, dedication, stubbornness, the will to succeed, a competitive attitude, and most of all, her coaches and teammates. Former head coach, Tibi Sala gave her a shot as a walk-on and assistant coach Randy Brasil placed heavy emphasis on the athletic and physical factors necessary to be competitive. Current head coach Patrick Durkan fine tuned her technique which gave her the final push to be able to compete on the level she is on now.

Stella cites her teammates for their unwavering support. “They are not just my teammates,” she explains. “They are my family, friends, training partners, supporters, fans, coaches and positive influences on my fencing. I could not have done it without them.”

Upon graduation in May, Stella plans to take a year off before beginning post graduate studies in law school. In between, she would like to focus on fencing and see how far she can take her abilities if she trains full-time. It would not be surprising to see her name ranking among the elite fencers in international competitions in due time, or even see it appearing on the Olympic squad. Lastly, while completing her fencing and law aspirations, she will be singing all along the way. Stella Shifrin will succeed on any stage she chooses.

VICTOR TLEPSHEV, KINGSBOROUGH
Community College Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
by Michael Lewis

Photo by: Greg Armstrong

2009 CUNYAC Championship MVP Victor Tlepshev

When he emigrated to the United States from Israel with his family in February 2009, Victor Tlepshev did not know the language, did not have any friends and had no college to attend.

Today, the Kingsborough Community College sophomore can speak English, has made many friends and was named one of four CUNYAC Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

Tlepshev excelled on the soccer pitch and in the classroom at Kingsborough, recording a 3.81 grade-point average as a computer information systems major. “He is an intelligent kid and a very talented soccer player,” Kingsborough assistant coach Christian Legovich said. “He is very confident and worked hard. If we were winning or losing, he would give the same effort.”

In 2009, Tlepshev led the CUNYAC Community Colleges in goals while helping Kingsborough win its first title in 11 years. He scored two goals -- the equalizer and game-winner -- in an MVP performance in the 3-2 win over the Borough of Manhattan Community College in the championship game.

“He gave everything he had for the game,” Legovich said. “He led by example, fighting and carrying the team.”

Tlepshev also made some sacrifices. When Cemil Turan, another dangerous goal-scorer joined the team in 2010, Tlepshev did not think twice about moving from striker to playmaker for the good of the team.

“This year we had a great striker who could do the scoring job,” said Tlepshev, who was team captain. “I was giving him the passes. When you love to play the game, it’s not a matter of where you play. It’s a matter of if the team is winning. . . . It’s a team game. It’s 11 players, not one player.”

Kingsborough reached the final last fall, losing to BMCC.

Born in Russia, Tlepshev emigrated to Israel with his parents when he was six-months-old. He excelled at soccer, earning a place on the Israeli Under-17 team.

Tlepshev had dreams of playing professionally in Israel, but his parents realized their own dream by moving to the United States in early 2009. Tlepshev started a new life, although he did not know the language or his new city. He registered at Kingsborough CC and life started to get better.

Tlepshev admitted he wasn’t always a great student. “When I came here, I didn’t think about a vocation,” he said. “I was more concerned about soccer.”

Soccer is still important, but the 21-year-old realized he must earn a living. Computers have become a passion as well. “If it is possible, I would like to find a rewarding computer job while still trying to play -- if it’s not too late,” he said.

Tlepshev hasn’t decided where he will finish his education. He needs to accrue several more credits before completing his Associates Degree. He is leaning towards attending Baruch College.

“He’ll be fine any place he decides to go,” Legovich said. “Any school will be lucky to have him as a player and as a student.”

For the Silver Anniversary Michael Steuerman Scholar-Athlete Awards, held on Wednesday, May 18 at the campus of Queens College, CUNYAC recognized 38 honorable mention scholar-athletes to celebration their incredible accomplishments for the 2010-11 academic and athletic season and their collegiate athletic careers.

"The student-athletes recognized tonight represent the very best of CUNY," said Dr. Frank Sanchez, CUNY Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. "Above and beyond accomplished athletes these students are leaders, scholars, and ambassadors of an exceptional university.  I could not be more proud to have been a part of this evening's award ceremony."

Here are their stories...

Irfan Anwar • Lehman • Men’s Cross Country, Track & Field

A perennial top-ten finisher in CUNY Cross Country, Irfan Anwar also ran distance races for the Lightning Track & Field teams during his stellar four-year athletic career. An all-star in both, and a multiple CUNYAC Athlete of the Week, he also earned the CUNYAC Sportsmanship Award from the outdoor track head coaches last spring.

Arvind Badhey • Brooklyn • Men’s Cross Country, Tennis

Arvind Badhey is a four-year member of the BC Men’s Cross Country program and a two-year member of the Men’s Tennis program. Badhey helped lead BC to the 2008 CUNYAC Cross Country Championship with a 10th place individual finish with a time of 29:53.3. Has a 3.95 GPA as a Biology and Philosophy double major. He is also a member of both the Honors Academy and Scholars Program at BC. A highly active member of the campus community, Arvind is a member of the Forensics/Speech and Debate Team, as well as a Co-Founder of the Global Medical Brigades Club. He is a two-time CUNYAC/HSS Scholar-Athlete of the Month winner and he was just named an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Finalist, one of only two Division III student-athletes chosen nationally.

Norhan Basuni • John Jay • Women’s Soccer

A first year member of the newly formed women’s soccer team, Norhan Basuni saw action in 11 games, including one start. Has served as President of the United Nations Student Association (UNSA), and has been an active member of numerous other organizations at JJC including Amnesty International, Judicial Board, Presidential Initiative, John Jay Sentinel, Student Government. An International Crime & Justice major, Basuni has a 3.28 GPA.

Robens Bien-Amie • Queensborough • Men’s Cross Country, Track & Field

A very versatile athlete, Bien-Amie has been a key member of the Tigers’ Cross Country and Track & Field success, participating in CUNYAC, Regional and National Championship events. A resident of Elmont, NY, he is the QCC indoor record holder in the triple jump, finishing a career best 4th in CUNY’s in 2011. He is an Engineering Science major.

Mark Benjamin • John Jay • Men’s Cross Country

A two year member and one year captain of the John Jay men’s cross country team. He is a SAAC representative and a member of the Veteran’s Club, where he has served as secretary the past two years. Is also a member of Model UN Club, where he was treasurer. Benjamin holds a 3.4 GPA in International Crime & Justice.

Melissa Blass • CCNY • Women’s Volleyball

A CUNYAC Champion and NCAA Participant in 2009, Melissa Blass was named CUNYAC Player of the Year by the CUNY coaches this past season to finish out a stellar career at City College. A team captain for the last three seasons, she led the Beavers to a 21-17 overall record and an appearance in the CUNYAC semifinals this year. The native of Oneonta, NY is a psychology major, who also finds time to volunteer at Columbia, Mount Sinai and Cornell as a research participant performing drug testing and does brain imaging.

Megan Bouwens • Baruch • Women’s Basketball

Megan Bouwens had her finest collegiate game in the 2011 CUNYAC/Con Edison Basketball championship final against Lehman, with 24 points and 23 rebounds and was named Tournament Most Valuable Player. She helped the Bearcats win two CUNYAC Titles and play in two NCAA Tournaments, while scoring over 1,000 career points. A 2009-10 CUNYAC All-Star, Bouwens averaged of 14.9 points and 9.1 rebounds while scoring a 3.38 GPA, majoring in Psychology.

Kemar Brown • John Jay • Men’s Soccer

Kemar Brown was a four year member of the John Jay men’s soccer team, playing goalkeeper in three of the four seasons. Saw action in 45 games and made 140 saves and had two assists with a goals against average of 2.0 per game in 2010. Brown maintains a 3.27 GPA in Forensic Science.

Jonathan Castillo • Queensborough • Baseball

Even though he comes out of the bullpen late in games for the Tigers, Castillo provides relief all year around, as the team captain he helps organize the baseball team’s fundraising efforts and participates in school functions like “Clean Up Day” at a public park. An Academic All-CUNY and All-Region player, he averages nearly a strikeout an inning, while maintaining an earned run average under 4.0 and pursuing a degree in Liberal Arts.

Sylvia Churchill • Lehman • Women’s Cross Country, Track & Field

A four-year runner for the Lightning Cross Country and Track & Field teams and a three-year leader in the pool for the school, Sylvia Churchill even holds the school record with her teammates in the medley relay. An accomplished student and charitable individual out of the APEX, she holds a 3.69 GPA in English with a minor in Early Childhood Education.

Maimouna Dabo • York • Women’s Basketball

A four-year starter and team captain for the Lady Cardinals basketball team, Dabo eclipsed 1,000 points for her career earlier this season and finished with 1,083 points.  She ranks fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list.  A business major with a 3.60 GPA, Dabo was second on the team in scoring this season, averaging 11.3 points per contest.

Tammer Farid • Baruch • Men’s Basketball

The 2011 CUNYAC/Burt Beagle Men’s Basketball Sportsmanship Award Winner, he has scored 1,322 career points and is Baruch’s all-time leader in three-pointers with 226. Tammer Farid, was the starting shooting guard of basketball team that won the 2010 ECAC Metro Postseason Regional Championship and scored game-high 22 points against #18-ranked UMASS-Dartmouth in 1st round of 2009 NCAA Tournament. A Marketing/Advertising major, he holds a 3.71 GPA, while tutoring math at the College.    

Raymie Fernandez • CCNY • Baseball

Raymie Fernandez, a three-time CUNYAC All-Star for the Beavers’ baseball team has already managed to combine an academic and athletic career. A Bilingual Childhood Education major with a 3.47 GPA, he volunteers at Riverbank State Park, assisting with the youth baseball program year round as a coach for children aged 8-16. He is also involved with the East Harlem Tutorial and Chittick Elementary School Tutorial Programs and has been a Resident Assistant at CCNY’s residence hall the last two years. An infielder, he sported a final .292 batting average this season.

Roy Forberg • Hunter • Men’s Tennis

A four-year member of the men’s tennis team and has a career record of impressive 23-11 singles and 18-13 doubles record. He was named a CUNYAC All-Star Honorable Mention in 2010 after helping his team win the Championship and earn a trip to the NCAA Regional. Earlier this month, he won his championship final match at second singles to help the Hawks top Baruch to become repeat title winners.  A Film major with a minor in Math, Forberg, holds serve with a 3.66 grade point average.

Paola Garcia • Hostos • Women’s Volleyball

The Lady Caimans sophomore was tied for first in number of games played, was second on the team in digs (150), and led the team in hitting efficiency (.545). She was a leader off the court as well earning a 3.4 GPA in the Dental Hygiene program.

Kim Happich • Hunter • Women’s Swimming & Diving

A four-year member of the women’s swimming team, Kim Happich earned All-Star honors in 2011 after placing second in the 100-yard breast stroke and second in the 200-yard breaststroke at the CUNYAC Championships. She was also was a member the 2007-08 and 2008-09 CUNYAC Conference Champion Hawks and two-time runner-up teams. A Macaulay Honors College student, who is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and recently won the Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence, Happich holds an amazing 3.94 GPA in Psychology.

Robert Hargraves • Staten Island • Men’s Tennis

A two-time CUNYAC All-Star, Robert Hargraves has been a mainstay in the lineup for the College of Staten Island. He had an undefeated record this season in both singles and doubles play versus CUNYAC Competition.  Hargraves is a member of the Macaulay Honors College, where he sports a 3.34 GPA in Nursing.

Ahmad Hemingway • Brooklyn • Men’s Basketball

A transfer to Brooklyn in 2009, Ahmad Hemingway made an immediate impact to the BC Men’s Basketball program, helping guide the Bulldogs to back-to-back CUNYAC Championships (2009 & 2010). In 83 career games played during his three seasons at BC, Hemingway totaled 901 points, 316 rebounds, 161 assists and 139 steals. This season, Hemingway averaged 12.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. A Television and Radio major, Hemingway boasts a 3.30 GPA.

Sarah Jafferali • CCNY • Women’s Fencing

Off the mat, Sarah Jafferali loves community service, assisting in City Harvest, the “Relay for Life” and several charity walks. As a student-athlete, she had a tremendous 2010-2011 season, finishing with a mark of 74 wins and 43 losses and has 223 wins for her four-year career. For her efforts, she was named an EWFC Second-Team All-Conference Foil and she also received an NIWFA All-Academic Team Certificate. A mainstay of CCNY’s SAAC Committee, she holds a 3.21 GPA in English Language /Jewish Studies with a minor in Education.

Baljit Kahlon • John Jay • Women’s Cross Country

A four-year member of the Bloodhounds women’s cross country team, and a team captain the past three years. Has participated in numerous John Jay Student-Athlete Advisory Committee activities the past two years, and conducts running clinics for youth members of her church. A major, she’s has a 3.24 grade point average in criminal justice.

Loukman Lamany • Bronx • Men’s Soccer

A NJCAA Region XV Sportsmanship winner, and a Business Administration Management major with a 3.72 GPA, Lamany also finds time on campus to  be president of the Gardening Club and a representative for the Muslim Student Association. On the field, the midfielder scored five goals and had seven assists as a freshman, and topped each of those by one this year as a sophomore.

Danielle Maresca • Brooklyn • Softball

Danielle Maresca has been a mainstay at the hot corner for the Brooklyn College Softball program during her three-year BC career. She has been named a CUNYAC All-Star after each of the last three seasons. Maresca had a breakout season in 2010 batting .467 (43-for-92) with 37 runs scored and 27 RBI. She holds a 3.69 GPA as an Early Childhood Education major. She will be the College’s representative on the 2011 CUNY Goodwill Tour to New Orleans later this month.

Edwin Marrero • BMCC • Baseball

One of the first Marines sent to Iraq in 2003, he served for five years before starting his education at BMCC. After risking his life for his country, he now gives his time and efforts to his teammates on and off the field as a leader in every sense of the word. In the classroom, Marrero holds a 3.49 GPA in Liberal Arts, while hitting superbly on the field, leading the Panthers with a .375 average and catching nearly every game this season.

Amobi Moujeke • York • Men’s Basketball

A two-year member of the Cardinals basketball team, Muojeke was a key contributor off the bench.  He was a strong presence inside and on the defensive side of the ball and was part of the 2009-10 team that set a school record for wins.  A Physical Education major, Muojeke has made the dean’s list four times at York.

Sani Mubarak • BMCC • Men’s Soccer

Named First-Team All-Region in 2010 after winning the CUNYAC Championship last October, the Panthers fell in the NJCAA Region XV semifinals, after posting a school record 12 wins. Mubarak, a starter up front for BMCC had seven goals and three assists this past season. Off the field, he holds a 3.66 GPA in Liberal Arts and is a member of the African Club.

Marcus Ng • Hunter • Men’s Fencing

A four-year member of the men’s fencing team, Ng has earned 32 total wins over his career. During his junior year, he was third on the team in wins with 21, and collected three wins in bouts against three different opponents. During his senior year, he placed 35th in the foil event at the regional tournament.  A biology major and chemistry minor, the Flushing resident has an outstanding 3.90 GPA.

Almarie Padayogdog • Hostos • Women’s Volleyball

Padayogdog contributed six kills per game and was a defensive specialist for the Caimans women’s volleyball team.  She led all Hostos student-athletes this season with a 4.0 grade point average. Additionally, she represented Hostos on the Region XV Sportsmanship team this season.

Phillip Parris • Medgar Evers • Men’s Volleyball

Phillip Parris, a student in the CUNY Malave Leadership Academy Fellowship Program has been the setter on the court for the Cougars men’s volleyball team. He finished with 781 assists in his career and had an average of 3.8 per game this season. Off the court, he’s a Business Marketing major with a minor in Environmental Science and a 3.71 GPA.

Jasmine Perez • QCC • Softball

A two-year starter for the Tigers’ softball team, Perez understands conflict resolution, whether it be between two teammates, or a shortage of infielders in 2011, prompting the team captain to play infield this season, realizing the solution was right in front of her. A Liberal Arts & Sciences major with an emphasis in Clinical nursing, she holds a 3.5 GPA and is batting .333 on the season.

Vince Roberts • CCNY • Men’s Basketball, Track & Field

A key member of the CCNY men’s basketball team with six rebounds per game (second-best on the squad) while scoring 8.6 points per game. He joined the Beavers’ men’s outdoor track and field team this spring and excelled in jumping events as the team won the CUNYAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Icahn Stadium.  A member of the Children’s Aid Society where he organized activities, Roberts holds a 3.42 GPA in Political Science.

Nikolay Shevchenko • Staten Island • Men’s Swimming & Diving

A four-time All-American and two-time CUNYAC Performer of the Year, Shevchenko has totaled 93 gold medals and two silver in individual events, never recording a time below second place in dual events. Also he was one of CSI’s first two swimmers to ever make it to the Division III National Championships and has participated in the most events at Nationals in four meets; his best being 4th place in four separate events. 

Natalee Smith • Lehman • Women’s Tennis

Natalee Smith came to Lehman with no competitive athletic experience and in four years won her share of tennis matches, finishing with a winning record each of the last two seasons at the top of the Lightning lineup. A 3.22 GPA in Sociology, she has a dual minor in Psychology and Early Childhood Education, and was named a CUNYAC All-Star in 2010.

Raechel Strobel • Staten Island • Softball

A four-time CUNYAC All-Star, Strobel holds part of seven CSI career softball records. The shortstop/second baseman leads her team with a fielding average of .987. A Mathematics major with a 3.89 overall GPA, Raechel has won HSS/CUNYAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month twice in her career. Her Dolphins team just won her second CUNYAC title (2009, 2011) and made the second NCAA appearance of her career.

Mingfan Sun • Lehman • Men’s Swimming & Diving

Besides holding a 3.70 GPA in Bio-Chemistry (with minors in History and Mathematics), Mingfan Sun was the team captain and the President of the Lehman Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in 2010-11. A CUNYAC All-Star as a freshman, he consistently finished in the top-8 at CUNY Champs the past two seasons as well. For SAAC, he organized events to promote Goodwill throughout the Bronx with his fellow student-athletes.

Andrea Tepfer  • Baruch • Softball

A 2010 CUNYAC First Team All-Star and starting pitcher that won Baruch’s first-ever CUNYAC Softball Championship, Andrea Tepfer was forced to miss the last month of her collegiate career due to injury in 2011. In her first two seasons in the circle for the Bearcats, she was named the 2008 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year and 2009 CUNYAC Pitcher of the Year.  She has worked as a sports intern at NY1-TV and holds a 3.30 GPA in Entrepreneurship and small business management, with a minor in Communications and CIS.

Gabriella Villarruel • Staten Island • Women’s Swimming & Diving, Tennis

A CUNYAC All-Star in two sports, Gabriella leads both her tennis and swim teams statistically and as team captain. As a number 1 flight tennis star, she has had a winning singles record all four years. As for swimming, she holds two CSI school records in individual events, the 200 Butterfly and 200 Individual Medley, and is part of all five CSI records for relay teams. In the classroom, she holds a 3.2 GPA and like her two sports, has two majors, Business Management and Economics.

Joan Wu • Brooklyn • Women’s Volleyball

Joan Wu is a two-year member of the Brooklyn College Women’s Volleyball program. Wu appeared in 31 career matches, totaling 24 service aces and 30 digs in her limited time on the court. Wu sports a 3.256 GPA as a Physical Education and Adaptive Physical Education major and works as a game aide for Athletics as well.