New Paltz, NY – The State University of New York at New Paltz held its third annual End of the Year Award Ceremony in the Hawk Center May 5, revealing department award and superlative award winners in the annually named HAWKIES Award Show.  

Members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, chaired by senior Lexi Deleo (women's soccer) and junior Sam Wohlmut (women's soccer and women's lacrosse), helped put the event together, along with fellow student-athletes Maddie Franklin (women's soccer), Addison Weiner (women's soccer), Francesca Corozzo (women's lacrosse), and Lauren Serrao (softball), while juniors Rachel Tama (field hockey) and Miranda Britton (field hockey) hosted the ceremony. Presenters included alumni and current men's basketball head coach Keith Kenney '99, Maddie Gillis (women's basketball and women's lacrosse '23), Jessica Ascencao (field hockey, '22), Kevin Stross (men's volleyball, '12), along with coaches Matt Giufre (women's volleyball) and Shanna Szablinski (field hockey), student-athlete Hannah Ackerman (field hockey) and Athletic Director Renee Bostic to present major department awards throughout the night. SAAC also voted on different superlative awards, releasing a fan poll of who should be named.  

Along with revealing award winners, the department also introduced the new SAAC EBoard, which includes President, Xavier Zykoff (baseball), Vice President, Kelsey O'Brien (softball), Nico Batkay (student development, baseball), Mia Baldinger (mental health, women's soccer/ women's lacrosse), Lexi Stragalas (communications, women's volleyball), Rachel Tama (community relations, field hockey), Alyssa Deutsch (community relations, women's soccer), Michaela Bridgwood (diversity and inclusion, softball), and Sam Wohlmut (athletic ceremony, women's soccer/ women's lacrosse).  

 End of the Year Intro Video, edited by Aiden Duran

View all award winners below and see photos from the red carpet by scrolling through the End of the Year 

2025 Department Award Winners:  

Leadership Wall Recipients: 

Kaitlyn Shaw (women's lacrosse, grad student) 

Rachel Tama (field hockey, junior) 

Gaby Treble (women's soccer, senior) 

Isabel van der Veen (women's tennis, senior) 

Xavier Zykoff (baseball, junior) 

Kenneth F. Burda Sportsmanship Award 

Ryan Mackle (baseball, senior) 

Morgan Woolley (field hockey/ women's lacrosse) 

Andrew Cassius (men's volleyball) 

Daniel Shanley (junior) 
 

Donald Bishko Award (male, highest GPA) 

Xavier Zykoff (baseball, junior) 
 

Donald Bishko Award (female, highest GPA) 

Morgan Hammell (women's basketball, senior) 
 

New Paltz Prize (top team GPA) 

Baseball (spring 2024) 

Women's Lacrosse (spring 2024) 

Field Hockey (fall 2024) 

Men's Soccer (fall 2024) 

Carol Eckman Female Athlete of the Year Nominees:  

Rachel Eisert (women's soccer, senior) 
 

Floyd Patterson Male Athlete of the Year Nominees:  

Tommy Kreider (baseball, senior) 

Heinz Ahlmeyer Jr. Award 

Hannah Ackerman (field hockey, grad student) 

SUNYAC Scholar Athletes 

Rachel Eisert (women's soccer, senior) 

Julia Sabatino (women's basketball, grad student) 

Hawks Media Legacy Award: 

Ethan Scully (men's lacrosse, senior) 

Isabel van der Veen (women's tennis, senior) 

Athletic Director's Award:  

Michele Halestead 
 

Hawks Supporting Award 

Men's Lacrosse 

Superlative Awards:  

Most Spirited: Sophia D'Arcangelis (softball, senior) 

Most Competitive Teammate: Francesca Corozzo (women's lacrosse, senior) 

Best Dressed: Ryan Mackle (baseball, senior) 

Best Breakout Season: Ella Sharrock (softball, sophomore) 

Last to Leave: Madelyn Jachimiak (women's soccer, sophomore)  

Clutch Gene: Lexi Atwater (women's lacrosse, junior) 

Rookie of the Year: Nikko Tenedorio (men's volleyball, freshman 

Bloopers: Edited by Gail Comisky 

 End of the Year Outro Video, edited by Aiden Duran