Department of Athletics Hosts Annual Hall of Fame Induction & Student-Athlete Awards Ceremony
Links to videos featured during the program:
2016-17 Athletics Montage
Hall of Fame inductee: Lauren Stille
Hall of Fame inductee: Marco Koolman
Hall of Fame inductee: 2007 Men's Soccer team
Hall of Fame inductee: Steve Hancock
Thank You, Bruce Kirsh
RINDGE, N.H. (May 5, 2017) -- This past Sunday evening, the Franklin Pierce University Department of Athletics held its annual Hall of Fame Induction and Student-Athlete Awards Ceremony in the Fieldhouse. The University's student-athlete body, Athletics staff, distinguished alumni and Dr. Kim Mooney, President, were all on-hand to both celebrate the present and honor the past, while the ceremony served as a finale to the institution's 54th academic year.
With the two-tiered goal of recognizing current student-athletes and honoring those who came before, the ceremony is split into two distinct sections every year. First, various scholarship awards are announced, each honoring particular traits and accomplishments, such as leadership, good sportsmanship, or community service. The awards portion of the evening is capped by the four major award recipients, as there are male and female awards for Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as well as Senior Student-Athlete of the Year.
Richard Burns Senior Scholar-Athletes of the Year
The Richard Burns Senior Male & Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year are presented annually to one female and one male senior varsity student-athlete who have earned a 3.20 cumulative grade point average or higher while making a significant contribution to their team. While both sets of major awards are a reflection of student-athlete accomplishments both on and off the field, the Burns Awards focus on excellence in the classroom, while competing at the highest level.
The female recipient of the Burns Award, Anna Holtschlag (Rhede, Germany), was a four-year starter and a defensive anchor for the women’s soccer team. Over her four years in a Ravens uniform, she started in all 64 games she played, and collected six points on two goals and two assists, often while serving as one of the team’s strongest defenders at the other end of the field. In the classroom, Holtschlag is a seven-time selection to the Northeast-10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll, having earned the accolade for each semester she has been on campus. Through the fall semester, she carried a 3.81 GPA as a sports and recreation management major.
The male recipient of the Burns Award, Alex Schleper (Sutton, Mass.), has been a stalwart member of the men’s ice hockey team’s defensive unit, and also served as a three-year team captain. His best offensive season came this winter as a senior, when he collected 11 points on four goals and seven assists, a performance which earned him All-Northeast-10 Second Team honors. For his career, Schleper played in 88 games and tallied 21 points on six goals and 15 assists. In the classroom, he was selected to this year’s Northeast-10 Academic All-Conference Team, and is a seven-time selection to the Northeast-10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll, picking up the latter accolade in each of the seven semesters he's been on campus. Through the fall semester, Schleper carried a 3.71 GPA as a health sciences major.
Walter Peterson Senior Student-Athletes of the Year
Named for the former Governor of New Hampshire and the second President of Franklin Pierce University (1975-1995), the Walter Peterson Male & Female Senior Student-Athlete of the Year awards are presented annually to one female and one male varsity student-athlete who has performed at a high level during their career at the University, while maintaining a minimum 2.50 cumulative grade-point average. While both sets of major awards are a reflection of student-athlete accomplishments both on and off the field, the Peterson Awards focus on excellence in athletics, while balancing the requirements necessary to complete a degree.
The female recipient of the Peterson Award, Shannon O'Neil (Tewksbury, Mass.), has been a four-year goaltender with the Ravens women’s ice hockey team and will graduate as the most accomplished netminder in program history. She finished her career as the owner of program goaltending records for wins (41), saves (1408), save percentage (.937), goals-against average (1.56) and shutouts (14). In 62 career games between the pipes, O'Neil put together a 41-15-5 record. She earned NEHC Goaltender of the Year honors and All-NEHC First Team accolades this winter, after being named All-ECAC East Honorable Mention as a sophomore. In the classroom, she is a three time NEHC/ECAC East All-Academic Team selection
The male recipient of the Peterson Award, Dage Minors (Hamilton Parish, Bermuda), is a member of the cross country and track & field teams and is one of the most decorated student-athletes in Franklin Pierce history. Most recently, he was named Northeast-10 Track Athlete of the Year for the indoor track season over the winter. Most impressively, at the national level, Minors is a four-time All-American and has represented the Ravens at NCAA Championships on eight occasions. At the regional level, he is a two-time selection as USTFCCCA East Region Athlete of the Year, has piled up 14 All-East Region selections and has earned All-New England honors on seven occasions. Within the NE10, Minors has captured 15 titles and claimed 19 All-Conference awards. In the classroom, he is a three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic selection.
Hall of Fame Inductions
The second half of the evening's program consisted of the induction of the four newest members of the Franklin Pierce Athletics Hall of Fame. Along the way, each inductee was featured in a short video -- produced by senior Cory Cataldo -- consisting of reminiscence from coaches and staff who interacted with the honoree during their time in Rindge.
Lauren Stille '11 was a four-year member of the women's lacrosse program at Franklin Pierce, and still stands as the program's all-time leader in points (262), goals (210) and shots on goal (366). In addition, she ranks second in program history in assists (52). Over the course of her career, Stille set program single-season records for points (87, 2008), goals (73, 2008) and shots on goal (129, 2008). She is the owner of the two highest-scoring seasons in program history, as she tallied 73-14-87 as a freshman in 2008 and followed up with 64-13-77 as a sophomore in 2009. Stille took home All-Northeast-10 First Team honors as a sophomore in 2009, after being named to the league's Freshman of the Year in 2008.
Marco Koolman was the men's soccer coach at Franklin Pierce from 2000 through 2008, a tenure highlighted by the program's first national title in 2007, which was the first national championship captured by a men's sport in school history. He was a two-time NSCAA Division II National Coach of the Year, and also guided the 2005 squad to a berth in the national title match. Over his nine seasons, Koolman led the Ravens to a 125-45-21 record (.709 winning percentage), including an 86-21-10 mark (.778) in Northeast-10 play. From 2005-07, the Ravens captured three straight NE10 regular-season titles, and added the program's first Northeast-10 Championship crown in 2006. Under Koolman, the Ravens made six straight NCAA Championship appearances.
2007 men's soccer team induction video
The 2007 men's soccer team, which was coached by Koolman, was honored as well on Sunday evening, as 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of their 2007 national title. The team put together a 17-2-4 record on the way to the crown and ultimately captured the program's first-ever national title with a 1-0 win over Lincoln Memorial. It was the sixth national title in school history, and the first earned by a men's team, following five women's soccer national championships in the mid-to-late 1990s. The 2007 men's soccer team had been inducted into the Northeast-10 Conference Hall of Fame in June 2016, and the squad was also honored for that accomplishment on Sunday night.
Steve Hancock spent multiple tenures with the women's basketball team at Franklin Pierce, including multiple stints as both a head coach and an assistant coach. As a head coach, he is the all-time winningest coach in the history of the program, with 211 career victories. In all, in 11 seasons as a head coach, Hancock led the Ravens to six NCAA Championship appearances and three conference titles. In 2009-10, he guided the team to a 32-2 record, a No. 1 national ranking, the Northeast-10 regular-season and tournament titles, an NCAA East Region title and a trip to the national semifinal.
Bruce Kirsh Recognition
Following the conclusion of the Hall of Fame inductions, a special presentation was made to Bruce Kirsh '71, Director of Athletics, who is retiring at the beginning of June after 45 years of service to the University. After the above-linked video played, two of the Department of Athletics' longest-tenured employees, men's basketball coach David Chadbourne and head athletic trainer Cindy Arman, presented Kirsh with a framed photo of the Sodexo/Pappas Field complex, as well as the rest of campus. Also appearing on stage to honor Kirsh was Northeast-10 Conference commissioner, Julie Ruppert, who made a special presentation on behalf of the Conference honor.
Franklin Pierce's president, Dr. Kim Mooney, then wrapped up the evening with a final thank you to Kirsh, and also issued the event's closing remarks.
Scholarship Awards
Earlier in the evening, prior to the major senior student-athlete awards, 11 members of the Franklin Pierce Atheltics community were presented with scholarship awards, as follows:
Fred Berger Scholarship: John Choukri, Baseball
This Berger Scholarship is given annually to an individual who serves as the team manager to one of Franklin Pierce's varsity intercollegiate teams, and is in good academic standing.
Catherine Crochiere Scholarship: Kelsey Mayo, women's basketball
The Catherine Crochiere Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Catherine Crochiere '68, who was tragically killed in an auto accident in 1972, while serving as a faculty member at the College. The purpose of this scholarship is to recognize a Franklin Pierce female student-athlete who demonstrates outstanding achievement in the sport of basketball. The recipient must demonstrate personal integrity and sportsmanship, as well as a zest for life, which Catherine personally exemplified.
Community Service Award: Megan Schaeffer, women's lacrosse
The Franklin Pierce Community Service award is presented to a student-athlete who has performed outstanding community work during their career at Franklin Pierce. A junior on the women’s lacrosse team, Schaeffer has served as treasurer of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, has worked with local animal shelters, and has participated in the “Get up, Stand up, Clean up” program, among other activities.
Tod Silegy Scholarship: Kyle Roach, men's soccer
The Tod Silegy Scholarship is supported by former men’s soccer players, along with family and friends of the former coach, who led the Ravens for 22 years. The recipient of this award must exemplify outstanding character and commitment to the Franklin Pierce community.
Northeast-10 Woman of the Year nominee: Kenady Kelly, field hockey/women's lacrosse
A two-sport athlete, Kelly was a four-year starter for both the field hockey team and the women’s lacrosse team, playing an important midfield role for both squads. In the classroom, she is a four-time selection to the Northeast-10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
Henry Verity Scholarship: Brian O'Reilly, men's soccer
The Henry Verity Scholarship is presented to a men’s soccer player who is a community leader, team player and all-around good student, as well as a United States citizen.
Bruce Kirsh Scholarship: Katlyn Barden, field hockey
Established in 2002 through the efforts of the Department of Athletics, The Bruce Kirsh Scholarship was created to honor the Director of Athletics for his many years of integrity, hard work and dedication to the University and community. The award is presented to a non-scholarship varsity student-athlete who has exhibited these traits.
Don & Judy Schriefer Scholarships
Andrew Pelkey, sprint football
Christopher Bogardus, sprint football
Alex Brolsma, women's ice hockey
Nicole Galewski, women's track & field
The Don and Judy Schriefer Scholarships annually recognize female and male student-athletes who meet criteria set by the Institutional Advancement Office. Recipients must maintain a 2.50 grade-point average or higher, be a non-scholarship athlete, be a returning upperclassman and must be recommended for the scholarship by their head coach.
After the scholarship winners were announced, the penultimate presentation of the student-athlete portion of the ceremony was the acknowledgment of student-athletes eligible for induction into the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honors Society, which was announced by Senior Lecturer of Business Administration and Faculty Athletics Representative William Costa. To be eligible for Chi Alpha Sigma, a student-athlete must have reached their junior year, achieved a minimum 3.40 cumulative grade-point average, be of good moral character and recieved the endorsement of their head coach. This spring, Franklin Pierce honored 46 individuals.
Costa also recognized Franklin Pierce's nominee for the NCAA Division II Dr. Dave Pariser Faculty Mentor Award, which was Dr. Thomas Bennett, health sciences faculty member. The award is named in honor of a physical therapy professor at Bellarmine University, who passed away in 2013. The award celebrates faculty members at Division II institutions for their dedication to supporting and mentoring student-athletes, as well as their commitment to Division II student-athletes' lifelong learning, competition and well-being. Franklin Pierce's nominee for the award was decided by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
In all, the evening served as one final opportunity to get the entire Department of Athletics together in 2016-17 and cap off another successful year in Raven Nation.