The annual Hofstra Pride Athletics Award Banquet was held on Thursday evening at Hofstra Arena.  The banquet honors the many student-athletes, athletic trainers and spirit support personnel for their hard work during the year.  Among the many awards given out were the following major awards:

The Dr. Nathalie J. Smith Award, which is given to a senior female student-athlete who exemplifies outstanding athletic accomplishments during her career and is Hofstra's University's ?œFemale Athlete of the Year?ť, was presented to Dolores Deasley of the Hofstra Women's Soccer team.  Deasley, the 2003 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Defensive Player of the Year anchored a defense that led the nation by only allowing nine goals all season.  Deasley is also a member of the Irish National team.  This past season the women's soccer team won the regular season CAA title, a first for the program, and posted a 13-3-3 record.  In her four years as a member of the Pride, her teams had a combined 47-21-9 record.

Dr. Smith began the volleyball and women's lacrosse programs at Hofstra and was a member of the United States Women's Lacrosse National team.

The Dr. James M. Shuart Award, given to a male student-athlete in recognition of his outstanding achievement in academics and athletics, was presented to Nikola Djordjevic of the Hofstra Men's Tennis team.  Djordjevic, a sophomore finance major with a 3.92 GPA, finished this past season with a record of 25-3 earning him All-CAA second team honors.  Djordjevic is a member of the Hofstra Athletics Academic Honor Roll, a CAA Commissioner's Award recipient, an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athlete and a Dean's and Provost's List student.  In his freshman campaign, Djordjevic went 21-3 and earned CAA Rookie of the Year accolades.  Last March he became Hofstra's first-ever ranked tennis player and on April 28 of this year he was named College Sports Television Student-Athlete of the Week and followed that up by earning CSTV's Student-Athlete of the Month for April.

Dr. Shuart was the President of Hofstra University from 1976-2001.  In addition, he was a two-sport student-athlete at Hofstra, playing both football and lacrosse.

The Dr. Sylvia J. Giallombardo Award, given to a female student-athlete who demonstrates success in the classroom and on the athletic field, was presented to Julie Tatar of the Hofstra Volleyball team.  Tatar, a junior, boasts a 3.93 GPA in public relations and has been named to the Hofstra Athletics Academic Honor Roll, the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and is a Provost's List student at Hofstra.  In her three years as a member of the Pride Volleyball team, Hofstra has a combined record of 51-36 and has advanced to at least the CAA semifinals each season.

Dr. Giallombardo, who retired from Hofstra University last year after 46 years of service, was Chairperson of the Physical Education Department, Director of Women's Athletics and most recently, Associate Provost.

The Howard ?œHowdy?ť Myers Award, given to a male student-athlete in recognition of his outstanding leadership and athletic performance, was presented to Noel Thompson of the Hofstra Wrestling team.  Thompson amassed a career mark of 129-44 during his four seasons.  He qualified for the NCAA Championship in each season and was a two-time conference champion.  In his senior campaign he compiled a record of 31-8.

?œHowdy?ť Myers served as Hofstra University's Director of Athletics, Head Men's Lacrosse Coach and Head Football Coach for a quarter century.

Also handed out on Thursday evening were the Coca-Cola MVP and the Hofstra Pride Club Outstanding Senior Athlete Awards.