Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra University Department of Athletics celebrated the 2016-17 season with its annual Hofstra Pride Student-Athlete Awards Banquet Monday night at David S. Mack Hall on the Hofstra campus.
 
Among the top award winners were Claudia Marin Samper (Field Hockey) and Jill Mulholland (Soccer) sharing the Dr. Nathalie J. Smith Award as the top female student-athlete; Josh Byrne (Lacrosse) taking home the Howard "Howdy" Myers Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award; Stella Schoen (Field Hockey) and Hannah Klemm (Volleyball) as the co-recipients of the Dr. Sylvia J. Giallombardo Female Scholar-Athlete Award for a second consecutive season; Joseph Holland (Soccer) as the recipient of the Dr. James M. Shuart Male Scholar-Athlete Award for a second consecutive year; Becky Conto (Women's Lacrosse) and Thomas Voelkel (Men's Lacrosse) as the recipients of the Nick Colleluori Unsung Hero Award; and Sauni Davenport (Field Hockey) and Michael Hughes (Wrestling) as the recipients of the Hofstra Pride Community Service Award. It was Hughes' second consecutive Community Service Award. In addition, Jessica Peslak (Softball) and Jack Finlayson (Men's Cross Country) served as Senior Speakers.

Dr. Nathalie J. Smith Award

Claudia Marin Samper, Field Hockey
Senior forward Claudia Marin Samper of the Pride Field Hockey team is a 2017 co-recipient of the Dr. Nathalie J. Smith Award, which is presented to Hofstra's top female student-athlete. Marin Samper is the second field hockey player to win the award, joining Genna Kovar (2012).

Marin Samper, a native of Terrassa, Spain, ended her career with an exclamation point this past season with her third National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-Mideast Region selection and second consecutive first team honor. A 2016 First Team All-CAA selection, Marin Samper led the CAA in assists with 13 and finished second in goals with 18 and points with 49. A 2015 NFHCA Third Team All-American and three-time First Team All-CAA pick, she also recorded three game-winning goals in 2016.

Marin Samper closed out her career with 39 assists and 151 points in 78 contests, which surpassed Kovar's previous records of 34 assists and 148 points set from 2008 to 2011. She also finished with 56 career goals, which ranks second on the Hofstra career chart and just one behind Kovar's mark of 57. Marin Samper wrapped up her career ranked eighth in CAA history in assists and ninth in points.

Jill Mulholland, Soccer
Senior midfielder Jill Mulholland of the Pride Women's Soccer team is a 2017 co-recipient of the Dr. Nathalie J. Smith Award, which is presented to Hofstra's top female student-athlete. She is the sixth women's soccer player to earn the honor, joining Kathleen Mikowski (2002), Dolores Deasley (2004), Sue Weber (2006, 2008), Tiffany Yovino (2011) and Leah Galton (2014, 2016).

Mulholland led the Pride this past season with 13 goals and eight assists for 34 points and earned a spot on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Mid-Atlantic Region First Team and the All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team. Six of her goals this season were game-winners, and she posted at least three points on six occasions, including a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over eventual conference champion Northeastern.

For her career, Mulholland finished with 30 goals and 18 assists for 68 points in 71 games played. She ranks in the program top 10 in career and single-season goals, assists and points, and has earned three All-CAA First Team honors. Mulholland was also a member of the CAA All-Rookie Team in 2012 and was named an ECAC All-Star in 2015.

Academically, the Levittown, New York, native was a two-time NSCAA Scholar All-America selection as well as earning CAA All-Academic Team and CoSIDA Academic All-District Team accolades.

The Dr. Nathalie J. Smith Female Student-Athlete of the Year
2017 - Claudia Marin Samper, Field Hockey & Jill Mulholland, Soccer
2016 - Leah Galton, Soccer
2015 - Brittain Altomare, Lacrosse & Kelsie Wills, Volleyball
2014 - Leah Galton, Soccer
2013 - Shante Evans, Basketball & Olivia Galati, Softball
2012 - Genna Kovar, Field Hockey
2011 - Tiffany Yovino, Soccer
2010 - Corrine Gandolfi, Lacrosse
2009 - Kayleigh Lotti, Softball
2008 - Sue Weber, Soccer
2007 - Elizabeth Curley, Volleyball & Ashley Lane, Softball
2006 - Ashley Lane, Softball & Sue Weber, Soccer
2005 - Bridget Eder, Lacrosse
2004 - Dolores Deasley, Soccer
2003 - Kathleen Mikowski, Lacrosse
2002 - Kathleen Mikowski, Lacrosse and Soccer
 
Howard "Howdy" Myers Award
 
Josh Byrne, Lacrosse
 
Josh Byrne, a senior attackman on the nationally-ranked Hofstra Men's Lacrosse team, is the 2017 recipient of the Howard "Howdy" Myers Award, presented to Hofstra's top male student-athlete. Byrne is the third men's lacrosse student-athlete to earn the award, joining Chris Unterstein (2006) and Jay Card (2009).
 
Byrne is in the midst of a spectacular season for the Pride as he has tallied a team-best 36 goals, 24 assists and 60 points in helping the team to an 11-2 regular season. In addition to leading the team, Byrne ranks first in the Colonial Athletic Association in goals, assists and points per game. In addition, he ranks in the top 15 nationally in all three categories as well.
 
The New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, native, was named to the Tewaaraton Award (top player in NCAA Lacrosse) Watch List and was the CAA Player of the Week on February 28 and April 10.
 
A 2016 First Team All-CAA pick, Byrne has recorded 66 goals and 39 assists for 105 points in 28 career games for the Pride. 
 
The Howard "Howdy" Myers Male Student-Athlete of the Year
2017 - Josh Byrne, Lacrosse
2016 - Juan'ya Green, Basketball
2015 - Juan'ya Green, Basketball
2014 - Chris Griebsch, Soccer
2013 - Shaun Foster, Soccer
2012 - Danny Poma, Baseball
2011 - Charles Jenkins, Basketball
2010 - Charles Jenkins, Basketball
2009 - Jay Card, Lacrosse & Charles Jenkins, Basketball
2008 - Antoine Agudio, Basketball & Charles Griffin, Wrestling
2007 - Loren Stokes, Basketball
2006 - Chris Unterstein, Lacrosse
2005 - Loren Stokes, Basketball & Jon Masa, Wrestling
2004 - Noel Thompson, Wrestling
2003 - Arni Gunnarson, Soccer
2002 - Kahmal Roy, Football
 
Dr. Sylvia J. Giallombardo Award

Hannah Klemm, Volleyball
Senior Hannah Klemm, a setter on the Hofstra Volleyball team, is a co-recipient of the Dr. Sylvia J. Giallombardo Award as Hofstra's top female scholar-athlete. Klemm is a repeat recipient of the award and is the sixth volleyball student-athlete to win the award, joining Stefanie Rewitz (2002), Julie Tatar (2004), Tessa Sphar (2006), Shellane Ogoshi (2008) and Lauren Engle (2009).

A marketing major, Klemm owns a 3.91 cumulative grade point average and posted 3.80 GPA in the Fall 2016 semester. A multiple-time Provost's List selection, she was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American this past season. Klemm was also the Colonial Athletic Association Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year for a second consecutive time in 2016.

On the court Klemm has been a two-time CAA Setter of the Year. This past season she led Hofstra with 860 assists, averaging 7.96 per set. The Berlin, Germany, native added 172 digs and 24 service aces.

Klemm finished her career with 4,342 assists, a total ranks third all-time at Hofstra and seventh all-time in CAA history.
 
Stella Schoen, Field Hockey
Senior Stella Schoen, a forward on the Hofstra Field Hockey team, is a co-recipient of the Dr. Sylvia J. Giallombardo Award as Hofstra's top female scholar-athlete. She is a repeat recipient of the award and is the third field hockey student-athlete to earn the accolade, joining Melissa McCarthy (2013) and Jonel Boileau (2015).

A Hamburg, Germany, native, Schoen owns a perfect 4.0 grade point average while majoring in economics with a minor in psychology. She has been a member of the Provost's List in all seven of her semesters.

Schoen was a 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-American and has been a Zag Field Hockey/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I Scholar of Distinction in each of her four years. A four-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member, Schoen was also named to the Colonial Athletic Association Field Hockey All-Academic team in 2015 and 2016. She was also the CAA Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a junior.
 
A three-time NFHCA All-Region and four-time All-CAA selection, Schoen posted 14 goals, six assists and 34 points in 2016. She finished her career with 47 goals, 26 assists and 120 points, which all rank in the top 10 in the Hofstra Field Hockey record book.
 
The Dr. Sylvia J. Giallombardo Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
2017 - Hannah Klemm, Volleyball & Stella Schoen, Field Hockey
2016 - Hannah Klemm, Volleyball & Stella Schoen, Field Hockey
2015 - Jonel Boileau, Field Hockey
2014 - Rachael Senatore, Softball
2013 - Melissa McCarthy, Field Hockey
2012 - Jill Maier, Lacrosse
2011 - Dana Bergstrom, Soccer
2010 - Michele DePasquale, Softball & Stephanie Rice, Lacrosse
2009 - Lauren Engle, Volleyball
2008 - Shellane Ogoshi, Volleyball
2007 - Sue Weber, Soccer
2006 - Chrissy Arnone, Soccer & Tessa Sphar, Volleyball
2005 - Emma Kilduff, Soccer
2004 - Julie Tatar, Volleyball
2003 - Heather Brousseau, Softball
2002 - Stefanie Rewitz, Volleyball
 
Dr. James M. Shuart Award

Joseph Holland, Soccer
Joseph Holland, a senior midfielder on the Hofstra Men's Soccer team is the 2017 recipient of the Dr. James M. Shuart Award. The award is presented annually to Hofstra's top male scholar-athlete. Holland is a repeat winner of the award and is just the second men's soccer student-athlete to earn the accolade, joining Michael Todd (2007).

A philosophy major, Holland has compiled a 3.54 overall grade point average. This past fall he posted a 3.35 GPA. In 2015 he was a First Team NSCAA Scholar All-American. He has also been a Dean's List student throughout his Hofstra career and has been a Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner's Academic Award recipient.

This past season Holland tallied three goals and a team-high eight assists for 14 points and was a First Team All-CAA selection for the third time in his career. He was named to the NSCAA All-Region team, was the Big Apple Soccer Player of the Year for a second consecutive season and a Senior CLASS Award First Team All-American. Holland's season culminated with his selection, 10th overall, by the Houston Dynamo in the Major League Soccer Draft.

The London, England, native was a Second Team NSCAA All-American in 2015 as well as the CAA Player of the Year. For his career, Holland had 19 goals, 28 assists and 66 points in 79 games.
 
The James M. Shuart Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
2017 - Joseph Holland, Soccer
2016 - Joseph Holland, Soccer
2015 - Cody Ruggirello, Wrestling
2014 - Cody Ruggirello, Wrestling
2013 - Joe Burg, Baseball
2012 - Steve Bonanno, Wrestling
2011 - Lou Ruggirello, Wrestling
2010 - John Kenny, Baseball
2009 - Nick Altomare, Football
2008 - Lou Ruggirello, Wrestling
2007 - Michael Todd, Soccer
2006 - Nikola Djordjevic, Tennis
2005 - Nikola Djordjevic, Tennis
2004 - Nikola Djordjevic, Tennis
2003 - Aaron Kozlowski, Lacrosse
2002 - Marc Petit, Basketball
 
Nick Colleluori Unsung Hero Award
 
The Nick Colleluori Unsung Hero Award was established in 2007 to recognize the accomplishments of a male and female student-athlete who have always been exceptional representatives of the Hofstra Athletics program. The award is named after the former Pride Lacrosse player, who waged a courageous 14-month fight against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, before passing away in November 2006 at age 21.
 
"Nick will always be an inspiration to the Hofstra University community," commented Hofstra Vice President and Director of Athletics Jeffrey A. Hathaway. "While fighting this terrible disease, it's amazing what Nick accomplished in developing the business plan for the HEADstrong Foundation and for having the foresight to know the future benefits that would be provided to the thousands afflicted with the same disease. Hofstra University thanks Cheryl and Pat Colleluori and their two sons for carrying on Nick's work with the HEADstrong Foundation. We will continue to assist the HEADstrong Foundation in the fight against cancer. We congratulate this year's honorees for being the unsung stars of their teams."
 
Becky Conto, Women's Lacrosse
Becky Conto, a fifth-year senior on the Pride Women's Lacrosse team is a recipient of the 2017 Nicholas Colleluori Unsung Hero Award. Conto is the third student-athlete from the women's lacrosse program to win the award, joining Lauren Whitcomb (2009) and Taylor Albright (2013).
 
A native of West Hempstead, New York, Conto made an immediate impact for the Pride as a freshman in 2013. She scored 16 goals and added five assists for 21 points, ranking third on the team in points and fourth in goals. She also led the Pride and the Colonial Athletic Association with 55 draw controls, which was the third-best single season total in program history at the time. Conto was named the CAA Rookie of the Year for her efforts. Poised for a stellar 2014, she suffered a season-ending injury four games into the campaign. Since returning in the 2015 season, Conto has been a steady contributor for the Pride. This season she ranked second on the team in scoring with 38 goals and eight assists for 46 points.
 
"If someone were to ask me one word to describe Becky, I would choose 'courageous'," said Coach Shannon Smith. "Becky's five years at Hofstra were full of medical obstacles where doctors thought she would never step on the field again. Never once did Becky let that stop her from wanting to play the sport she loves. It has been a joy to watch Becky play this season and end her career the way she started it. Many athletes would have packed their bags and left, but Becky remained content in working hard and exemplifying some of the same characteristics as Nick in being relentless, strong and resilient."
 
During her career, Conto has recorded 75 goals and 22 assists. She has excelled in the classroom and will graduate later this month with a degree in athletic training.
 
Thomas Voelkel, Men's Lacrosse
Thomas Voelkel, a senior midfielder on the Hofstra Men's Lacrosse team, is a 2017 recipient of the Nicholas Colleluori Unsung Hero Award. He is the fifth men's lacrosse student-athlete to win the award, joining Michael Unterstein (2008), Michael Colleluori (2009), Steve DeNapoli (2011) and Mike Skudin (2011).
 
As Coach Seth Tierney stated, "Tommy is an unsung hero for many reasons. He plays a position that does not get much recognition, but he is a very important player for us on and off the field. He brings outstanding leadership and organizational skills to our team and that is why he has been a two-year captain. He also serves as a mentor to our younger players. Tommy is a deserving recipient of this award."
 
Voelkel has played in 11 games for the nationally-ranked Pride, recording one ground ball and one caused turnover. In his career, he has played in 40 games and has an assist, 12 ground balls and four caused turnovers.
 
An outstanding student, the Chapel Hill, North Carolina, native will graduate with a degree in finance later this month. 
 
The Nick Colleluori Female Unsung Hero Award
2017 - Becky Conto, Lacrosse
2016 - Becky Celorio, Cross Country
2015 - Lulu Echeverry, Soccer
2014 - Cynthia Cheng, Golf
2013 - Taylor Albright, Lacrosse
2012 - Brittany Butts, Soccer & Courtney Crews, Softball
2011 - Krista Thorn, Softball/Soccer & Rachel August, Volleyball
2010 - Sam Brigham, Basketball
2009 - Carolann Lubach, Softball & Lauren Whitcomb, Lacrosse
2008 - Joanna Kralowetz, Softball & Krystal Robens, Soccer
2007 - Lana Harshaw, Basketball
 
The Nick Colleluori Male Unsung Hero Award
2017 - Thomas Voelkel, Lacrosse
2016 - Daniel Grundei, Soccer
2015 - Dion Nesmith, Basketball
2014 - David D'Errico, Baseball
2013 - Stevie Mejia, Basketball
2012 - Ben Clymer, Wrestling & Nathaniel Lester, Basketball
2011 - Steven DeNapoli, Lacrosse & Mike Skudin, Lacrosse
2010 - Ray McDonough, Football
2009 - Michael Colleluori, Lacrosse
2008 - Kareem Huggins, Football & Michael Unterstein, Lacrosse
2007 - Gary Flood, Soccer
 
The Hofstra Pride Community Service Award
 
Introduced in 2014, the Hofstra Pride Community Service Award seeks to recognize a male and female student-athlete based on their service to the community. Selection is based on the total number of community service projects/hours during an academic year as well as overall enthusiasm for community service involvement. Also taken into consideration was how proactive they were in planning projects and getting their teammates involved as well.
 
Sauni Davenport, Field Hockey
Sauni Davenport, a senior defender on the Pride Field Hockey team, is the female recipient of the Hofstra Pride Community Service Award. Davenport has been actively involved in several community service projects and has totaled more than 20 hours of service.
 
Davenport serves on Hofstra's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as secretary. The Kingston, Pennsylvania, native has also volunteered at the fall blood drive as part of the Colonial Athletic Association Blood Drive Challenge, in which Hofstra finished second. She also volunteered at the women's lacrosse Nicholas Colleluori Classic to benefit the HEADstrong Foundation.
 
In addition, Davenport took part in Hofstra's Shake-A-Rake and Pride Paint and Plant events which helped beautify the neighborhoods surrounding campus through yard cleanup, fence painting and flower planting for residents in need. She was also involved with the Children's Miracle Network and Spooky Fest, a family-friendly Halloween event in Rockville Centre.
 
Davenport was also involved with more serious causes as she took part in Hofstra's National Week of Action, raising awareness on dating violence in conjunction with the It's On Us campaign.
 
This past season Davenport saw action in three games. During her career, which saw her battle injuries, she played in 41 games with 20 starts.
 
Michael Hughes, Wrestling
Michael Hughes, a red-shirt senior on the Pride Wrestling team, is the male recipient of the Hofstra Pride Community Service Award for a second consecutive year. Hughes, who serves as the community service coordinator for Hofstra's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, has been one of the most active student-athletes in participating in community service activities. He has taken part in nearly 20 events during the 2016-17 academic year with more than 50 service hours.
 
A native of Smithtown, New York, Hughes has taken part in a multitude of activities and is willing to lend his assistance to any cause. He has visited local schools for reading events; taken part in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Jones Beach, benefiting the American Cancer Society, as well as the Sunken Meadow Pink 5K Run/Walk; and Pride Paint and Plant, which benefited the local community by painting fences and planting marigolds for residents in need.
 
Hughes also took part in the Halloween Ghostly Gala at the Long Island Children's Museum, an annual event that allows families to celebrate Halloween in a fun, safe way. He also took part in another family-friendly Halloween event, Spooky Fest. Hughes also volunteered, along with members of his team, at the men and women's lacrosse Nicholas Colleluori Classic to benefit the HEADstrong Foundation. 
 
Other projects that he took part in were the fall and spring blood drives as part of the Colonial Athletic Association Blood Drive Challenge, a cleanup event at the Let All The Children Play Foundation playground in Eisenhower Park, and various other University-sponsored events including admissions events, World AIDS Day and Adopt-a-Dream.
 
On the mat, Hughes was a red-shirt in 2016-17. He enjoyed a very successful 2015-16 campaign as he won 41 matches and qualified for the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Madison Square Garden. The 41 wins are tied for the third-most in a single season at Hofstra.
 
Hofstra Pride Community Service Award
2017 - Sauni Davenport, Field Hockey & Michael Hughes, Wrestling
2016 - Kaitlyn Krause, Volleyball & Michael Hughes, Wrestling
2015 - Kaitlyn Krause, Volleyball & Ari Richman, Men's Tennis
2014 - Jonel Boileau, Field Hockey & Ari Richman, Men's Tennis
 
Senior Speaker

The Senior Speaker program was introduced in 2005 as a way of having representatives from the graduating senior class convey the Hofstra student-athlete experience. The Department of Athletics feels that the message of the senior class is best delivered by individuals have represented the University at a high level in the classroom, on the fields of play and in the community. Each year the Senor Speakers will be selected based on these criteria. Jessica Peslak and Jack Finlayson represented the class of 2017 as Senior Speakers.

Jessica Peslak, Softball
Jessica Peslak, a senior pitcher on the Pride Softball team, was the first of two Senior Speakers at the banquet.
 
A Livingston, New Jersey, native, Peslak has been a four-year member of the Pride and has compiled a record of 19-12 with one save. She was the Pride's top starting pitcher as a junior, posting a 17-9 record in 30 starts. This season she has pitched as both a starter and a reliever, picking up two wins and a save in 14 appearances.
 
During her four seasons, Peslak has been part of 112 wins and has been on two Colonial Athletic Association Championship and NCAA Regional teams. She is a three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar-Athlete selection and a three-time CAA Commissioner's Academic Award recipient.
 
A political science major, Peslak owns a 3.94 GPA and will graduate later this month.

Jack Finlayson, Men's Cross Country
Jack Finlayson, a senior on the Hofstra Men's Cross Country team, was the second of two senior speakers.

A four-year member of the Pride, Finlayson competed in 26 races during his tenure. This past season he was the Pride's top finisher in three meets including a third place finish at the NJIT Challenge. He also led the team at the Colonial Athletic Championship and the NCAA Northeast Regional.
 
Finlayson owns a personal best 5K time of 16:33 set at the Hofstra-St. John's Fall Festival in 2014. His top 8K time of 25:57 was set at the 2014 CAA Championship, where he placed 21st.
 
A native of Orillia, Ontario, Canada, majoring in film studies and production, Finlayson has been a CAA Commissioner's Academic Award recipient and will graduate later this month.

Senior Speaker
2017 - Jessica Peslak, Softball & Jack Finlayson, Men's Cross Country
2016 - Chloe Dale, Women's Soccer & Bowie Matteson, Baseball
2015 - Nuria Lopes da Silva, Volleyball & Mike Malave, Men's Lacrosse
2014 - Alexandra Mezzanotte, Women's Lacrosse & Chris Griebsch, Men's Soccer
2013 - Maryann Miller, Women's Lacrosse & Steve Bonanno, Wrestling
2012 - Candice Bellocchio, Women's Basketball
2011 - Kayla Pifer, Women's Soccer
2010 - Miklos Szabo, Men's Basketball
2009 - Niki Williams, Women's Basketball
2008 - Shellane Ogoshi, Volleyball
2007 - Lizanne Murphy, Women's Basketball
2006 - Devale Ellis, Football
2005 - Danielle Skakandi, Women's Lacrosse

2016-17 Outstanding Senior Award Recipients
 
Brian Bernardi
Men's Basketball

Sophia Black
Volleyball

Becky Conto
Women's Lacrosse
 
Jacquie Faldetta
Women's Golf
 
Jack Finlayson
Men's Cross Country
 
Harri Hawkins
Men's Soccer
 
Kyle Krasavage
Wrestling
 
David Leiderman
Baseball
 
Krystal Luciano
Women's Basketball
 
Jill Mulholland
Women's Soccer
 
Emily McLean-Loughlin
Women's Cross Country

Carmen Pestano
Women's Tennis
 
Christie Sinacori
Softball
 
Thomas Voelkel
Men's Lacrosse
 
Carissa Witmer
Field Hockey
 
David Won
Men's Golf