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Over 300 ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ� student-athletes, coaches and administrators gathered at the Quick Center for the Arts this past Monday evening for the 2016 Fairfield Athletics Awards Ceremony. The ceremony included the presentation of the department’s major awards, as well as a celebration of all of the graduating seniors.

“Each year, I marvel at your accomplishments as students and as athletes,” said ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ� President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. in his remarks. “I admire the way that you embrace our commitment to the integrity that is paramount amongst our ideals as a Jesuit institution.”

In addition to accomplishments in athletics – including MAAC Championship seasons for the field hockey and volleyball teams – more than 300 Fairfield student-athletes earned a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher during the 2015-16 academic year, and the Stags completed more than 50 community service projects.

The evening also provided an opportunity to celebrate the past, as the 1990-91 MAAC Champion Fairfield women’s basketball team was honored on the 25th anniversary of its historic season. Head Coach Dianne Nolan was in attendance along with many of the student-athletes from that team that advanced to the NCAA postseason.

An special recognition was presented to Casey Timmeny '99, the director of the ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ� Media Center. Timmeny received the ECAC Certificate of Appreciation as the driving force between Fairfield's presence on local, regional and national broadcasting outlets including SNY and ESPN3.

"[Timmeny's] work and reputation are not only known by every network we approach; his work and reputation are respected by these outlets," said Director of Athletics Gene Doris. "Each year, we broadcast our games around the world because of his vision and his resolve."

The 2015-16 major awards were presented to eight student-athletes, who were also asked to provide brief remarks in the form of a question and answer session with Fairfield’s Ivey Speight.

William Wallin Memorial Award: Erin Connors, field hockey and Shelby Iapoce, women’s lacrosse
The William Wallin Memorial Award is presented to the student-athlete that epitomizes the late William Wallin ’61, who demonstrated the highest levels of sportsmanship, character and leadership on and off the field.

Erin Connors is one of the captains of the Fairfield field hockey team and co-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In addition, she has served as a Senior Week and Freshman Orientation volunteer, a senior interviewer in the admissions office and a Relay for Life team captain and publicity chair. Most recently, Connors was one of six students across campus to receive a Fairfield Student Award.

Shelby Iapoce headed the partnership between Fairfield lacrosse and the Wounded Warrior Project. To date, the endeavor has raised over $25,000for the organization. Iapoce was integral in scheduling the event, designing and ordering apparel, collecting auction items and arranging for honorary captains to attend the game.

Female Freshman of the Year: Kelly Cordes, women’s swimming and diving
Kelly Cordes was the top scorer for the women’s swimming and diving team at the MAAC Championship Meet this season. She turned in three top-10 finishes in the 100m, 200m and 500m freestyle events. Cordes broke one of the program’s oldest individual records this season with a time of 5:04.53 in the 500m freestyle and also swam a leg for three record-setting relay teams.

Male Freshman of the Year: Kevin Duncan, men’s golf
Kevin Duncan won individual medalist honors at three events for the Stags this year. His individual win at the ECAC Championship in September guided Fairfield to its first-ever team win at the prestigious event. Also in the fall, Duncan won the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association Championship by a three strokes. He was named the MAAC Golfer of the Month for both September and October. When action resumed in the spring, Duncan continued his solid play with a medalist performance at the Monmouth Invitational, guiding the Stags to a share of the top spot on the leaderboard.

Alumni Association Female Student-Athlete of the Year: Ann Burgoyne, field hockey
The 2015 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, Ann Burgoyne led the conference and the MAAC champion Stags with 19 goals and 40 total points in 19 games. She was one of four student-athletes in the nation to average a goal per game, and her 2.11 points per outing ranked seventh nationally. Burgoyne was a First Team All-Region, All-MAAC and All-ECAC honoree. Academically, she is a Dean’s List student, a member of the MAAC All-Academic Team and an NFHCA Academic All-American. Burgoyne is a Visual Arts major with a 3.76 cumulative GPA.

Alumni Association Male Student-Athlete of the Year: Matt Turner, men’s soccer
Fairfield’s starting goalkeeper in 37 of 38 games over the last two seasons, Matt Turner got the start between the posts in all 18 games in 2015. He posted a 0.98 goals-against average with a .793 save percentage – numbers aided by his seven shutouts. Turner earned his third MAAC All-Academic Team honor this past season after recording a 3.85 GPA as a Finance major. He is currently a member of the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer.

Female Athlete of the Year: Julie de Paeuw, field hockey
The MAAC Player of the Year, Julie de Paeuw guided Fairfield to the 2015 MAAC Championship and the program’s second-ever NCAA postseason appearance. She contributed six goals – three of which were game-winners – as a part of her 15 total points, and was a stalwart for one of the conference’s top defensive units. In addition to MAAC honors, de Paeuw was named NFHCA All-Region and was selected as an ECAC All-Star.

Male Athlete of the Year: Marcus Gilbert, men’s basketball
Leading a turnaround season for Fairfield men’s basketball in 2015-16, Marcus Gilbert averaged 16.7 points per game. He scored 20 or more points in 12 games, including three 30-point performances. Gilbert recorded three double-doubles in his senior campaign, highlighted by a 32-point, 10-rebound showing in Fairfield’s win over eventual MAAC Champion Iona. He was a First Team All-MAAC and Third Team All-Met selection. Gilbert’s senior season lifted him to fourth on Fairfield’s all-time scoring list with 1,661 points and second all-time in program annals with 242 made three-pointers.