Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.. - Over 100 administrators, coaches, student-athletes and guests from East Coast Conference member institutions traveled to the Rotunda on the campus of Mercy College on May 13 for the East Coast Conference Awards Dinner. Highlighting this year's event was the ECC Hall of Fame induction of three former student-athletes and two administrators.
The event also highlighted team and student-athlete accomplishments including recognizing the Players, Coaches and Scholar-Athletes of the Year from all ECC sponsored sports. In addition, the conference honored student-athletes, teams, and member institutions with special awards while also handing out the 2018-19 Commissioner’s Cup.
Gabriel Duran (Dowling baseball student-athlete), Bob Hartwell (Adelphi Athletic Director), Sofia Hoflin (Bridgeport women's soccer student-athlete), Bob Houlihan (Molloy Athletic Director/Coach), and Damon Reed (Saint Rose men's basketball student-athlete) were inducted into the ECC Hall of Fame. (read more)
Molloy College and Roberts Wesleyan College were both awarded the Community Engagement Award of Excellence. The Lions were awarded for their Girl Scout Badge program, while the Redhawks won for their BELL program. (read more)
Molloy received the ECC Cares Award for leading the conference in monies raised for collective causes. The Lions raised over $17,000, good for an average of $47 per student-athlete. (read more)
Daemen College was presented with the ECC Community Cup after averaging over 16.5 hours of community service and community engagement per student-athlete, the highest among the 10 institutions. (read more)
Bridgeport women's lacrosse coaching staff won the ECC Sportsmanship Award for deciding to play 8 vs. 8 to even the playing field with an injury-riddled UDC.
LIU Post won the Commissioner’s Cup for the seventh straight year. The Pioneers made the ECC Championship tournaments in 15 ECC sports, won two conference tournament championships, and six regular season championships to claim the award. (read more)
St. Thomas Aquinas was awarded the ECC Academic Success Rate Award. The Spartans earned the honor after posting an 89 percent graduation success rate in the NCAA Academic Tracking System.
Senior Brian Michels of the Molloy cross country and track & field teams was named the 2019 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Michels boasted a grade point average (GPA) of 3.98 as an accounting major. He was also the ECC Champion in the mile run at the ECC Indoor Track & Field Championship. (read more)
Senior Shaneika Bowra of the University of the District of Columbia cross country and track & field teams was tabbed the 2019 Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Bowra compiled a 3.904 GPA as an accounting major while also being an All-Conference athlete at the ECC Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championship. (
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Three student-athletes received the John Smillie, Jr. Award for overcoming personal and physical challenges to continue to play the sport that they love. Ruth Adams of St. Thomas Aquinas women's basketball, Kaitlyn Mahon of Queens women's basketball, and Nick Petrucelli of Daemen men's basketball were recognized for their courage, dedication, and inspiring stories. (read more)
The most prestigious award of the evening, dubbed the Excellence in Community and Character Award (E.C.C. Award), was presented to three student-athletes this year. The E.C.C. Award recognizes student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through positive actions and behaviors that are consistent with the NCAA Division II attributes of learning, service, passion, sportsmanship, balance and resourcefulness. This year’s recipients were Shaneika Bowra (Dist. Columbia - cross country/track & field), Jack Nicholson (St. Thomas Aquinas - men's soccer), Jenna Turato (Molloy - softball), and Tiffany Verni (NYIT - volleyball/track & field). (read more)