The 69th Annual Block F Awards dinner was held on Wednesday, April 30th at the VIP Country Club in New Rochelle, New York. Following the athletic award presentations, a special tribute was given to University President, Fr. Joseph O??Hare, who is departing Fordham after 19 years as president. Fr. O??Hare was presented with numerous gifts, and was given the highest honor that can be bestowed on a member of the Fordham University Athletic Program as he was inducted into the Fordham University Athletic Hall of Fame. The awards ceremony began following dinner as each team recognized their team Most Valuable Player and four-year letter winners. Mark Porcaro, a senior member of the track and field program, was then called upon to say a few words on behalf of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the 18 members of the SAAC were presented with an award. The program then moved on to the specialty awards, which includes the following: the Marty Glickman Award, the Kiwanis Community Service Award, the Kiernan Award, the Ben Harter Award, the Kenneally Award, the O??Donnell Award, the Iron Major Award, the Claire Hobbs Awards and the Vincent T. Lombardi Awards. Here is a description of each award along the with 2002-03 recipient: VINCENT T. LOMBARDI AWARD ?C Kirwin Watson The Vincent T. Lombardi Award is presented to the Male Athlete of the Year for distinguished athletic achievements in the winning tradition of Vince Lombardi. Watson helped the Fordham football team to their first Patriot League Championship and an NCAA playoff berth in 2002. He was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the year, setting new Fordham marks in rushing with 1,467 yards and in touchdowns with 19. Watson led the Patriot League in rushing for the second straight season and received first team all-Patriot League. On the national scene, he was selected as a third team All-American by the Associated Press and the Football Gazette, while also being an ECAC all-star. Watson finished tenth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award, as the I-AA Offensive Player of the Year. CLAIRE HOBBS AWARD ?C Mobolaji Akiode The Claire G. Hobbs Memorial Award is presented to the Female Athlete of the Year for distinguished athletic achievements while displaying outstanding sportsmanship, citizenship, leadership and dedication. Akiode had one of the most outstanding seasons as a member of the women??s basketball team. This year, she earned second team All-Atlantic 10 honors, becoming the first all-Atlantic 10 selection for Fordham since the 1997-98 season. She also became the first major award winner for Fordham since joining the conference, as she received the Most Improved Player Award. A First Team All-Metropolitan selection, Akiode averaged a career-high 16.5 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game, while becoming just the eighth Lady Ram to reach the 1,000-point and 500-rebound marks in her career. IRON MAJOR AWARD ?C Dave Clawson (Football) The ??Iron Major?? Award is presented to honor the ??Coach of the Year??, as selected by his or her fellow coaches. The award is named for Hall of Fame member and former football coach Frank Cavanaugh, the first in a long line of nationally famous Fordham coaches. Dave Clawson, the head football coach, guided the football team to their first Patriot League Championship and an NCAA I-AA playoff berth. Named the Patriot League Coach of the Year for the second straight year, he also garnered national I-AA Football Coach of the Year by Schutt Sports. This season, the football team went 10-3 under his guidance, finishing the season ranked #15 in the nation, while having 13 players earn all-conference accolades. JACK COFFEY AWARD ?C Frank Schnur The Jack Coffey award is presented to a Fordham administrator, alumnus or coach for outstanding contributions and dedication to the athletic program. It is named for the late Jack Coffey, long-time baseball coach and graduate manager of Athletics. Frank Schnur has been one of the pillars of Fordham athletics for over four decades. Some say he may have actually been hired by Jack Coffey, but he says otherwise. He has coached the men??s soccer team for the last 34 seasons, recording ten league titles, six conference coach of the year awards, and is a three-time winner of the Iron Major Award as Fordham??s coach of the year. Following this past season, he has decided to retire with 256 coaching wins, which rank him among the NCAA??s best. TERENCE O??DONNELL AWARD ?C Caitlin Chiaramonte The O??Donnell Memorial Award is presented to the Fordham athlete who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, loyalty, dedication and self-discipline. The award is in memory of Terry O??Donnell, a 1955 graduate who died in a military plane crash shortly after graduation. Caitlin Chiaramonte served as team captain for her squad for the past two seasons, and gained a great deal of respect and admiration from her teammates and coaches. This season, under her leadership, this program had its best season in several years. A three-year member of the women??s basketball team, she helped the rams set new Atlantic 10 marks with five conference wins, a first ever season sweep of a conference opponent, and a four-game conference win streak. She averaged 6.5 points per game on the year while also having a career-high average of 4.2 rebounds a game. A graduate student, Chiaramonte will graduate in May with a Master??s Degree in International Economy and Politics. PATRICK KENNEALLY AWARD ?C Tom Hein The Patrick Kenneally Award is presented to a Fordham student who serves the Athletic Department in capacities other than athletic participation. The award honors the memory of Pat Kenneally, equipment and business manager for 54 years. Tom Hein has devoted his time to helping the athletic promotions department with event promotions as well as working most athletic events this year. He has helped the men??s basketball with game statistical breakdown this season, while also organizing the Atlantic 10 shootout for the past two years. Hein also is a member of Fordham??s marketing society. BENEDICT T. HARTER AWARD ?C Deirdre O??Callaghan The Benedict T. Harter award is presented to the College of Business Administration senior athlete who has made significant academic and athletic contributions. The award honors Ben Harter, CBA ??39, retired dean of both Fordham undergraduate and graduate schools of business. During his tenure as Dean, the Graduate School became accredited. Deirdre O??Callaghan is a senior member of the women??s rowing team. Double majoring in Finance and Accounting, while minoring in Economics, she holds the highest GPA of any College of Business Administration senior student-athlete. A four-year varsity member of the rowing team, she helped the Varsity 8 this season to a fourth place finish at the spring Atlantic 10 Championships, a second place finish at the fall Atlantic 10??s, and a first place finish at the Metropolitan Championships. KIERNAN AWARD ?C Ben Chisholm The Kiernan Award is presented to the Fordham College senior athlete who has made significant academic and athletic contributions. Ben Chisholm is a four-year member of the men??s swimming and diving team. An English major, he holds the highest GPA of any senior student-athlete in Fordham College. He has been an important part of the swimming team as he was an all-conference selection last season, while being the Rams top overall performer in each of the last two Atlantic 10 championships. An ECAC merit award winner, he earned Academic All-Conference honors this season. KIWANIS COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD ?C Luke Nephew Fordham Kiwanis is part of a worldwide service organization that is committed to improving the quality of life through volunteer action. The members of Fordham Kiwanis, comprised of university faculty, staff, and administrators, wish to recognize student-athletes who not only excel in academics and in their respective sports, but who are also committed to working in community service activities. Luke Nephew is a sophomore member of the men??s soccer team, who has worked with young children in the Bronx community. For the last year, he has worked with the beacon 45 after school program, helping middle school children with their school work, while also volunteering at the concourse house, which is a shelter for single mothers and their children. He has also participated in the Fordham-Bedford graffiti removal program, served as a national youth service day leader, and been a project member of global outreach El Salvador. MARTY GLICKMAN AWARD ?C Michael Yam The Glickman Award is presented to the WFUV student play-by-play announcer who best follows the examples taught by Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Glickman. The award honors the memory of Marty Glickman who was the broadcast coach at WFUV from 1987-99. Michael Yam is senior who has broadcast both football and basketball all season for WFUV. STUDENT ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Baseball - Rob Semerano Men??s Basketball - Brandyn Ccooper Women??s Basketball - Stacey Price Cheerleading - Peggy Ann Torney Football - John San Marco Rowing - Janine Abdallah Men??s Soccer - Nate Freihaut Women??s Soccer - Shannon Misiaszek Softball - Carol Fischer Men??s Swimming - Colin Stone Women??s Swimming - Michelle Maguire Men??s Tennis - Josh Krieg Women??s Tennis - Christina Leavenworth Men??s track - Mark Porcaro Women??s Track - Pamela Endres Volleyball - Lindsay Schedler Water Polo ?C PJ Toolan Commuter Student Association/Sports Information - Sheila Muirragui ECAC MERIT MEDALS These senior student-athletes have been selected by the ECAC for outstanding athletic and academic achievement with a 3.5 GPA or better. Melissa Weiss - Women??s Swimming & Diving Ben Chisholm - Men??s Swimming & Diving Alejandra Guitian - Women??s Soccer Andrew Holzheimer - Men??s Track & Field Deirdre O??Callaghan - Women??s Rowing Carol McClure - Women??s Track and Field Jeffrey Alcoser - Men??s Track & Field FOUR-YEAR LETTER WINNERS & TEAM MVP BASEBALL FOUR-YEAR LETTERWINNERS Tim Boyle, Capt. John Dreher Derek Hucke Bryan Kelly Anthony Santopolo Jon Volosin, Capt. The team MVP award will be presented at the final home game on May 4 against Temple. WOMEN??S BASKETBALL FOUR-YEAR LETTERWINNERS Mobolaji Akiode Caitlin Chiaramonte, Capt. MVP Mobolaji Akiode MEN??S BASKETBALL MVP Michael Haynes CHEERLEADING FOUR-YEAR LETTERWINNERS Melissa Crowther Allison Montroy, Capt. Peggy Ann Torney, Capt. MVP Peggy Ann Torney MEN??S CROSS COUNTRY & TRACK FOUR-YEAR LETTERWINNERS Ryan Burgess Michael Collins Jeffrey Alcoser Brendan Causgrove Ryan Davis Andrew Holzheimer Deric Zaphire Cross Country MVP Michael Collins Men??s Indoor Track & Field MVP Deric Zaphire WOMEN??S CROSS COUNTRY & TRACK FOUR-YEAR WINNERS Pam Endres Carol McClure Meghan Hanley Meg McDermott Andrea Pricskett Grace White Bridget Dorney Stephanie Irvin Cross Country MVP Meg McDermott Women??s Indoor Track & Field MVP Stephanie Irvin FOOTBALL FOUR-YEAR LETTERWINNERS Aymen Aboushi Joe Hoyle Anthony Amanzio Jermaine Mckoy Joe Barmess Nat Pierce Rhamel Brown, Capt. Chris Rhodes, Capt. Shaun Clair Gerome Robinson Kendal Creer John San Marco, Capt. Matt Fordyce Tim Van Overloop Arthur Gaskin Alemayo Whyte MVP Kirwin Watson GOLF MVP Gabe Allen WOMEN??S ROWING FOUR-YEAR LETTER WINNERS Deirdre O??Callaghan, Capt. MVP Janine Abdallah MEN??S SOCCER FOUR-YEAR LETTER WINNERS Brian Borrhello, Capt. Brian Heal Cliff Weinstein, Capt. MVP Brian Borrhello WOMEN??S SOCCER FOUR-YEAR LETTER WINNERS Casey Finnegan Beth Genalo Beth Kitson Emily Parella Katharine Rust Erin Safarik MVP Kirstin Gellatly SOFTBALL FOUR-YEAR LETTER WINNERS Jamie Chastain, Capt. MVP Michelle Schlichtig SQUASH FOUR-YEAR LETTER WINNERS Jay Himmelstein, Capt. Josh Krieg, Capt. MVP Josh Krieg MEN??S TENNIS FOUR-YEAR LETTER WINNERS Jay Himmelstein Josh Krieg, Capt. MVP Chris Kelly WOMEN??S TENNIS FOUR-YEAR LETTER WINNERS Morgan Brinley Alexandra Cazangiu, Capt. MVP Morgan Brinley MEN??S SWIMMING & DIVING FOUR-YEAR LETTER WINNERS Ben Chisholm, Capt. Lance Jochims Matt Raiten Chris Royle, Capt. Colin Stone, Capt. MVP Ben Chisholm WOMEN??S SWIMMING FOUR-YEAR LETTER WINNERS Sabrina Bieloski Liz Harris, Capt. Liz Kennedy Michelle Maguire, Capt. Lisa Mahoney Melissa Weiss MVP Michelle Maguire VOLLEYBALL 4-YEAR LETTERWINNERS Beth Crockett, Capt. Kristyn Daly, Capt. MVP Kristyn Daly WATER POLO FOUR-YEAR LETTER WINNERS Mike Hayek MVP P.J. Toolan