Athletic Department hosts Senior Awards celebration
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Members of the RIT Athletic Department gathered last Sunday morning at the Doubletree Inn by Hilton Hotel Rochester for a breakfast honoring the student-athletes in the Class of 2024.
Five individual departmental award winners were recognized while all seniors were presented a gift as well as a student-athlete stole to be worn during graduation ceremonies next weekend.
Senior Women's Rowing team member Natalie Siwek and senior Men's Lacrosse player Dylan Bruno also offered words about their experience as RIT student-athletes, while Executive Director of Athletics Jacqueline Nicholson and Assistant Director of Athletics Olivia Winkfield also addressed the group. Longtime men's basketball coach Bob McVean, who recently announced his retirement, was also recognized for his 40 years of service.
Individual award winners (in bold), along with two other finalists, were recognized with the following honors:
Power Den Awards
Two student-athletes are annually recognized for demonstrating a high level of competency in the weight room, and for having an enthusiasm for training while going above and beyond program requirements in their preparation.
MEN
Allyn French – Men's Lacrosse
Aiden Hughes – Men's Track & Field
Tommy Moore – Men's Rowing
WOMEN
Maggie Carey – Women's Rowing
Emily DiMarco – Women's Track & Field
Claire Templeton – Women's Lacrosse
A. Stephen Walls Leadership Award
Named in honor of the founder of RIT's intercollegiate athletics hall of fame, the award annually goes to a student-athlete who demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities and activities within the team, the overall athletics program, and the campus community at large.
Ben Baker – Men's Rowing
Aidan Hughes – Men's Track & Field
Elizabeth Kisker – Women's Swimming & Diving
Dr. Mark Ellingson Awards
Named in honor of RIT's former wrestling coach who went on to become its fifth president, Ellingson award nominees are considered based on a combination of high achievement in both the classroom and on the field of play.
MEN
Dylan Bruno – Men's Lacrosse
Caleb Moretz – Men's Hockey
Keegan Ocorr – Men's Basketball
WOMEN
Amelia Gilbert – Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Samantha Russell – Women's Swimming & Diving
Natalie Siwek – Women's Rowing
NOTE: The rest of the annual Athletic Department individual awards will be announced at a later date. Stay tuned to ritathletics.com and @RITathletics on social media for the announcements.
Latest Men's Crew
- 2025-26 Women's Hockey Schedule releasedROCHESTER, N.Y. – The RIT Women's Hockey team announced the 2025-26 schedule, Wednesday. The Tigers currently have 32 total contests scheduled for the coming season, including 14 dates at the Gene Polisseni Center.
- Men's Hockey announces 2025-26 scheduleROCHESTER, N.Y. – The RIT Men's Hockey team announced the 2024-25 schedule, Wednesday.
- Arnold earns American Baseball Coaches Association All-Region accoladesROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT graduate student pitcher John Arnold was a Third Team American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region 3 selection.
- Kehl, Majot named Softball Academic All-DistrictROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT senior outfielder Bailey Kehl and junior pitcher Jessica Majot were named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Softball Team, Tuesday.
- Women's Soccer earns United Soccer Coaches Team Sportsmanship and Ethics AwardROCHESTER, N.Y. – The RIT women's soccer team received the United Soccer Coaches Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award for the 2024 season.
- Eight from RIT Men's Lacrosse land USILA All-American accoladesROCHESTER, NY -- Eight members from the RIT Men's Lacrosse team were named 2025 United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-Americans announced Thursday, May 22.