May 9, 2005

(May 9, 2005) George Mason University held its annual student-athlete awards ceremony at the Johnson Center in Dewberry Hall this evening. The student-athletes gathered to commemorate accomplishments, both on the field and in the classroom.

The seniors were honored with the George Mason Award, which was commissioned in January of 1997 in an effort to recognize the culmination of a student-athlete's participation in intercollegiate athletics. The hand-sculpted artwork of George Mason was designed as a permanent remembrance of both the institution and the student-athlete's legacy. A total of 77 seniors from 22 sports and the cheerleading and dance teams accepted the award.

The Aimee Willard commemorative award was won by senior baseball player Adam Innerst. The award was established in 1997 and presented to the Mason student-athlete who best exemplifies the standards of quality set by Aimee: intensity, consistency of purpose, achievement, and teamwork. Nominees are selected by head coaches and the recipient is selected by Gail Willard, Aimee's mother, and the Willard family.

Innerst is a senior outfielder from York, Pa. He was second team All-CAA in 2004 and he is currently batting .333 and he is second on the team with nine home runs and 44 RBI. He is first all-time at Mason with three career grand slams and he is in the career top 10 in home runs and RBI.

"He absolutely understands how to prioritize his life with regard to academics and athletics," commented baseball coach Bill Brown. "His character and integrity have always been rock solid and he has always been a teammate who has approached each and every day in a positive manner. Adam is a mirror image of Aimee - a kid with a big heart, a happy smile, a love for life, a great teammate, a love for playing, a fierce competitor and a true leader."

The final awards of the night were presented to the winners of the Dr. Frank Pettrone Student-Athlete of the Year Award. The winners of this award are selected by the student-athletes based on the following standards: be a team player on and off the field, demonstrate motivational qualities and good sportsmanship and maintain good academic standing.

Senior lacrosse goalkeeper Meg Dentler (Crofton, Md./Arundel) won the female athlete of the year edging out soccer's Sarah Coughlin, diving's Mary Campioli and softball's Stacy James. Dentler reached the pinnacle of her career when she was named 2005 Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year in women's lacrosse by a vote of the league's eight head coaches. Dentler, a three-time first-team all-CAA selection and the 2002 CAA Rookie of the Year, becomes the first George Mason women's lacrosse player to garner conference Player of the Year honors.

Her 8.95 goals against average is the lowest of her four-year career and she led the league with 187 saves on the season for an 11.69 saves per game average. Her save percentage of .562 ranked second in the conference and ranked sixth nationally. Dentler was named a second-team All-American goalie by the IWLCA in 2004.

Track and Field's Richard Phillips won the male athlete award over finalists swim and dive's Tom Koucheravy, baseball's Chris Looze, and soccer's John O'Hara. Phillips, a senior from St. Catherine, Jamaica was a 2003-04 finalist for the award. He is an Olympic semifinalist and four-time All-American. He competed in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2004 Olympic Games, advancing to the semifinals. He earned All-American honors in the 110-meter hurdles in 2004 and the 60-meter hurdles in 2004 and 2005. He was part of the 4X400-meter relay team that earned All-American honors in 2003. He is also a five-time IC4A champion and 2004 CAA Male Track and Field athlete of the year.

In its inaugural season, The Patriot Challenge award was designed by the Student Athlete Advisory Board (SAAC) to encourage friendly competition between varsity teams, challenging one another to improve as student-athletes and representatives of George Mason athletics. Points were awarded to teams who participated by supporting Mason athletics by attending athletic events, contributed to the community through acts of service and excelled in the classroom. Women's volleyball rose to the challenge winning first place. Women's track and field and women's soccer followed in second and third place respectively.

The Scholar-Athletes were recognized as well during the ceremony. All student-athletes who have completed a minimum of 2 semesters at the university and meet the following minimum cumulative GPA (as of Fall of the previous semester):

Credits Classification Minimum Cumulative GPA 0 to 29 Freshman 3.700 30 to 59 Sophomore 3.600 60 to 89 Junior 3.500 90 or more Senior 3.400

Congratulations to all the student-athletes!

Please refer to complete list below for those honored.

FRESHMAN
Eric Barnes (soccer)
Hudson Bates (volleyball)
Allison Bauman (rowing)
Kristen Byler (volleyball)
Leslie Culin (dance)
Daniel Cullis (volleyball)
Sarah Fack (soccer)
Kelly Gemmill (rowing)
Erica Locher (swim and dive)
Shannon Maurer (track and field)
Laura Salichs (soccer)
Carlos Silen (volleyball)
Brittany Surkovich (swim and dive)
Danielle Turner (track and field)
Arielle Weinkofsky (softball)
Katlyn Winter (softball)
Ryan Younger (golf)
SOPHOMORE
	Justine Blaho (swim and dive)
	Brooke Crowther (swim and dive)
	Deona Donahue (lacrosse)
Kristin Higy (basketball)
Daniel Hurley (golf)
Amelia Nelson (rowing)
Janelle Wilson (volleyball)
Alex Velesz (lacrosse)
Melissa Venturi (lacrosse)
JUNIOR
	Lindsay Angelo (volleyball)
	Chantal Bodkin-Clarke (volleyball)
	Joel Caruso (wrestling)
	Sarah Davis (dance)
Natalia Porosa (volleyball)
Sibley Slinkard (rowing)
Amy Sorenson (soccer)
Megan Teesdale (dance)
SENIOR
	Timothy Bainton (tennis)
Justin Bates (swim and dive)
Megan Duvall (rowing)
Chris Looze (baseball)
John O'Hara (soccer)
Molly O'Shea (swim and dive)
Jeannine Ohler (lacrosse)
Marissa Olesen (rowing)
Elizabeth Replogle (swim and dive)
Jacqueline Sherbondy (tennis)
Tracy Waterson (lacrosse)
Nick Webster (wrestling)
Emily Welty (swim and dive)
Jessica Young (track and field)