UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) hosted the annual "The Nittanys" for the 34th consecutive year on a virtual platform for the second year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Nittanys recognizes teams and individual for their academic, athletic and community achievements.
"The Nittanys" were presented over one week virtually on GoPSUsports.com and on GoPSUsports social media accounts. Awards were presented daily to honor the Penn State student-athletes and programs.
The annual awards feature several long-standing awards, as well as some more recently established honors.
Women's Golf Earns Highest Team GPA; Women's Basketball and Men's Fencing Claim Varsity 'S' Honor
The women's golf team was presented with the Milton K. Morgan Jr. Highest Team GPA Award for their efforts during the 2019-20 academic year. The women's golf team had the highest team GPA among all 31 sports.
Also honored for their hard work in the classroom, the Varsity 'S' Club Most Improved Team GPA awards were presented to the women's basketball and men's fencing teams.
Individual Honors
Ernest B. McCoy Award
The McCoy Award is named for the longtime Dean of Penn State's College of Physical Education, who also served as the University's athletic director. The award is given to a senior men's and women's student-athlete who has combined successful athletic participation with academic excellence.
The honorees of the Ernest B. McCoy award were Danae Rivers (women's track & field/cross country) and Alex Limoges (men's ice hockey).
True Grit Award
The True Grit award recognizes a male and female student-athlete whose determination, and perseverance in overcoming serious adversity athletically or even personally, stands as a testament to their tremendous character and indomitable spirit. This award is sponsored by the Nittany Lion Club.
This year's honorees were Nikolette "Niki" Nolte (women's swimming & diving) and Pierre Reedy (men's soccer).
Above and Beyond Mr. & Ms. Penn State
This award was established by SAAB to recognize the contributions of one male and one female senior student-athlete who display the true spirit of
"WE ARE" as exemplified by their contributions and inspirations to their respective teams, as well their passion for everything Penn State. Recipients of this award are recognized for the following qualities: caring, encouragement, humility, honesty, humor, kindness, patience and school spirit.
This year's award recipients are Camryn Barry (women's swimming & diving) and Jacob Deckman (men's swimming & diving).
Behind the Scenes Heroes
This award established by SAAB to recognize individuals who are the embodiment of what it means to be selfless in the service of others, with no expectation of recognition, but are vital to student-athletes success here at Penn State.
Atheltic trainer Emily Stoeckel was this year's recipient for her work with women's hockey.
Phoenix Award
The phoenix has always been a symbol of what it means to be reborn, rise from the ashes and to shine brightly for all to see. This award recognizes a student-athlete whose determination and perseverance in overcoming some initial tough challenges academically, to now shine brightly and confidently here at Penn State.
The 2020-21 recipient of the Phoenix Award is Izzy Heminger from women's hockey.
Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship
Recipients of this award receive a $7,500-dollar scholarship for post graduate studies. To be eligible for this award a nominee must be in their final season of competition, have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher, is a model example of leadership and integrity, recommended by two of their professors, and plan to enroll in a graduate degree program after graduation.
This year's Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship recipients are Alissa Bonsall from women's gymnastics and Mark Porter from men's track & field.
THON Awards
THON Donor Drive Challenge
This award created by SAAB is in recognition of the team that raised the highest total this year on behalf of THON.
The team that raised the most money collectively for THON was women's volleyball.
Two additional awards were presented to two individuals who made major contributions to THON in 2020-21.
Adam Pilewicz (men's hockey) was recognized as the student-athlete who individually raised the highest total on behalf of THON.
Rachel Rosen (women's lacrosse) was honored with the THON Spirit Award. This award recognizes a student-athlete whose commitment to bringing awareness and funding to find a cure to end pediatric cancer, has been unmatched in their energy, effort and passion for all things THON.
All-Academic Team
This award is presented to a student-athlete from each team that have earned the highest cumulative grade point average on his or her team, following 60 or more undergraduate hours earned at Penn State.
Nittany All-Academic Team-Individual highest cum GPA on each team
*Repeat Member and 4.0 GPA's*
Baseball: Kyle Virbitsky
M. Basketball: Kyle McCloskey
W. Basketball: Niya Beverley
M. Cross Country: Alex Tomasko
W. Cross Country: Megan Ciasullo*
M. Fencing: Demitri Zacharakis
W. Fencing: Zara Moss
Field Hockey: Eleni Prodes
Football: Sebastian Costantini
M. Golf: Lou Olsakovsky
W. Golf: Sarah Willis
M. Gymnastics: Jack Baldwin**
W. Gymnastics: Alissa Bonsall
M. Hockey: Oskar Autio
W. Hockey: Anna Promersberger
M. LaCrosse: TJ Malone
W. LaCrosse: Mary Muldoon
M. Soccer: Keegan Ness*
W. Soccer: Kerry Abello***
Softball: Claire Swedberg*
M. Swimming & Diving: Michael Challis
W. Swimming & Diving: Ellie Tiskus
M. Tennis: Chris Kuhnle*
W. Tennis: Gracey Hirsch
M. Track & Field: Payton Sewall
W. Track & Field: Victoria Tachinski*
M. Volleyball: Will Bantle
W. Volleyball: Serena Gray
Wrestling: Austin Hoopes
Record-Breaking NCAA Graduation Success Rate
The Nittany Lions recorded a fourth consecutive record academic performance with a 92 percent graduation success rate, according to data reported by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
The NCAA's annual graduation rates report of Division I institutions across the nation revealed Penn State student-athletes at the University Park campus earned a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 92 percent to break the school's all-time record of 91, which was previously set in the 2019 NCAA report. Nittany Lion students posted a 92 percent graduation rate compared to the 88 percent average for all Division I institutions for students entering from 2010-11 through the 2013-14 academic year.
Penn State student-athletes have logged a Graduation Success Rate in the 88-92 percent range during each of the past 14 NCAA reports, improving from 88 percent in the 2015 report to a record-breaking 92 percent report in 2020.
Sixteen of the Nittany Lions' 27 teams (men's and women's track and field/cross country teams combined) earned a Graduation Success Rate at or above the Division I national GSR average for their respective sport. A total of 17 Penn State squads have a GSR of 90 percent or higher.
Penn State Among the Nation's Most Comprehensive and Successful Athletic Programs
Under the leadership of Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour, Penn State has one of the nation's most comprehensive and successful athletic programs, featuring 800 student-athletes across 31 varsity programs (16 men's, 15 women's). The Nittany Lions' 31 programs are tied for the fourth-highest number of sports sponsored by a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) institution.