Lehigh Celebrates Accomplishments of 2020-21 School Year at Awards Convocation
5/10/2021 2:15:00 PM | Baseball, Field Hockey, Football, Athletics, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Track and Field, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Rowing, Women's Swimming and Diving, Men's Wrestling, Student Athlete
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh Athletics celebrated the accomplishments of the 2020-21 academic year with the return of the annual Student-Athlete Awards Convocation on Monday, May 10. This year's Convocation featured the return of an in-person event, with a limited number of student-athletes and coaches gathering inside Stabler Arena, with the Convocation streamed on Lehighsports.com for those unable to attend.
The Convocation featured the announcement of Lehigh's department award winners, the annual end of year highlight video and recognition of the athletic department's University award winners and senior student-athletes.
Conor Gaffney of the men's lacrosse team received three honors, including the department's highest honor – the Graduating Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. Gaffney was also recognized as the department's Outstanding Graduating Male Athlete and was one of six recipients of the Distinguished Achievement award.
Gaffney is a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American who had a 3.94 undergraduate GPA while pursuing and integrated degree in mechanical engineering and finance. He is a two-time Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for men's lacrosse and a three-time Academic All-League honoree. On the field, Gaffney was a two-time first team All-Patriot League selection as a faceoff specialist and was the Patriot League's Faceoff Specialist of the Year as well as an honorable mention All-American as a junior in 2019. Gaffney is the Patriot League's career leader in ground balls.
The Karen A. Adams Graduating Female Athlete Award was presented to Sondra Dickey from women's lacrosse. Dickey was recently named Patriot League Midfielder of the Year and helped lead the Mountain Hawks to the Patriot League Championship Game. She is now a three-time All-Patriot League selection and thus far a two-time IWLCA All-Region honoree. Dickey capped her career with a school record 41 caused turnovers, helped by a late season surge on the defensive side of the field.
The John Steckbeck Award, presented to the top first year female student-athlete, went to Julia Gatelein of the field hockey team. Gatelein was a second team All-Patriot League selection and tied for the team lead with three goals, including the only tally in Lehigh's season-opening 1-0 victory over rival Lafayette.
Lehigh also recognized three second year female athletes from spring sports, who were named to a watch list last year following the cancellation of the 2020 spring season. The athletes recognized as finalists are Emily Cimino from softball and Emma Eberhardt and Gabby Schneider from women's lacrosse.
Finalists for the J. Daniel Nolan award, presented to the top first-year male student-athlete, were announced at the Convocation, but the winner is yet to be announced, with two finalists still competing in spring championship seasons. This year's finalists are Scott Cole from men's lacrosse, Conor Reilly from men's track and field and LaTreil Wimberly from football.
Three second-year male athletes from spring sports were also recognized as finalists after being named to a watch list last spring. The three finalists from the spring of 2020 are Connor Melko from cross country and track and field, Christian Mule' from men's lacrosse and Adam Retzbach from baseball.
Mariah Sexe from women's basketball received the Mary O'Hurley Leadership Award, given to the department's top graduating female leader. One of Lehigh's team captains, Sexe was instrumental in helping guide the Mountain Hawks through the pandemic-affected 2021 season, which culminated in Lehigh's fourth Patriot League Tournament championship.
The John A. Cable Award, presented to the department's outstanding graduating male leader, went to Divine Buckrham from the football program. Buckrham served as a team captain in the spring 2021 season and was also active on campus, where he was a member of Lehigh's student senate and held a leadership position in Lehigh's Student-Athletes of Color organization.
The department's top service award, the Marlene "Linny" Fowler Service Award went to Mary Clougherty from women's basketball. Clougherty served as a Co-Captain for T.I.D.E. (tackling inclusion, diversity and equity) and was recognized by the University for helping pilot a History of Racism freshman seminar (with teammate Katie Rice and Buckrham) as part of an initiative to solicit "creative ideas to transform Lehigh into an anti-racist institution."
Fifth-year Owen Quinn of the men's golf team won the department's Sportsmanship Award. Quinn has contributed in many areas during his time at Lehigh. He brought leadership and gentlemanly play to the golf course, was active in departmental leadership programming and brought school spirit and positivity to the athletics department as one of the most visible and vocal supporters of all Lehigh sport programs.
Six student-athletes were recipients of the Distinguished Achievement Award. These recipients are senior student-athletes who have displayed a high level of scholarship, significant athletic achievement at the league level (and beyond) and demonstrated service to the institution. Winners included Gaffney, Sean Brown and Jeff Kirshenbaum, both of men's cross country and track and field, Ellie Falk from women's rowing, Megan Fennell from swimming and diving and Jake Jakobsen from wrestling.
Softball manager Michael Chavez was honored with the Phillip J. Sclar Award, which recognizes an underclass student worker or manager who exemplifies the spirit and character of the late Phil Sclar.
Gallery: (5-10-2021) 2021 Lehigh Athletics Awards Convocation
2020-21 Lehigh Athletics Department Awards
Phillip J. Sclar Award – Michael Chavez '23 (Softball manager)
John Steckbeck Award – Julia Gatelein (Field Hockey)
Spring 2020 Finalists – Emily Cimino (Softball), Emma Eberhardt (Women's Lacrosse), Gabby Schneider (Women's Lacrosse)
J. Daniel Nolan Award – LaTreil Wimberly (Football) - awarded June 2021
Spring 2020 Finalists – Connor Melko (Cross Country/Track and Field), Christian Mule' (Men's Lacrosse), Adam Retzbach (Baseball)
Karen A. Adams Graduating Female Athlete Award – Sondra Dickey (Women's Lacrosse)
Graduating Male Athlete Award – Conor Gaffney (Men's Lacrosse
Sportsmanship Award – Owen Quinn (Men's Golf)
Marlene "Linny" Fowler Service Award – Mary Clougherty (Women's Basketball)
Mary O'Hurley Leadership Award – Mariah Sexe (Women's Basketball)
John A. Cable Leadership Award – Divine Buckrham (Football)
Distinguished Achievement Awards – Sean Brown (Men's Cross Country/Track and Field), Ellie Falk (Rowing), Megan Fennell (Women's Swimming and Diving), Conor Gaffney (Men's Lacrosse), Jake Jakobsen (Wrestling), Jeff Kirshenbaum (Men's Cross Country/Track and Field)
Graduating Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award – Conor Gaffney (Men's Lacrosse)
The Convocation featured the announcement of Lehigh's department award winners, the annual end of year highlight video and recognition of the athletic department's University award winners and senior student-athletes.
Conor Gaffney of the men's lacrosse team received three honors, including the department's highest honor – the Graduating Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. Gaffney was also recognized as the department's Outstanding Graduating Male Athlete and was one of six recipients of the Distinguished Achievement award.
Gaffney is a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American who had a 3.94 undergraduate GPA while pursuing and integrated degree in mechanical engineering and finance. He is a two-time Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for men's lacrosse and a three-time Academic All-League honoree. On the field, Gaffney was a two-time first team All-Patriot League selection as a faceoff specialist and was the Patriot League's Faceoff Specialist of the Year as well as an honorable mention All-American as a junior in 2019. Gaffney is the Patriot League's career leader in ground balls.
The Karen A. Adams Graduating Female Athlete Award was presented to Sondra Dickey from women's lacrosse. Dickey was recently named Patriot League Midfielder of the Year and helped lead the Mountain Hawks to the Patriot League Championship Game. She is now a three-time All-Patriot League selection and thus far a two-time IWLCA All-Region honoree. Dickey capped her career with a school record 41 caused turnovers, helped by a late season surge on the defensive side of the field.
The John Steckbeck Award, presented to the top first year female student-athlete, went to Julia Gatelein of the field hockey team. Gatelein was a second team All-Patriot League selection and tied for the team lead with three goals, including the only tally in Lehigh's season-opening 1-0 victory over rival Lafayette.
Lehigh also recognized three second year female athletes from spring sports, who were named to a watch list last year following the cancellation of the 2020 spring season. The athletes recognized as finalists are Emily Cimino from softball and Emma Eberhardt and Gabby Schneider from women's lacrosse.
Finalists for the J. Daniel Nolan award, presented to the top first-year male student-athlete, were announced at the Convocation, but the winner is yet to be announced, with two finalists still competing in spring championship seasons. This year's finalists are Scott Cole from men's lacrosse, Conor Reilly from men's track and field and LaTreil Wimberly from football.
Three second-year male athletes from spring sports were also recognized as finalists after being named to a watch list last spring. The three finalists from the spring of 2020 are Connor Melko from cross country and track and field, Christian Mule' from men's lacrosse and Adam Retzbach from baseball.
Mariah Sexe from women's basketball received the Mary O'Hurley Leadership Award, given to the department's top graduating female leader. One of Lehigh's team captains, Sexe was instrumental in helping guide the Mountain Hawks through the pandemic-affected 2021 season, which culminated in Lehigh's fourth Patriot League Tournament championship.
The John A. Cable Award, presented to the department's outstanding graduating male leader, went to Divine Buckrham from the football program. Buckrham served as a team captain in the spring 2021 season and was also active on campus, where he was a member of Lehigh's student senate and held a leadership position in Lehigh's Student-Athletes of Color organization.
The department's top service award, the Marlene "Linny" Fowler Service Award went to Mary Clougherty from women's basketball. Clougherty served as a Co-Captain for T.I.D.E. (tackling inclusion, diversity and equity) and was recognized by the University for helping pilot a History of Racism freshman seminar (with teammate Katie Rice and Buckrham) as part of an initiative to solicit "creative ideas to transform Lehigh into an anti-racist institution."
Fifth-year Owen Quinn of the men's golf team won the department's Sportsmanship Award. Quinn has contributed in many areas during his time at Lehigh. He brought leadership and gentlemanly play to the golf course, was active in departmental leadership programming and brought school spirit and positivity to the athletics department as one of the most visible and vocal supporters of all Lehigh sport programs.
Six student-athletes were recipients of the Distinguished Achievement Award. These recipients are senior student-athletes who have displayed a high level of scholarship, significant athletic achievement at the league level (and beyond) and demonstrated service to the institution. Winners included Gaffney, Sean Brown and Jeff Kirshenbaum, both of men's cross country and track and field, Ellie Falk from women's rowing, Megan Fennell from swimming and diving and Jake Jakobsen from wrestling.
Softball manager Michael Chavez was honored with the Phillip J. Sclar Award, which recognizes an underclass student worker or manager who exemplifies the spirit and character of the late Phil Sclar.
2020-21 Lehigh Athletics Department Awards
Phillip J. Sclar Award – Michael Chavez '23 (Softball manager)
John Steckbeck Award – Julia Gatelein (Field Hockey)
Spring 2020 Finalists – Emily Cimino (Softball), Emma Eberhardt (Women's Lacrosse), Gabby Schneider (Women's Lacrosse)
J. Daniel Nolan Award – LaTreil Wimberly (Football) - awarded June 2021
Spring 2020 Finalists – Connor Melko (Cross Country/Track and Field), Christian Mule' (Men's Lacrosse), Adam Retzbach (Baseball)
Karen A. Adams Graduating Female Athlete Award – Sondra Dickey (Women's Lacrosse)
Graduating Male Athlete Award – Conor Gaffney (Men's Lacrosse
Sportsmanship Award – Owen Quinn (Men's Golf)
Marlene "Linny" Fowler Service Award – Mary Clougherty (Women's Basketball)
Mary O'Hurley Leadership Award – Mariah Sexe (Women's Basketball)
John A. Cable Leadership Award – Divine Buckrham (Football)
Distinguished Achievement Awards – Sean Brown (Men's Cross Country/Track and Field), Ellie Falk (Rowing), Megan Fennell (Women's Swimming and Diving), Conor Gaffney (Men's Lacrosse), Jake Jakobsen (Wrestling), Jeff Kirshenbaum (Men's Cross Country/Track and Field)
Graduating Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award – Conor Gaffney (Men's Lacrosse)
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
DB
/ Football
IF/OF
/ Softball
G
/ Women's Basketball
A/M
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
/ Women's Rowing
Dive
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
M/FO
/ Men's Lacrosse
M/F
/ Field Hockey
197
/ Men's Wrestling
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
/ Men's Golf
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
C
/ Baseball
G
/ Women's Basketball
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
F
/ Women's Basketball
DB
/ FootballUndergraduate Commencement
Sunday, May 18
Graduate Commencement & Doctoral Hooding
Saturday, May 17
Commencement - Undergraduate Degrees
Sunday, May 19
Commencement - Graduate Degrees
Saturday, May 18
