Lehigh Celebrates 2023-24 School Year at Annual Awards Convocation

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh Athletics celebrated the accomplishments of the 2023-24 academic year at the annual Student-Athlete Awards Convocation, held at Baker Hall inside Zoellner Arts Center on Monday, May 6. The Convocation featured the announcement of Lehigh's department award winners, the annual end of year highlights, superlatives and bloopers, and recognition of the athletic department's University award winners.

Men's lacrosse standout Scott Cole won three awards, including the department's highest honor – the Graduating Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. Cole was also recognized with the Graduating Male Athlete Award and was one of 13 recipients of the Distinguished Achievement Award.

Cole has been a top performer on and off the field for the men's lacrosse team that won its fifth Patriot League title on Sunday. A three-time All-Patriot League honoree, Cole was the 2023 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and an honorable mention All-American. A finance major with a 3.93 GPA, Cole is also a three-time Academic All-Patriot League honoree and was the league's Scholar-Athlete of the Year for men's lacrosse in 2023. Cole set Lehigh's career goals record (129) with a tally in Sunday's 11-10 championship game win over Boston University.

The Karen A. Adams Graduating Female Athlete Award was presented to swimmer Sarah Hardy. A two-time first team All-Patriot League performer, Hardy has been a top point scorer for the Mountain Hawks throughout her career. She won a pair of Patriot League individual championships in 2024, in the 200 fly and 400 IM, becoming the first Lehigh swimmer in the last 20 years to win two gold medals at one championship meet.

Ryelle Shuey from women's soccer won the Mary O. Hurley Leadership Award. A team captain and the 2023 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Shuey is a four-time All-Patriot League honoree who exemplifies team standards of intensity, integrity, and engagement.

The John A. Cable Award, presented to the department's outstanding graduating male leader, went to David Hurly from men's golf. Hurly was a four-year captain for the Mountain Hawks and the leader on a Lehigh team that won a Patriot League championship in 2023.

The top first-year male athlete award, the J. Daniel Nolan Award, went to wrestler Luke Stanich. In an outstanding true first-year campaign, Stanich went 25-4 with an EIWA championship at 125 pounds. He also earned All-America honors with a fifth place finish at the NCAA Championships.

The John S. Steckbeck Award, presented to the top first-year female student-athlete, was presented in late May to softball's Peyton Sward. A second team All-Patriot League performer as Lehigh's starting shortstop and the Mountain Hawks' leading hitter, Sward added second team NFCA All-Region honors to her ledger.

The department's top service award, the Marlene "Linny" Fowler Service Award went to Lylah Washington from volleyball. Washington is co-captain for the Lehigh chapter of Student-Athletes of Color, a chapter leader for Uplifting Athletes, and a team leader for Team IMPACT.

Hank Shapiro from football won the department's Sportsmanship Award. Shapiro served as a member of Lehigh's C.O.A.C.H. program and was lauded for putting his teammates first, making those around him better and making sure he left the football program better than he found it.

Thirteen 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 Cole, Hardy, Shuey and Hurly, plus Josie Charles, Emily Cimino and Katelyn Young from softball, wrestler Jake Logan, Lindsay MacLellan and Christina Yakaboski from cross country and track and field, Ian Scott from men's track and field, and Hayley Hunt and Gabby Schneider from women's lacrosse.

Softball manager Jonah 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: (5-6-2024) Convocation, 5/6/24

2023-24 Lehigh Athletics Department Awards

Phillip J. Sclar Award – Jonah Chavez '27 (Softball manager)
John Steckbeck Award – Peyton Sward (Softball)
J. Daniel Nolan Award – Luke Stanich (Wrestling)
Karen A. Adams Graduating Female Athlete Award – Sarah Hardy (Women's Swimming and Diving)
Graduating Male Athlete Award – Scott Cole (Men's Lacrosse)
Sportsmanship Award – Hank Shapiro (Football)
Marlene "Linny" Fowler Service Award – Lylah Washington (Volleyball)
Mary O'Hurley Leadership Award – Ryelle Shuey (Women's Soccer)
John A. Cable Leadership Award – David Hurly (Men's Golf)
Distinguished Achievement Awards – Josie Charles (Softball), Emily Cimino (Softball), Scott Cole (Men's Lacrosse), Sarah Hardy (Swimming and Diving), Hayley Hunt (Women's Lacrosse), David Hurly (Men's Golf), Jake Logan (Wrestling), Lindsay MacLellan (Women's Cross Country/Track and Field), Gabby Schneider (Women's Lacrosse), Ian Scott (Men's Track and Field), Ryelle Shuey (Women's Soccer), Christina Yakaboski (Women's Cross Country/Track and Field), Katelyn Young (Softball)
Graduating Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award – Scott Cole (Men's Lacrosse)

Award Descriptions and Previous Winners

Lehigh University Athletics

Lehigh Celebrates 2023-24 School Year at Annual Awards Convocation

Players Mentioned

Josie Charles

Emily Cimino

Scott Cole

Sarah Hardy

Hayley Hunt

David Hurly

Jake Logan

Lindsay MacLellan

Gabby Schneider

Ian Scott

Hank Shapiro

Luke Stanich

Peyton Sward

Lylah Washington

Christina Yakaboski

Katelyn Young

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