BULLS NEWS

UB Holds Academic Celebration

Tina Villa

The Furnas Award is provided through annual interest earnings from the C.C. Furnas Fund in the University at Buffalo Foundation, Inc. and recognizes outstanding undergraduate performance in scholarship and athletic prowess. The recipient must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and be committed to graduate study, have strong personal character and outstanding athletic accomplishments.

Villa, a management major with a 3.81 GPA, won the Mid-American Conference title in the shot put at the MAC Indoor Championships in March. Villa’s winning toss of 51-1.75 (15.59m) was a personal best and earned Villa an NCAA provisional qualifying distance. Her throw was more than a foot better than the second-place throw and earned her a spot on the All-MAC First Team.

The recipients of the Ideal Bull Distinguished Student-Athlete Leadership Award were Ashley Turner (Olean, NY/Olean) of the women’s soccer team and Jeff Parker (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) of the wrestling team. This award is given by the Intercollegiate Athletics Board to honor senior athletes who have demonstrated leadership beyond their own teams to the Division and/or the campus, and whose character, actions, excellence and concern for other student-athletes make them strong ambassadors for the Division of Athletics and the University at Buffalo.

Carrie Hinners (Maple Grove, MN/Maple Grove) of the women's track and field team was this year’s winner of the Chrisy Dickerson Unsung Hero Award, as selected by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to recognize an individual who makes a significant contribution on the court, field or in the pool and is recognized for his or her dedication, unselfishness and contribution to the team. The award is named in honor of Christine Dickerson, a member of UB’s crew team who died tragically in a car accident in Ellicottville on December 11, 2002.

Catherine Rowan (New Orleans, LA/Mt. Carmel Academy) of the women’s swimming and diving team received the Student-Athlete Excellence in Community Service Award, which honors a senior student-athlete who has demonstrated a commitment to serving the Western New York Community, as well as excelling in the classroom, while devoting himself or herself to the success of his or her team.

Also recognized at Tuesday's ceremony were UB student-athletes that received the Taurus Aureus Award, Chi Alpha Sigma Award, MAC Commissioner’s Award and MAC Presidential Award.

Taurus Aureus, which was given to 46 athletes, is given to student-athletes with an overall grade point average of 3.00 or higher and have completed at least 95 credit hours. Chi Alpha Sigma had 25 recipients and is the award given to students with a 3.40 GPA and who have completed at least 60 credit hours. The MAC Commissioner’s Award, given to 31 athletes, goes to a student-athlete with a 3.50 GPA, who is of sophomore, junior or senior standing. Finally, the MAC Presidential Award is given to a student-athlete with a 3.50 GPA and is a graduating senior. Twelve student-athletes were given the MAC Presidential Award.