DUDLEY, Mass. – The Nichols College athletics department hosted its fourth annual Athletic Awards Banquet Monday evening on Zoom. Hosted by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, the event featured a speech by outgoing President Susan Engelkemeyer, a tribute to the late Hallie Linacre, and the announcement of both the SAAC Awards and the athletic department's four major award.

"Congratulations to all of our award winners! Each of these recipients are more than deserving of their recognition," said Director of Athletics Eric Gobiel. "Their leadership and contributions to their respective programs, the athletics department, and our institution has been simply outstanding. They each have had a profound impact on the fields/courts/ice/track, in the classroom, and in our community. They truly epitomize what is means to be a Bison! They are leaving behind an incredible legacy and I cannot thank them enough for their dedication to Nichols Athletics."
 
The Richard W. Scheffler Sixth Man Award was presented to Liza Phillips and Ronnie Joseph. The award is named after longtime Nichols athletic employee Richard 'Dick' Scheffler – the biggest Bison supporter there ever was – for behind-the-scenes efforts.  

Phillips was a standout work-study student for the athletic department, primarily as a statistician for many Bison athletic contests, including hockey, baseball, and lacrosse. "Liza is one of the most passionate student-workers I have had during my time at Nichols," said Nichols Sports Information Director Pete DiVito. "Her passion for Nichols athletics and desire to do a great job have helped make our department so efficient during her time as an undergrad. She is very fast learner and, as a result, she was able to run home contests by herself this past year. Her versatile skillset makes her a rising star in the sports information industry."

Joseph was a key work-study student for the IT department as well as a member of the Men of Distinction. Cindy Lafortune, Manager of User Support Services in the IT Department at Nichols, had this to say about Joseph: "August is a crazy time of year for I.T. Help Desk when all students just want their laptops, phones and especially gaming consoles to connect to the internet. But through all the chaos, Ronnie's personality really shined through. I remember one day in particular when a student was having an exceptionally difficult issue with his laptop. All of a sudden, Ronnie started singing with the student, which calmed him down. Eventually the entire help desk area was joking, laughing, and singing, and everyone was having fun and life was good! That's who Ronnie is. Everyone is happy when they are around Ronnie."
 
The Major Charles T. Hopkins Award for Study, Sports, and Spirit is presented to the senior athlete whom has great success both in the classroom and in the arena of competition. This year's recipients are Sammy Saintilus of the men's volleyball program and McKenna Gernander of the women's ice hockey and lacrosse programs.

Gernander is a native of Coleraine, Minnesota and a two-time Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) Academic All-Conference pick. A finance major, she was named to the CHC Second Team in 2019-20 and ranks amongst the all-time leaders at Nichols in game-winning goals, power play goals, and points. Perhaps her most memorable goal came during the 2018-19 campaign, when she potted the overtime winner against Johnson & Wales to send the Bison to the conference semifinals for the first time in program history. This spring, Gernander notched a career-high three points on two goals and an assist in a women's lacrosse contest against Wentworth. She is a two-time CCC Academic All-Conference pick (2019-20).

"McKenna exemplifies what it means to be a leader and what it means to be a Bison, on and off of the ice," said women's ice hockey coach Samantha Fallon. "McKenna leads with honesty and respect, and has created a path that current and future Bison will follow as they pursue the same success McKenna has achieved and continues to pursue."

Saintilus is an economics major who appeared in eight matches in 2020 and two in 2021. A two-time New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Academic All-Conference pick (2019-20), he recorded a career-high three kills against Lesley on March 3, 2019 and again on February 22, 2020 against St. Joseph's Brooklyn. This past season, the Plainville, Mass. native appeared in matches against Endicott and NVU-Johnson.

"Sammy is a fundamental part of the Nichols community and one of the pillars of the men's volleyball team," said head men's and women's volleyball coach John Post. "His work ethic, passion, and drive bring out the best in those around him, whether it be on the court, in the classroom, or around campus, and all who know him are better for it. I am so proud of this young man – who he is, what he embodies, and all that he has accomplished – and know that he has the brightest future ahead of him."
 
The Dan Cardin Memorial Award for Integrity and Leadership – which is presented to a student-athlete who is a model leader or unsung hero for their respective team – went to Lance Johnston of the men's lacrosse team and Shannon St. Lawrence of the women's basketball team.

Johnston is a native of Southington, Connecticut and an accounting major who was a team captain this past season for head coach John Carroll. He is a two-time CCC Academic All-Conference pick (2019-20) and collected 24 ground balls in 37 career games. Johnston scored his first collegiate goal against Mitchell on March 22, 2018 and notched 12 ground balls the following season. He appeared in the season-opener against Lasell in March before being lost for the season due to injury.

"Lance has been a positive influence for the men's lacrosse program by performing well in the classroom and on the field of play," said Carroll. "Even when Lance went down with an ACL injury early this season, he continued to attend as many practices and games as he could to be there for his teammates and to show his support. I'm sad to see him leave our program, but I know he has made a positive impact."

Gobiel – who recruited Johnston to play lacrosse as Nichols when he was head coach of the program – added, "Lance is a tremendous young man and someone who is extremely deserving of this honor. Since the day he arrived on campus he has been one of our hardest working student-athletes in the classroom and on the field. He is someone who leads by example and pushes himself and his teammates to get better each day. He is completely dedicated to his teammates and truly epitomizes what it means to be a leader."  

A two-year captain, St. Lawrence is a two-time CCC Academic All-Conference selection (2018-19 & 2019-20) who appeared in 84 games during her time in Dudley for head coach MaryLynn Skarzenski. This past season, St. Lawrence averaged a career-best 9.4 rebounds/game and pulled down 10-or-more boards on five occasions, including a career-high 18 while playing all 40 minutes in a win over Suffolk on February 27. For her career, this Milton, New Hampshire native and sport management major tallied 19 career double-digit rebound games. St. Lawrence was also a member of SAAC and the secretary of the Athletic Social Justice Council.

"Shannon is a tremendous young woman. She is the ultimate friend and teammate, always putting others before herself," said Skarzenski. "She has grown in her time on campus into a tremendous leader. Shannon is smart, compassionate, and empathetic; her determination, work ethic, and enthusiasm will allow her to accomplish her goals post-graduation."
 
The Hal Chalmers Memorial Award is presented to a senior student-athlete who has exemplified leadership through athletics, academics, student involvement, and overall Bison Pride. The 2020 recipients of this award are Nate Foster from the men's ice hockey program and Colleen Callahan from softball.

Foster received his bachelor's degree in marketing last spring and is completing his graduate school courses this month. A native of West Chazy, New York, Foster collected 33 points in 68 career games, highlighted by his first collegiate hat trick last season against Western New England. He lit up the Golden Bears for a power play goal, a shorthanded goal, and an empty net goal. A two-time CCC Academic All-Conference pick (2018-19 & 2019-20), he was voted a team captain this season. Foster also spent time as a work-study student with the athletic department at volleyball, softball, and lacrosse contests.

"Nate deserve the honor and recognition that come with this award for his four years of dedication and leadership within the Nichols community," said Nichols men's ice hockey head coach Mike Parnell. "He achieves excellence in all areas of his life academic, athletic and social life. He creates relationships and memories with people that will last a lifetime. When I think of the ideal student, I think of Nate. His impact on our campus can only be measured by the fondness of those in our community have for him. His teammates love and trust him. Being a first-year head coach, I was blessed to have Nate and his leadership throughout the most challenging season our program has ever faced. He will be missed and look forward to him returning to visit for years to come!"

Callahan is native of Billerica, Massachusetts and an accounting major. She's batted a career-best .349 this past spring and smacked her first two collegiate home runs, including a walk-off grand slam against Roger Williams on March 30. She was also a perfect 12-for-12 in stolen base attempts this season and graduates 24-for-26 in her career. Callahan finished her career with 74 career hits and 62 runs scored.

"Colleen has been a key component to our softball success, whether it be covering ground in the infield, hitting bombs, or mentoring our younger players," explained Nichols softball head coach Kristan Mallet. "She is a competitor in every sense of the word, on the field and in the classroom. Most of all, Colleen is a great teammate and even better person."