The Penn State Altoona Athletics department hosted the 2022-23 Intercollegiate Athletics Honors Ceremony on Sunday, April 30 in the Adler Arena. The annual event featured an array of awards, recognizing student-athletes for their athletic and academic achievements over the past year. Head coaches from each of Penn State Altoona's 14 NCAA Division III programs also had the opportunity to speak, providing a brief overview of their 2022-23 seasons while presenting awards to some of their players.

Watch the full video of the 2022-23 Intercollegiate Athletics Honors Ceremony

The event opened with a welcome from Brent Baird, Penn State Altoona's Director of Athletics, who expressed his pride in the accomplishments of the individual athletes and teams gathered in Adler to celebrate the past year. After that, first-year Penn State Altoona Chancellor Dr. Ron Darbeau spoke briefly, showing his appreciation for the student-athletes and sharing his vision for investing in Athletics in the coming years.

Next, the ceremony recognized Penn State Altoona student-athletes who had particularly impressive achievements in the classroom over the past year.

AMCC Academic All-Conference and Peak Performers

Student-athletes who earned academic recognition from the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference were recognized in the next portion of the ceremony. In the 2022-23 edition of the AMCC's Academic All-Conference team, 93 Penn State Altoona student-athletes earned spots on the list by achieving cumulative GPAs of 3.2 or higher through the Fall 2022 semester. Additionally, 55 Lion student-athletes were tabbed as Peak Performers on the Academic All-Conference list by having cumulative GPAs of 3.5 or higher.

Read: 93 Lion Student-Athletes Earn Spots on AMCC Academic All-Conference Team

Additionally, the Penn State Altoona women's volleyball and men's tennis teams were honored for garnering the AMCC's Team Peak Performer awards. These awards are given to the teams with the highest cumulative GPAs in their respective conference sports.

Read: Women's Volleyball, Men's Tennis Tabbed as AMCC Team Peak Performers

Chi Alpha Sigma Induction

Next, 10 Penn State Altoona student-athletes were inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the national college student-athlete honor society. To gain membership into Chi Alpha Sigma, a student-athlete must be a junior or senior academically, carry a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4, and have lettered in a varsity sport. Inductees must also be of good moral character and be recommended for induction by Penn State Altoona Athletics.

The 10 first-time inductees into Chi Alpha Sigma were:

Ethan Andrews, Men's Swimming

Haley Chambers, Women's Soccer

Caitlin Cowen, Women's Soccer

Karlie Feathers, Women's Volleyball

Taylor Kilmer, Women's Volleyball

Jared Kish, Men's Volleyball

Sarah Petry, Women's Swimming

Mallorie Smith, Women's Soccer

Breanna Yarnall, Women's Bowling

Tomasz Zukowski, Men's Swimming

SAAC Recognition

Penn State Altoona Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president Jarrett Gardner and advisor David McGreal were welcomed to the stage to recognize members of the group. SAAC meets on a regular basis and provides feedback to the administration on issues pertaining to student-athletes. The group also coordinates a variety of community service activities during the school year.

AMCC Postseason Awards Recognition

At the end of each sports season, Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference coaches nominate and vote on student-athletes for postseason awards, including all-conference teams, individual accolades, and sportsmanship awards. Student-athletes who were voted to one of the AMCC's postseason awards were invited to stand and be recognized.

Team Recognition Awards

After an intermission for dinner, the ceremony resumed with its team-by-team recognition awards. Each team's head coach was invited up to speak and present three different individual awards:

-Sportsmanship Award: This award recognizes a student-athlete who has shown, through their actions and attitude, the best qualities of sportsmanship.

-Coaches Award: This award recognizes an athlete who best demonstrates the true spirit of Lion Athletics. It is given not only for hard work, sacrifice, and personal improvement, but also for the willingness to understand, learn, and enter into a partnership with their coaches and teammates to achieve their full potential.

-Most Valuable Athlete Award: This award honors the student-athlete who has made the biggest impact on the success of their team.

Women's Basketball (head coach Halee Adams)

Sportsmanship Award: senior guard Emma Kitko (Houtzdale, PA/Moshannon Valley)

Coaches Award: freshman guard Jess Burns (South Fayette, PA/South Fayette)

MVP: freshman forward Avana Sayles (Venetia, PA/Peters Township)

Women's Tennis (head coach Megan Stern)

Sportsmanship Award: freshman Mikhaela Merca (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin)

Coaches Award: freshman Rachel Stricek (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone)

MVP: freshman Mikhaela Merca (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin)

Men's Tennis (head coach Megan Stern)

Sportsmanship Award: sophomore Casey Hess (Annville, PA/Annville-Cleona)

Coaches Award: sophomore Joey Toth (South Park, PA/South Park)

MVP: sophomore Casey Hess (Annville, PA/Annville-Cleona)

Men's Volleyball (head coach Bob Kasun)

Sportsmanship Award: junior outside/middle Jared Kish (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Darby)

Coaches Award: junior outside/middle Avery Farabaugh (Ebensburg, PA/Cambria Heights)

MVP: junior outside/middle Jared Kish (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Darby)

Women's Volleyball (head coach Phil Peterman)

Sportsmanship Award: senior setter Kayla Moran (Boalsburg, PA/State College)

Coaches Award: junior outside hitter Lacee Barnhart (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte)

MVP: senior outside hitter Lydia Mock (Alum Bank, PA/Chestnut Ridge)

Women's Soccer (head coach Pam Snyder Etters)

Sportsmanship Award: senior forward/midfielder Sarah Huston (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville)

Coaches Award: freshman defender Dee Dee Abbott (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick)

MVP: junior forward/midfielder Mallorie Smith (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte)

Men's Soccer (head coach Andrew Beverly)

Sportsmanship Award: senior defender/midfielder Garrett Giedroc (Howard, PA/Bald Eagle)

Coaches Award: senior defender Nathaniel McCourt (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School)

MVP: sophomore defender Owen Myers (Spring Grove, PA/Spring Grove)

Women's Swimming (head coach Brad Brooks)

Sportsmanship Award: sophomore Madison Coleman (Altoona, PA/Tyrone)

Coaches Award: sophomore Rachel Dangelo (State College, PA/State College)

MVP: senior Grace Dangelo (State College, PA/State College)

Men's Swimming (head coach Brad Brooks)

Sportsmanship Award: senior Isaac Swanson (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield)

Coaches Award: freshman Adam Dotts (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin)

MVP: freshman Adam Marawan (Dubai, UAE/GEMS Dubai American Academy)

Women's Bowling (head coach Elizabeth Rhodes)

Sportsmanship Award: sophomore Isabelle Forcey (Clearfield, PA/DuBois Central Catholic)

Coaches Award: junior Chloe Mazza (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township)

MVP: freshman Kennedie Lauver (New Berlin, PA/Mifflinburg)

Men's Golf (head coach Tom Koehle)

Sportsmanship Award: sophomore Nathan Graham (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin)

Coaches Award: sophomore Joey Toth (South Park, PA/South Park)

MVP: junior Trey Heffelfinger (Mount Union, PA/Mount Union)

Baseball (head coach RJ Barnard)

Sportsmanship Award: freshman catcher Luke Angstadt (Lancaster, PA/Cocalico)

Coaches Award: freshman first baseman Jonathan Rauch (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin)

MVP: sophomore outfielder Tyreke Green (Altoona, PA/Altoona)

Softball (head coach Bill Graham)

Sportsmanship Award: junior outfielder Aubrey Dotts (Houtzdale, PA/Moshannon Valley)

Coaches Award: senior outfielder Brooke Colledge (Everett, PA/Everett)

MVP: junior utility player Cameryn Feathers (Martinsburg, PA/Central)

Men's Basketball (head coach David McGreal)

Sportsmanship Award: junior guard Chris Jarosz (Toronto, ON/Andrews Osborne Academy)

Coaches Award: senior guard/forward Andruw Harman (Chesapeake, VA/Great Bridge)

MVP: senior guard Saivon Word (Upper Marlboro, MD/Frederick Douglass)

Additionally, seniors Andruw Harman and Robbie Hicks were presented with basketballs commemorating their achieving of the 1,000-point mark for their college careers. Teagan Imler was also presented with the inaugural Teagan Imler Pride Mentality Award.

Jim Ellis Leadership Award

Following the team recognition awards was the presentation of the Jim Ellis Leadership Award. This award is given annually in memory of former men's basketball assistant coach Jim Ellis, who displayed great leadership throughout his time on campus and left a lasting impression on everyone who was fortunate to spend time with him. The recipient of this award must have demonstrated the values of leadership, caring, civility, honesty, integrity, and responsibility.

The 2022-23 Jim Ellis Leadership Award recipient was sophomore Madison Coleman (Altoona, PA/Tyrone) of the women's swimming team.

Senior Recognition

Next, senior student-athletes from each program were recognized for their participation in Penn State Altoona Athletics throughout their college playing careers.

Baseball

Richard Carey (Milton, DE/Cape Henlopen)

Kyle Glass (Claysburg, PA/Claysburg-Kimmel)

Alex Kitko (Houtzdale, PA/Moshannon Valley)

Timothy Richard (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone)

Men's Basketball

Andruw Harman (Chesapeake, VA/Great Bridge)

Saivon Word (Upper Marlboro, MD/Frederick Douglass)

Robbie Hicks (Melbourne, FL/Rockledge)

Men's Soccer

Garrett Giedroc (Howard, PA/Bald Eagle)

Blake Johnston (Altoona, PA/Bellwood-Antis)

Nathaniel McCourt (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School)

Men's Swimming

Isaac Swanson (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield)

Women's Basketball

Emma Kitko (Houtzdale, PA/Moshannon Valley)

Sarah Huston (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville)

Women's Bowling

Kaitlyn Estright (Norristown, PA/Archbishop Carroll)

Women's Soccer

Haley Chambers (Athens, PA/Athens)

Sarah Huston (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville)

Sadie McConnell (New Enterprise, PA/Northern Bedford)

KK Wolfe (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville)

Softball

Brooke Colledge (Everett, PA/Everett)

Madison Lucas (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola)

Women's Swimming

Grace Dangelo (State College, PA/State College)

Avery Heisey (Lancaster, PA/Conestoga Valley)

Megan Yingling (Gettysburg, PA/Gettysburg)

Women's Tennis

Stephanie Swain (Yadkin County, NC/Forbush)

Women's Volleyball

Taylor Kilmer (Julian, PA/Bald Eagle)

Erin Lutz (State College, PA/State College)

Lydia Mock (Alum Bank, PA/Chestnut Ridge)

Kayla Moran (Boalsburg, PA/State College)

Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards

The final honors of the evening were the Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards. This award is given to one female athlete and one male athlete who have demonstrated excellence, both on the playing field and in the classroom.

Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year: senior Avery Heisey (Lancaster, PA/Conestoga Valley), women's swimming

Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year: junior Jared Kish (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Darby), men's volleyball

Closing Remarks

Baird closed the evening by thanking all who attended, as well as the generous partners who helped make the awards ceremony possible, and he wished good luck to the student-athletes as they embarked on finals week.