WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics honored the accomplishments of its 46 senior student-athletes, as well as 15 senior student athletic trainers, at its annual Senior Athletic Awards Banquet April 22 at the University Commons Ballroom.
Roland Watts Award winner
Jaques Conceicao (Men's Basketball)In addition to celebrating each of the individuals, the Pioneers bestowed several individual awards during the event. Graduate student baseball outfielder
AJ Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) was named the winner of the Ralph E. Smith Award, given to the graduating senior student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA. A member of the 2013 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA)/Capital One Division III Baseball Academic All-America Second Team, Flores also was selected to the 2013 All-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAVC), ECAC All-Metro Region and New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association (NJCBA) All-State First Teams, and the D3baseball.com Mid-Atlantic All-Region and Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Mid-Atlantic All-Region Second Teams. He owns a .334 batting average while starting 155 of 160 career games, posting 208 hits, 30 doubles, nine triples, 114 RBI and 146 runs scored. Flores currently ranks among the WP career leaders in at-bats (623, first), hits (third), stolen bases (59, fourth), runs scored (eighth) and triples (tied-10th), and was a member of the 2012 and 2013 Capital One/CoSIDA Baseball Academic All-District 2 Teams and the 2011-12 and 2012-13 NJAC All-Academic Honorable Mentions. He is a six-time Dean's List student, graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in history (secondary education) in May of 2014, and is currently completing a certification in teachers of students with disabilities.
Men's basketball guard
Jaques Conceicao (Massama-Lisboa, Portugal/Francais Charle Lepierre) was named the recipient of the Roland Watts Memorial Award, given to a student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding dedication and effort in his or her sport. Not yet fluent in English when he arrived at WP, Conceicao became a four-year starter on the court for the Pioneers as well as a Dean's List student in the classroom. He started in 98 of 111 career appearances, averaging 8.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game, and on the WP career charts he is first in games started, second in rebounds (659), second in games played, seventh in free throws attempted (325) and steals (129), and eighth in free throws made (205), field goals attempted (750) and three-point field goals attempted (270). A Spring 2014 and Fall 2014 Dean's List student, he is completing a bachelor's degree in management this spring.
William Paterson University
Dr. Susan Dinan was presented the Director's Award, given to a non-athlete for outstanding service to the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Dr. Dinan came to WP in 2005 to help create an Honors College out of a number of Honors tracks, and has been extremely supportive of, and helpful to, a number of Pioneers who have balanced the rigorous academic demands of the Honors College with the demands of being a Division III student-athlete. She also has been a member of WP's Faculty Athletic Support Team (FAST) since its creation in 2013.
Current WP students
Jaclyn Antonacci,
Kim Casamento,
Shannon Cleary and
Catalina Fragoso were presented with the Distinguished Service Award. Together, the four comprise Twillyp, a University-sponsored, but student run, social media presence on Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. Twillyp's casual yet informative approach provides an essential campus communication platform for both current and prospective WP students. Through their efforts, including four promotional videos this academic year (youtube.com/watchTwillyP), the group has been instrumental in integrating Athletics more into the social fabric of general campus life at William Paterson.
2014-15 William Paterson Senior HonoreesAthletic TrainersAndrew Calore*
Robert Casasnovas*
Breanna Chance
Dustin Cottrell*
Dana Ewen*
Michael Fernandes*
Justin Grubb*
Stephanie Montana*
Amanda Neglia*
Jessica Nendze*
David Rainville*
Tristan Richter*
Hugh Riley
Amanda Stopinski*
Rayna Yacoub*
Ralph E. Smith Award winner
AJ Flores (Baseball) with
President Waldron Field HockeyCourtnaey Chelf*
Shannon Fisher FootballBen AllenJose BonillaMike ButlerElijah DeGuzmanAl KamaraLogan McGuiganAnthony Morris*
Trevor SackawitchRyan SiboleRobert SinegraJake Stockton-Rossini*
Pat Thomas*
Men's SoccerMarcus HackettOmar Jallow*
Rafael Marques Women's SoccerAlana KefferShannon Maher*
Julia Siersema*
TennisJessica Daniels*
Kristy Daubert*
VolleyballDanielle KoukosDaniella SalemoShauna Van De Ree*
Director's Award Winner Dr. Susan
Dinan with Lachelle Rouse (Softball) Men's BasketballOmer Amir*
Sandy BurgosJaques Conceicao*
Justin Grant*
Women's BasketballAshley Marfo Men's Swimming and DivingBobby BoytonEvan Marine*
Women's Swimming and DivingSheri BrinoRuth Midence*
Courtney Starace*
BaseballAJ Flores*
Tom GaccioneRyan Monaghan*
Joe Moran*
SoftballChristina Austin*
Kerrin DysKristen GardnerKelsey Principe*
Keanna RossLachelle Rouse*
Melissa Swain*
* indicates recipient of Student-Athlete Academic Excellence Award for maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better
Academic Excellence Award winners
Distinguished Service Award winners Twillyp (Catalina Fragoso,
Jacyln Antonacci, Shannon Cleary, Kim Casamento)
