WAYNE, N.J. – Senior first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) has been named the winner of William Paterson University Student Development's 2021 Roland Watts Pioneer Spirit Award, it was announced during a live awards ceremony stream held May 6.
 
The Roland Watts Pioneer Spirit Award recognizes a WP student who has continuously contributed to campus life and exemplifies what it means to be a true William Paterson Pioneer. The recipient has demonstrated efforts and commitment to enhancing campus life, and is overtly involved in campus activities designed to promote a genuine pride and interest in William Paterson.
 
Weis has been a four-year starter for the Pioneer baseball team, earning honorable-mention all-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) status this spring with his .333 average, 38 hits, seven doubles, three triples, 25 RBI and 27 runs scored. Inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the national student-athlete honor society, the athletic training major was a Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 Dean's List student, and was named to the 2018-19 and 2019-20 Academic All-NJAC Honorable Mentions.
 
Weis has served his fellow Pioneers as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and as a Student-Athlete Mentor (SAM), assisting new student-athletes' transitions to the University. He also helped care for the William Paterson football, men's and women's basketball, and men's and women's soccer teams as a student athletic trainer.
 
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring, he volunteered to work at the public drive-thru testing site located on the William Paterson campus, often putting in full days, six days a week.
 
The Roland Watts Pioneer Spirit Award is named for the former Associate Vice President for Campus Life Roland Watts, who served WP and its students for 26 years. Mr. Watts truly exemplified the Pioneer spirit in his daily work, and in his commitment to, and support of, student life.
 
For all of the latest information on the Pioneers, visit http://www.wpupioneers.com and http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia.