May 16, 2011
CLEVELAND - The National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2011 Scholar-Athlete Award, sponsored by Kathy Polanshek and Carol Malouf, NATYCAA Friends. Allyn Parrino of Monroe Community College was selected as the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while Chris Soenksen of Iowa Western Community College was chosen as the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Allyn Parrino has a 3.86 grade point average, majoring in hospitality management, while participating as a two-sport athlete for the Tribunes. Parrino was also a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) First Team All-American soccer player, as well as a 2010 First Team All-Region and 2010 Region III Player of the Year. The defender led the Tribunes to 2010 regional title and district championship. Parrino was also a 2010 Second Team All-Region Lacrosse player, leading her team to the 2010 National Championship.
Chris Soenksen, a sophomore from Lincoln, NE, majoring in general science and has attained a 4.0 grade point average. As a soccer defender, Soenksen earned 2009-10 NJCAA First Team Academic All-Region XI Honors, as well as 2009-10 Second Team All-Region XI honors. He helped lead the Revier's to the 2010 Regional and District Championship as well as the National Tournament. He plans to continue his education and athletics career at John Brown University, where he will be studying Engineering.
"The pool of candidates was outstanding and the selection process was difficult. Candidates from across the country were nominated and we could have easily fielded an entire team of NATYCAA Scholar-Athletes," Scholar-Athlete Committee Chair and County College of Morris Athletics Director Jack Sullivan said. "We are very proud to have selected Allyn Parrino and Chris Soenksen as the 2011 winners of the NATYCAA Scholar-Athlete Awards."
In addition to Sullivan, committee members include Troy Tucker of Northampton Community College, Pa, Gary Broadhurst of Mohawk Valley Community College, NY and Bob Myers of Solano Community College, Calif.
The winners will be recognized in June at the NATYCAA Convention in Orlando at the NATYCAA Awards luncheon scheduled for Thursday, June 16.
The NATYCAA Scholar-Athlete Award was first presented in 1992 and is sponsored by Kathy Polanshek and Carol Malouf, NATYCAA Friends. It is given to the male and female student-athlete who best demonstrates outstanding accomplishment and leadership in academics, athletics and citizenship.
The following students are recognized as Honorable Mention NATYCAA Scholar-Athletes for 2011. Congratulations to each of these outstanding student-athletes.
Women: Kelsey Canavan, South Plains College; Katherine Deneau, Santa Rosa Junior College; Ashley Frazell, Sussex County Community College; Michaela Hayes, Bergen Community College; Joyce Holloway, Jefferson College; Kristyn Krugman, Lamar State College;. Mary Maneen, Herkimer County Community College; Amanda Ratto, Sierra College; Ashley Seal, Pasco-Hernando Community College; Midori Jasmine Sera, Skyline College; and Ashleigh Sorensen, Iowa Western Community College.
Men: God's Gift Achiuwa, Erie Community College; Trey Anderson, Neosho County Community College; Jake Jones, Cincinnati Technical and Community College; Adam Lavelle, Iowa Western Community College; Gustavo Pereira, Herkimer County Community College; and Daniel Wroblewski, Ocean County Community College.
About NATYCAA: Now in its 24th year, NATYCAA is the professional organization of two year college athletics administrators and membership is open to all two year institutions from throughout the country. The 2011 NATYCAA Convention will take place June 15-16 at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida. For more information on NATYCAA, please visit www.natycaa.com. NATYCAA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 46th year. For more information on NACDA and the 11 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.
