SAN FRANCISCO - The University of San Francisco athletics department celebrated its achievements in the field, the classroom and the community on Sunday night as the Dons hosted the seventh annual Hilltop Awards at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
The end-of-the-year awards show opened with Fr. Paul Fitzgerald commending the student-athletes in attendance for their success in the classroom and on the field.  USF boasts a program GPA of 3.4 and is still in the running for the West Coast Conference Commissioners Cup.
 
The event was attended by more than 300 student-athletes, administrators, faculty and staff.  Joining Fr. Fitzgerald was Donald Heller, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, as well as Ellen Ryder, Vice President for Marketing Communications and Julie Orio, Vice Provost of Student Life.
 
The ESPY-inspired awards show was hosted by senior Emily Laskin (women's golf) and her teammate, sophomore Samantha Gong. Charles Minlend (men's basketball) and junior Samantha Jehnings (women's soccer) interviewed guests as they walked in from the red carpet.
 
Women's cross country was the big winner, taking home the Charles Harney Team Awards for highest GPA, while senior Charlotte Taylor from cross country and track & field took home the Anne Dolan Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year. During the 2017 cross country season, Taylor won multiple honors including individual championships in the WCC, NCAA West Region, and an All-American honor for her third-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Men's cross country joined the women's team on the podium to accept the Charles Harney Team Award for highest GPA on the men's side.
 
Lean Schwarzer, a senior from men's soccer, was awarded the Bill Russell Award which is handed out to the Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year.  Schwarzer was also awarded the Charles Harney Award. In the 2017 season, Schwarzer took home WCC Player of the Year, First-Team All-WCC, First-Team WCC All-Academic and 2017 United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American Second-Team honors in his final year on the Hilltop.
 
Women's golf saw Emily Laskin take home the Four Pillars Award, which is awarded to a male and female graduating senior who attains the highest standards of athletic performance, academic achievement, community service and leadership.  Laskin wrapped up her senior campaign taking home All-West Coast Conference honors for the first time in her career, being named to the WCC All-Academic Team, all while serving as SAAC president and serving in the community.  Laskin was also awarded the Athletic Performance Carpe Diem Award which is awarded to a male and female student-athlete who displays maximum effort on and off the field of competition while bringing out the best of his/her teammates through a consistent commitment to performance enhancement.
 
Teammate and fellow senior, Kimberly Liu was awarded the Charles Harney Award for the women's individual honoree, Liu earned WCC All-Academic honors with a perfect 4.0 GPA. 
 
Chase Foster took home a pair of honors.  The lone senior from men's basketball was awarded the Four Pillars Award as well as the Athletic Performance Carpe Diem Award.
 
Men's soccer was awarded the Spirit of '51 Award which is presented to a USF team that embodies success both on the field and in the classroom by creating leaders who are ready to make an impact in the world.  The award is given in honor of USF's undefeated, untied and uninvited 1951 football team, whose supreme triumph came in its stand against racial inequality. 
 
Michael Perri, a senior on the baseball team, and Marie Bouchard, a senior on the women's cross country and track & field teams, were awarded the Dante Benedetti Award.  The Dante Benedetti Award is awarded to a male and female student-athlete who serves as an inspiration to their teammates through their unwavering sense of loyalty, self-sacrifice, unselfishness, positive attitude, and hard work.
 
Kalyn Simon, a senior on women's basketball, was awarded the Stephen Privett, S.J. Award, which is awarded to a student athlete or team who has demonstrated a commitment to a higher standard of learning and social justice through their outstanding work in the community.  Simon is majoring in international studies with a concentration in environment and development at USF.  After graduation, the native of San Jose, Calif., has aspirations of joining the Peace Corps.   
 
Freshman Toby Briggs of men's golf was named the Newcomer of the Year which is awarded to a male and female first year student-athlete who has excelled in athletic competition.  Briggs was named the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year after finishing tied for ninth in the West Coast Conference Championships.
 
Women's basketball junior, Shannon Powell was named the Female Newcomer of the Year.  Powell played in 29 games for the Dons this year and finished third on the squad averaging 12.2 points per game.  She led USF in steals with 38 and was second in assists and third in rebounds.  
 
USF student Cynthia Guerrero was awarded the Nicole Siegel Athletic Training Student of the Year Award.  The award winner represents "The USF Way" each and every day.  Throughout the course of the year, this athletic training student has taken initiative, is highly accountable, and has performed at the highest level.
 
Two members of the USF Spirit Squad took home individual honors.  Rachel Fong was named The Spirt Squad Rookie of the Year, which honors a first-year member who demonstrated exceptional growth as a dancer, cheerleader, and performer while dedicating time, effort, and passion into all aspects of the Spirit Squad.  Teammate Alyssa Lam was awarded the Spirt Award which honors a Sprit Squad veteran who represents USF, Dons Athletics, and the Spirit Squad with the utmost respect and professionalism.  This award recognizes a strong dancer, cheerleader, and performer who is a positive force and supportive of their teammates.
 
Last, all the teams honored their Most Valuable Players.
Sonja Giraud – Women's Soccer
Leon Schwarzer – Men' Soccer
Charlotte Taylor – Women's Cross Country
Mohamed Aziz – Men's Cross Country
Erin Anthony – Women's Volleyball
Frankie Ferrari/Jordan Ratinho – Men's Basketball
Anna Seilund – Women's Basketball
Emily Maxfield – Women's Tennis
Johan Joenhagen – Men's Tennis
Riley Ornido – Baseball
Tim Widing – Men's Golf
Vanessa Ha – Women's Golf
Jack Rowe – Men's Track and Field
Marie Bouchard – Women's Track and Field
Julia Topor – Beach Volleyball