General | 4/25/2019 12:34:00 PM
SAN FRANCISCO – USF Athletics will honor its best and brightest student-athletes and teams on Sunday May 5 at the Eighth Annual Hilltop Awards. The show will take place at Presentation Theatre on campus.
Legendary Dons public address announcer and Don of the Year, Joe Hallisy, will lend his voice talents and serve as the master of ceremonies this year. Fans will be able to watch the entire awards show via Facebook live.
Athletes were nominated for the various awards by head coaches and staff. A selection committee determined the finalists for each award. The winners are selected in a vote of athletic department personnel. Student-athletes will present the awards to their peers.
Awards to be presented include the Bill Russell Award, honoring USF's male student-athlete of the year and the Anne Dolan Award, which is awarded to USF's top female student-athlete who has distinguished herself in athletic competition.
The Four Pillars Award will be presented to a male and female graduating senior who has attained the highest standards of athletic performance, academic achievement, community service and leadership.
The Dante Benedetti Award, named after USF's legendary longtime baseball coach, will be presented to the male and female student-athlete who serves as inspiration to their teammates through their unwavering sense of loyalty, self-sacrifice, unselfishness, positive attitude and hard work.
The Newcomer of the Year will be awarded to a male and female student-athlete who has excelled in in athletic competition during their first year on the Hilltop.
The Stephen Privett, S.J. Award will be presented to a student-athlete who has demonstrated a higher commitment to learning and social justice through their outstanding work in the community. The award is named in honor of the 27th president of the University of San Francisco, whose 13-year tenure was distinguished by a commitment to "whole person education," a traditional hallmark of Jesuit education.
The Spirit of '51 Award will be 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 dramatic stand against racism is perhaps the single greatest symbolic victory in the history of college sports.
USF will also recognize a male and female student-athlete who displays maximum effort on and off the field of competition while bringing out the best in their teammates through a consistent commitment to performance enhancement with the Carpe Diem Award.
The Charles Harney Award will be presented to the senior student-athletes who have maintained the highest grade point average during their tenure at the University.
Student-Athletes of the Year for each sport as selected by their coaches will also honored as their team's most valuable. In addition to the student-athlete awards, a Spirit Award will be given to a member of USF's dance team and a Student Athletic Trainer of the Year will be rewarded for their behind-the-scenes work throughout the season to help keep the Dons in top competitive shape.
New this year will be the Cheer Award which honors one Cheer Squad veteran who represents USF, Dons Athletics, and the cheer team. Also new this year will be the Athletic Director for Overall Excellence which will be awarded annually at the discretion of the Director of Athletics. This award is given for overall excellence and to a student who best exemplifies the USF philosophy of "Change the World From Here."
2018-19 Hilltop Awards and Finalists:
Athletic Performance Carpe Diem Award
Winners selected by Hilltop Awards Committee
Newcomer of the Year
Female
Annika Borrelli (Women's Golf)
Sadi Henderson (Cross Country and Track)
Dana Klein (Cross Country and Track)
Kathya Garcia (Women's Volleyball)
Moana To'oto'o (Beach Volleyball)
Rita Colyer (Women's Tennis)
Catherine Hill (Women's Soccer)
Male
Chris Olley (Men's Cross Country)
Christopher Palsson (Men's Golf)
Cameron Martin (Men's Soccer)
Nitzan Ricklis (Men's Tennis)
Stephen Privett, S.J. Award
Men's Tennis Team
Women's Tennis Team
Camille Araujo (Volleyball)
Alex Chin (Men's Golf)
Aaron McNelis (Men's Soccer)
Matt McCarthy (Men's Basketball)
Charles Harney Award
Winners determined by GPA achieved
Dante Benedetti Award
Female
Lizzie Bird (Cross Country)
Emily Zinger (Volleyball)
Madelyn LaFollette (Beach Volleyball)
Catherine Hill (Women's Soccer)
Hanna Borjeson (Tennis)
Male
Jason Kreske (Baseball)
Nitzan Ricklis (Tennis)
Alex Chin (Golf)
Alejandro Muñoz (Soccer)
Jordan Ratinho (Basketball)
Spirit of '51 Award
Winners selected by Hilltop Awards Committee
Four Pillars Award
Female
Samantha Lind (Cross Country and Track)
Margarita Treyes (Tennis)
Male
Ryan Marker (Tennis)
Jordan Hughes (Soccer)
Anne Dolan Award - Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year
Sadi Henderson (Cross Country and Track)
Dana Klein (Cross Country and Track)
Samantha Jehnings (Soccer)
Emily Maxfield (Tennis)
Bill Russell Award – Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year
Riley Ornido (Baseball)
Tim Widing (Golf)
Jack Rowe (Cross Country and Track)
Sean Bowman (Soccer)
Frankie Ferrari (Basketball)
Spirit Squad: Spirit Award
Winners selected by Hilltop Awards Committee
Cheer Squad: Cheer Award
Winners selected by Hilltop Awards Committee
Nicole Siegal Athletic Training Student of the Year
*Winners determined by USF training staff
