FGCU Athletics celebrated a stellar year and spotlighted outstanding student-athletes Monday night during the annual Senior Send-Off and Awards Ceremony.
Swimmer Emma Svensson and softball player Kelsey Carpenter shared the prestigious Eagle Scholar-Athlete Award, the highest honor FGCU bestows upon a graduating student-athlete. Presented by FGCU President Dr. Wilson G. Bradshaw, the award recognizes students who combine athletic and academic success (a minimum 3.20 GPA) with community service.
Svensson and Carpenter were both inducted into the FGCU Hall of Fame earlier this month.
Men’s tennis senior Jordi Vives was also recognized as a finalist for the award.
The Eagle Team Spirit Award went to the men’s cross country team, which finished fourth to tie its best-ever showing at the Atlantic-Sun Championship. The group consistently can been seen not only supporting other teams but volunteering on campus and throughout the community.
The Stanley “Butch” Perchan Award, previously named the Green and Blue Award, is annually bestowed upon a staff member who personifies the proverbial definition of someone who “bleeds Green and Blue.” Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh presented the 2015 honor to volleyball assistant coach Danny Mahy. He served as an assistant coach during the first two years of the program in 2004 and 2005 and returned in 2008.
Golfer Georgia Price and soccer player Melissa Arnold were co-recipients of the Community Service Award, which is presented annually to the student-athlete who best exemplifies FGCU Athletics’ dedication to volunteerism on campus and in the local community.
The Carl McAloose Spirit Award is given to at least one male and one female student-athlete who best exemplify the former athletics director’s spirit and love for FGCU Athletics, as well as dedication to their team and teammates. This year’s recipients were: tennis seniors Tianyu Bao and Michael Beiler; volleyball standout Gigi Meyer; tennis player Sarah Means; and Arnold.
The Duane Swanson Sr. Inspirational Award was presented to golfer Chelsea Guoynes. A senior, Guoynes had her career threatened by seizures but overcame the adversity throughout the year and ultimately helped lead the Eagles to a third-place finish at the A-Sun Championship – the team’s best-ever finish at the tournament.
For more details about the awards, go to http://www.fgcuathletics.com.