ECAC Awards and Honors

ECAC ANNOUNCES SIX ROBBINS SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD WINNERS

CAPE COD, Mass. - Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Commissioner Rudy Keeling announced today the six recipients of the ECAC Robbins Scholar-Athlete Awards. Sponsored by the Cincinnati-based sports surfaces company, the Robbins Scholar-Athlete Awards honor the outstanding academic and athletic achievements of student-athletes representing ECAC schools in Divisions I, II, and III. One male and one female student-athlete from each division are selected based on extraordinary achievements in academics, athletics, and community service.

This year's winners of the ECAC Robbins Scholar-Athlete Awards are Briana Stremick (United States Military Academy) and Jimmy Baron (University of Rhode Island) in Division I, Kyrie Timbrook (Caldwell College) and Patrick Cunningham (Dowling College) in Division II, and LeighAnn Burke (DeSales University) and John Kegelman (Johns Hopkins University) in Division III. They will receive their awards on Tuesday, October 6, during the ECAC Honors Luncheon presented by Jostens. The luncheon will be held at The Resort and Conference Center in Hyannis, Massachusetts during the 2009 ECAC Fall Convention and Trade Show.

Stremick, a United States Military Academy women's volleyball player, achieved many awards both on and off the court during her four years at West Point. The 2009 graduate was a four-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll member, had the highest GPA on the volleyball team and graduated 13th of 970 cadets that were commissioned second lieutenants in May. She earned a CQPA of 3.935, which combines military, physical and academic marks. Stremick earned a Distinguished Cadet Award for being in the top five percent of her class, along with being on the Dean's List/Gold Star of Academic Excellence.  During her senior year, Stremick was an ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA first team Academic All-American, Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and a Rhodes Scholarship finalist.  Stremick was also a member of the Phi Kappa Phi, Tau Beta Pi, and Golden Key Society national collegiate honor societies. In addition to her academic achievements, her athletic accomplishments are equally impressive. The two-time All-Patriot League volleyball selection ranked 30^th in the country averaging 0.52 aces per game during her junior year.  During her senior year, Stremick led the Black Knights in kills (3.03 kps) and finished her career with 1,039 kills to rank eighth all-time. Also, she ranked second on the team in hitting percentage (.281), aces (30) and blocks (0.74 bps). Stremick finished her career with 200 blocks ranking her ninth in school history. She was part of a senior class that produced the top two winning percentages in school history back-to-back, along with helping Army post a 92-23 record during her time at West Point. 

Baron, a guard on the University of Rhode Island men's basketball team, has had many great accomplishments during his college career. Baron finished his senior year with 1,768 points ranking him fifth on the URI's all-time scoring list. He connected on 361 three-point field goals ranking him first all-time at URI and in Atlantic 10 history. The 361 three-p oint field goals rank him 25^th all-time in NCAA history. Baron also owns the top three single-season three-point field goals made record in URI history (118 (2008-09); 99 (2007-08); 97 (2006-07)). Also, Baron had a 43.1% career three-point field goal average, ranking him third all-time in URI history along with 570 career field goals, positioning him in tenth all-time in URI history. His 90.4% career free throw percentage gives him the top spot in Rams history. Other accolades Baron has earned include: 2008-09 Atlantic 10 All-Conference first team selection, 2008-09 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award First Team All-American, and the Albert LeBoeuf Award, presented to the most outstanding male student-athlete who has been a role model, while maintaining a good academic standing. Academic honors Baron has collected during his college career include: ESPN The Magazine second team Academic All-America selection, five-time member of the URI's Dean's List, and three-time Atlantic 10 All-Academic team selection. Baron has recently signed a professional basketball contract and will be playing in Turkey this season.

Timbrook, a senior first baseman and catcher for Caldwell College women's softball t eam, has collected many accolades during her collegiate career. On the diamond, Timbrook led the Cougars in batting average (.364), hits (63), doubles (19), homers (four), total bases (94), and slugging percentage (.543). Her performance last year helped the team advance to the CACC Championship and the NCAA Super Regionals. In addition, Timbrook has earned All-CACC first team honors in 2008 and 2009, along with being chosen on the Daktronics All-Region second team and the NFCA All-East Region second team. Her hard work in the classroom has notched her a spot on the CACC All-Academic team twice.  She has also been on the Dean's List and received recognition as a Caldwell Scholar Athlete. 

Cunningham, a 2009 graduate from Dowling College, was a defender on the men's soccer team. Graduating with an accounting degree and a 3.90 grade-point average, he has been honored with many awards both on and off the soccer field. Last November, Cunningham was named the Teachers Federal Credit Union Scholar-Athlete of the Month. He was also named to the ESPN the Magazine/CoSida Academic All-America District I first team and the ECC All-Conference first team. In 2008, Cunningham was named the East Coast Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was also a NSCAA Team Academic Award recipient.  On the field, the starting defender helped the Golden Lions participate in the NCAA National Championship game during their 2008 season. During his senior year, he was placed on the ECC All-Conference first team and was named to the 2008 Final Four All-Tournament team.

Burke, a guard on the women's basketball team at DeSales University has earned many academic and athletic achievements since arriving on the Bulldog campus.  Her four years at DeSales had led her to a successful academic career, allowing her to earn many awards including: Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation (MASCAC) Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year; ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District first team; ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America second team; and Jostens Trophy Finalist. In addition, Burke is a three-time member of the MAC Winter Academic Honor Roll and received the Presidential Excellence award four times. On the court Burke's achievements have been highly noticed as well.  The two-time DeSales University Female Athlete of the Year ranks second all-time in scoring at DeSales with 1,908 points. As a senior, Burke was a WBCA and D3hoops.com first team All-American. In addition, Burke is a two-time Freedom Conference Player of the Year, a two-time D3hoops.com Mid-Atlantic Regional Player of the Year and two-time ECAC South Region Player of the Year.  During her junior year, Burke earned D3hoops.com second team All-America honors.

Kegelman, a breaststroke and relays swimmer on the Johns Hopkins University men's swimming team, graduated with a 4.0 grade-point average in mechanical engineering. His academic success has allowed him to become a 2009 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient.  In addition, he has also received the Dr. William Howard Award, presented to the top senior student-athlete at Johns Hopkins who excels in academics and athletics. In athletics, Kegelman helped Johns Hopkins to three top 10 finishes at the NCAA Division III Men's Swimming and Diving Championships, including a 2008 second place finish.  His hard work earned him the spot as a two-time team captain and five-time All-American, where he earned first team All-American honors in the 200 and 400 medley relays as a senior. Kegelman was also an ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA first team Academic All-American and the men's college division at-large Academic All-American of the Year.