Hartwick College

With a stellar performance on the field in the past week and a new Empire 8 record under her belt, Kristen Vaccarelli '25 of Dix Hills, N.Y., has been honored as the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association's Division III National Offensive Player of the Week. Each week, the IWLCA typically selects 8 players across all 3 NCAA Divisions, two from each division, and two from the NAIA. Of the pairs, one is selected for Offensive Player of the Week and the other is selected as Defensive Player of the Week. To be nominated for this great honor, players must show exemplary performances on the field worthy of national recognition. Vacarelli proved in the past week that she can perform at the top of Division III. Against the SUNY Poly Wildcats, Vaccarelli netted 6 goals and tallied 1 assist. In the next game against the Keuka College Wolves, she would add 5 more goals and 2 assists to her totals. In both games combined, she gathered an impressive 10 ground balls, 5 caused turnovers, and 18 draw controls. With her second goal against Keuka, Vaccarelli would make history by shattering an 11-year Empire 8 record for most career goals. Surpassing the previous record of 217, Vaccarelli now holds the new record with 221 goals. Vaccarelli also received her third Empire 8 Player of the Week honor this season for her standout performance.

Kristen Vaccarelli '25 of Dix Hills, N.Y., earned the Empire 8 Women's Lacrosse Co-Player of the Week honor on April 14, 2025. Vaccarelli was a force on both the offensive and defensive ends, recording nine goals and an assist, while picking up 12 ground balls and causing nine turnovers as Hartwick downed Russell Sage 14-4 and Alfred 19-4. She began the week with three goals, while causing eight turnovers in the win over Russell Sage and added six goals and seven points in the triumph over Alfred. It is her second E8 weekly honor of the season.

Colin August, a junior attack on the Hartwick College men's lacrosse team, was named to the USILA Division III Men's Lacrosse Team of the Week for the week of March 31. It is his second career USILA weekly honor. August, a native of Garrison, NY, scored five goals and added one assist to go along with a pair of round balls and caused turnover in Hartwick's 11-9 win over SUNY Brockport on March 29. August played a role in six of his team's 11 goals in the win, including three goals during a game-clinching 5-0 run over the second and third quarters.

Amanda Wilbur '25 of Watkins Glen, NY, was recognized as Hartwick College's representative for the Empire 8 Sportswoman of the Year Award on April 1. One member of each Empire 8 team was named that institution's representative on the 2024-25 Women's Swimming & Diving Sportsman of the Year Team. The Empire 8 Conference emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportswomen.

Three members of the Hartwick men's swimming and diving team have been named to the Academic All-District Team by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) for their success both in the pool and in the classroom. The honorees for the Hawks include Sebastian Knowles (Plano, TX), Bryce Rogers (Fulton, N.Y.), and Tyler LaDue (Fulton, N.Y.). All three of them have earned this recognition for the first time. Senior Sebastian Knowles competed in freestyle events and made an impact in the relays. In the Empire 8 Swim and Dive Championships, Knowles tallied several podium appearances. Knowles was also honored on the Empire 8 Fall 2024 President's List for his academic achievements, and he was also most recently named the 2024-25 Empire 8 Men's Swim and Dive Championship Torchbearer Award recipient, awarded to the student-athlete with the highest grade point average. Bryce Rogers, a sophomore, was a standout in butterfly and freestyle events. In the Empire 8 Swim and Dive Championships, Rogers secured a bronze medal in the 200 yard fly. Alongside his teammates, Rogers would take home 3 silver medals in the 800 freestyle relay, the 200 freestyle relay, and the 400 freestyle relay. He and his relay partners would also secure another bronze medal for the 400 medley relay. Rogers was also honored with spots on both the Empire 8 Fall 2024 and the Spring 2024 President's Lists. This season, junior Tyler LaDue competed in freestyle and breaststroke events as well as individual medley events. LaDue competed in over five different events at the Empire 8 Swim and Dive Championship, including the 200 yard breaststroke where he recorded a top ten finish. Most recently he has been honored on both the Fall 2024 and the Spring 2024 Empire 8 President's List. To qualify for All-District consideration, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically, hold at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA, and participate in at least 5 meets or rank top 8 in championships.

The Empire 8 has recently announced their selections for the 2024-25 Men's Swimming and Diving Championship All-Conference Teams, with Hartwick nearly sweeping Second-Team honors in the relay events. Sophomore Cameron Drake (El Cajon, Cal.) was a standout in distance freestyle events, securing a First-Team selection in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:34.94. Drake also was selected for First-Team in the 1650-yard freestyle, clocking in at 16:02.58, nearly 33 seconds ahead of his opponent. The 200-yard freestyle relay team-composed of Hassan Abdelwahed (New Hartford, N.Y.), Evan Nezat (Jacksonville, NC), Sebastian Knowles (Plano, TX), and Bryce Rogers (Fulton, N.Y)-clinched a Second-Team spot with a time of 1:26.54. Abdelwahed, Nezat, and Rogers-along with Drake-would also go on to make Second-Team in both the 400 and 800-yard freestyle relays, with times of 3:09.42 and 6:56.35, respectively. In the 200-yard medley relay, Owen James (St. Lutz, Fla.), Mahdi Behniaye (Hannibal, Mo.), Knowles, and Drake would make Second-Team with their time of 1:38.10. To qualify for Empire 8 All-Conference selection, student-athletes must have finished in the top two of an event at the Conference's Championship Meet, which was held February 19-22 from the Webster Aquatic Center. Winners of each event are named to First Team, while the Second Team is comprised of the first runner-up from each event. For more information, see the full Empire 8 release here.

Sebastian Knowles '25 of Plano, TX, was recognized as Hartwick College's representative for the Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year Award on April 1. One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2024-25 Men's Swimming & Diving Sportsman of the Year Team. The Empire 8 Conference emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen.

Timmy McQueeney of Wading River, NY, was recognized as Hartwick College's representative for the 2024 Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year Award on Nov. 12. This honor is awarded to one member of each institution that has distinguished themselves and consistently exhibits the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen.

Hunter Bulich of Catskill, NY, was recognized as the 2024 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Rookie of the Year on Nov. 12. This award is voted on by conference coaches. The first year forward enjoyed a stellar debut season with the Hawks, amassing eight points on three goals and two assists, ranking second amongst the team in both categories. Bulich played in all 17 matches this season, starting 13.

Michael Kuchinski of Owego, NY, was recognized as an Andrew B. Saxton Undergraduate Fellow in Computer Sciences during Hartwick College's annual Honors Convocation celebrated on May 1. A fellow is selected by the faculty in Hartwick's Computer Science Department to recognize outstanding achievement. Fellows serve as student assistants in their department and receive a tuition credit.

Baily Ernst won the Vice President's Purchase Prize.

Emily Heller took home the second annual President's Purchase Prize.

Hartwick College congratulates approximately 425 students who were named to the Fall 2024 Dean's List.

Hartwick College congratulates approximately 350 students who were named to the Spring 2024 Dean's List.

Hartwick College congratulates over 400 students who were named to Fall 2023 Dean's List.

Rishpa Baidya Named to Hartwick College's Spring 2023 Dean's List.

Hartwick College congratulates close to 350 students, including those from international backgrounds, who were named to Spring 2023 Dean's List.

Hartwick College congratulates close to 350 students, including those from international backgrounds, who were named to Spring 2023 Dean's List.

Hartwick College congratulates 211 students who received their academic degrees on May 18, 2024.

Hartwick College congratulates 250 students who received their academic degrees on May 20, 2023.

Sara VanValkenburg of Oneonta, NY was recognized with the Excellence in Education award during Hartwick College's annual Honors Convocation, celebrated on May 1. The award is presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to teacher preparation.

During the Hartwick College's Athletics Award Ceremony held in late spring, over 100 student-athletes received Philip S. Wilder Jr. Awards for Academic Distinction.

During Hartwick College's Athletics Award Ceremony held in late spring, over 100 student-athletes received the Philip S. Wilder Jr. Award for Academic Distinction.

Sarah Kipruto of Nairobi, Kenya, was recognized with multiple awards during Hartwick College's Honors Convocation on May 3. Kipruto was named a Faculty Scholar in Mathematics. Faculty Scholars have excellent academic records and have demonstrated an outstanding mastery of their discipline. Rising seniors are nominated by the faculty in their major departments on the basis of academic achievement, leadership and character. Kipruto was also awarded the Dr. Ronald M. Brzenk Endowed Scholarship. Established in his honor by former student John C. Doolittle, the scholarship is awarded to a continuing mathematics major for outstanding academic achievement and professional promise in mathematics or a mathematics-related career.

Tristani Makharashvili of Tbilisi, Georgia, was awarded a John Hartwick Scholarship (JCH), the highest distinction Hartwick can confer, during the College's Honor's Convocation on May 3. Established by the Hartwick College Board of Trustees in 1967 on the recommendation of then-president Frederick M. Binder, the award is given to rising seniors nominated by the faculty of their major departments and based on academic achievement, leadership and character. Students nominated to compete for the JCH Scholarship are named Faculty Scholars. From among the Faculty Scholars, six are selected by the College's Scholarship Awards Committee to receive the JCH Scholarships. Beginning in 1997, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the scholarship, each JCH Scholar receives a medallion, which is to be worn at commencement and other appropriate academic occasions. The names of this year's JCH scholars will join those of the 299 previous winners on a plaque located in the foyer of Hartwick's Stevens-German Library. In addition, each JCH Scholar receives a substantial tuition grant and an honored place among those who stand for the very best of Hartwick College. Makharashvili was named Faculty Scholar in Computer Science. All scholars have excellent academic records and have demonstrated an outstanding mastery of their respective disciplines. Rising seniors are nominated by the faculty of their major departments based on academic achievement, leadership, and character. Additionally, Makharashvili was presented with an Andrew B. Saxton Undergraduate Fellowship in Mathematics. A fellow is selected by the Hartwick faculty to recognize outstanding achievement. Fellows serve as student assistants in their major department and receive a tuition credit.

Chelsea Kotey of Accra, Ghana, was recognized as an Andrew B. Saxton Undergraduate Fellow in Biochemistry during Hartwick College's Honors Convocation on May 3. Fellows are selected by the Hartwick faculty to recognize outstanding achievement. They serve as student assistants in their major department and receive a tuition credit.