Second Annual Senior Banquet Held

STORRS, Conn. (May 10, 2008) --- The University of Connecticut Division of Athletics and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee held its Second Annual Senior Banquet on Saturday, May 10, 2008, in the Student Union Ballroom on the UConn campus. Dinner emcees B.J. Bayers and Ashley Mitchelides along with Leah Giffin and Bill Shults. (right)

The event, held the night before the University’s commencement, is a chance for senior student-athletes from all sports to celebrate their graduation with Division of Athletics staff and fellow senior Huskies.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Bill Shults Senior Service Award. This award is named after the former UConn associate athletic director who made community service by student-athletes a hallmark of his career at the school. Shults now works at Florida State University.

The Shults award is presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the University and local communities through academic integrity, athletic dedication, community and campus involvement, leadership, attitude and work ethic.

This year’s winners were Michael Clifford (West Islip, N.Y.) of the men’s swimming and diving team and Leah Giffin (Manlius, N.Y.) of the women’s lacrosse team.

Clifford enjoyed a successful diving career as a husky and was a team captain. He was a learning group leader for two years, as well as a three-year member of the enrichment team for the swimming and diving program. He is a member of the New York National Guard and is a squad leader and is also a member of the UConn ROTC.

Swimming and diving coach Bob Goldberg accepts Shults award for Michael Clifford. (left)

Giffin (left) has been involved in a number of environment friendly initiatives, including writing a series of essays to Coca-Cola that won recycling bins for Gampel Pavilion. She has participated in Lobby Day and Powershift Conference and is an officer of the Eco-Husky group on campus. Giffin is a four year member of the SAAC and has served as social chair. 

The other finalists for the Shults Award were Brittany Hunter (Columbus, Ohio) of the women’s basketball team, Julius James (Maloney Gardens, Trinidad) and Louis Jones (Jackson, Miss.) of the men’s soccer team and Olga Solovyova (New London, Conn.) of the rowing team.

Junior B.J. Bayers (St. Louis Park, Minn.) of the men’s ice hockey team and junior Ashley Mitchelides (Hudson, Ohio) of the women’s lacrosse served as masters of ceremony.

Former UConn baseball coach and current Director of Alumni and Community Affairs for the football program Andy Baylock (left) addressed the seniors as did former men’s basketball student-athlete Murray Williams (bottom).