Seniors honored: Men's basketball player Mat Burridge, left, and women's swimmer Shelly Dann, right, earned the highest academic award given to Laker student-athletes in 2007. Burridge received the Donald Snygg Award and Dann earned the Oswego Woman Scholar Athlete Award. Both are presented to student-athletes who have completed at least two years in a varsity athletic program and maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.3 along with demonstrating athletic success. Burridge and Dann are pictured with Oswego State Athletic Director Timothy G. Hale. (Photo by Jim Russell)

Six Laker Student-Athletes Recognized at Honors Convocation

Oswego State student-athletes were a prominent part of the 2007 Oswego State Honors Convocation. Mat Burridge of the men's basketball team and Shelly Dann of the women's swimming and diving team received the top academic awards presented to Laker student-athletes.

Four other varsity team members were recognized with significant academic awards and scholarships at the convocation after effectively demonstrating a strong commitment to academics and varsity athletics.

Burridge received the Donald Snygg Award and Dann earned the Oswego Woman Scholar-Athlete Award. Both awards are presented to student-athletes who have completed at least two years in a varsity athletic program, maintained a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.3, and demonstrated athletic success.

Burridge was an All-SUNYAC player for the men's basketball team and majored in childhood education and social studies. Dann was a SUNYAC champion in the pool and holds a conference record as a member of a relay team, and graduated with degrees in psychology and public justice. She was also a recipient of the prestigious SUNY Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence.

Kelly Bootier of of the women's lacrosse team received the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Award. She majored in childhood education and Spanish, with minors in Spanish and athletic coaching. Bootier was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a Student-Athlete Mentor.

Caitlin Daniels, a goalie on the field hockey team who graduated with degrees in adolescent education and English, received the Georgia Barnes Scholarship Award.

Paul MacMahon of the men's swimming and diving team received the Emmet C. Stopher Calculus Award. He is an honors student majoring in biochemistry. MacMahon was also the vice president of the Shaun Cassidy Improv Comedy Troupe.

Joseph Turk, also of the men's swimming and diving team, received the David A. Campbell Memorial Fund. Turk majored in wellness management with a minor in athletic coaching and is an Eagle Scout.