DETROIT (3/30/2016) -- The University of Detroit Mercy held its annual Honors Convocation on Sunday, March 20, and the Titan student-athletes came away with a plethora of awards.

"I am extremely happy for all of these student-athletes and what they continue to accomplish in the classroom," said Amy Gasahl '11 (MBA), Director of Athletic Academics, SA Welfare & Eligibility. "Being a student-athlete is one of the most challenging decisions any student can make, and when you see all these Titans honored for their achievements, it shows the commitment we have to academics and athletics here at the University."

The biggest honor on the day was given to senior women's soccer player Sara Zawacki as she was selected the 2016 Valedictorian.

Zawacki was also a Leadership Medallion recipient for the College of Health Professions/McAuley School of Nursing and was the winner of the Catherine McAuley Award winner. 

Women's lacrosse senior Kylie Birney earned a number of awards, including the John Daniels Student Servant Leader of the Year, the College of Business Administration's Leadership Medallion, Management Award and the Business Administration Award. She was also accepted into the Kappa Gamma Pi National Catholic College Graduate Honor Society and received the Beta Gamma Sigma Award. 

Women's soccer senior Tatum Zurawski earned the American Chemical Society Award, while senior teammate Martha Dunbar was the winner of the John Uicker Award. 

Softball junior Arriana Acuna earned the Lee Holmberg Student Achievement Award and men's lacrosse sophomore Pat Masterson garnered the Detroit Historic Memorial Award as well as the Dean's Gold Key Award. 

Below is a list of all the student-athlete and spirit squad award winners at this year's Honors Convocation.

Valedictorian
(The student who has demonstrated academic excellence by achieving a 3.7 or higher GPA, University involvement, service and leadership and will have the honor of delivering the valedictory address)
Sara Zawacki – Women's Soccer

Kappa Gamma Pi National Catholic College Graduate Honor Society
(Membership in Kappa Gamma Pi, the national Catholic college graduate Honor Society, is awarded to students whose lives exemplify in leadership, scholarship, faith and service)
Kylie Birney – Women's Lacrosse

Leadership Pin from the College of Business Administration Candidates With Award Given Out April 15
(Ongoing involvement in student organizations, spirituality workshops, leadership workshops, and 125 hours of community service)
Irina Slizovskaya – Women's Tennis
Sarah Montone – Women's Golf
Rachel Joseph – Pep Band

Leadership Medallion Award
(Has met the requirements of the Leadership Pin and has additional involvement in student organizations, spirituality retreats, complete leadership coursework and 250 hours of community service)
Kylie Birney – Women's Lacrosse (College of Business Administration) 
Sara Zawacki – Women's Soccer (McAuley School of Nursing)

John Daniels Student Servant Leader of the Year
(The student has shown outstanding growth throughout their undergraduate career at UDM and has distinguished him/herself by exemplary commitment in the role of servant leader)
Kylie Birney – Women's Lacrosse 

Beta Alpha Psi Certificate
(A certificate of merit presented to Beta Alpha Psi (Alpha Xi Chapter) to a graduating member demonstrating an optimum record of service to the University and high scholastic achievement)
Andy Hebden – Men's Lacrosse
Rosanna Reynolds – Women's Basketball
Austin Wigent - Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Colleen Kurecka - Pep Band

Finance Award
(An award presented to an outstanding graduating senior and to an outstanding graduate student in Finance who have demonstrated outstanding scholastic achievement and show exceptional promise as scholars in this field)
Matt Harkema – Men's Soccer

Management Award 
(An award presented to an outstanding senior and to an outstanding graduate student in Management who have demonstrated outstanding scholastic achievement and show exceptional promise as scholars in this field)
Kylie Birney – Women's Lacrosse 

Beta Gamma Sigma Award
(An award presented by Beta Gamma Sigma (Beta of Michigan Chapter) to a graduating member in recognition of outstanding academic achievement)
Kylie Birney – Women's Lacrosse 

Business Administration Award
(A certificate presented annually by the Dean of College of Business Administration to graduating students in Business Administration in recognition of outstanding academic achievement in the College)
Kylie Birney – Women's Lacrosse 
Matt Harkema – Men's Soccer
Austin Wigent - Men's Cross Country/Track & Field

Global Jesuit Business Student Association Award
(Students attending Jesuit Business schools worldwide, through their personal and professional ventures, are committed to enriching the communities in which they live and work as well as establishing the benchmark for socially responsible organizations)
Colleen Kurecka – Pep Band

Dean's Award
(A certificate awarded to graduating seniors having an optimum record of student leadership and service to the College of Business Administration)
Katy Severson - Softball

Dean's Leadership Key
(A key given annually to a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership and involvement in University approved co-curricular activities and, at the same time, has maintained overall academic excellence)
Colleen Kurecka – Pep Band

Rev. Gerald F. Cavanagh, S.J, Endowed Scholarship
(Established by UDM alumni, faculty, and friends to honor Fr. Cavanagh, the Rev. Gerald F. Cavanagh, S.J. Endowed Scholarship provides support of an undergraduate business major in the College of Business Administration who engages in the most meaningful service-learning experience as determined by the College of Business Administration, maintaining good academic standing and demonstrating financial need)
Alexis Steixner – Cheer

American Chemical Society Award
(A plaque presented by the Department of Biology to the graduating senior Chemistry and Biochemistry major having the highest scholastic average in the field of chemistry)
Tatum Zurawski – Women's Soccer

Tau Beta Pi 
(A plaque presented to the full-time sophomore (second year) engineering student who has attained the highest overall quality point ratio in his/her academic studies)
Molly Laird – Women's Golf

John J. Uiker Award
(A plaque presented to the Mechanical Engineering student having the highest scholastic standing in upper division courses.  John J. Uicker began his career at the College as Instructor in 1941 and rose to Professor and Acting Dean.  He retired as Professor Emeritus in 1973)
Martha Dunbar – Women's Soccer

Lee Holmberg Student Achievement Award
(Lee Holmberg taught by example how to manage multiple priorities, and the award is given to the HSA student who demonstrates his ideals)
Arriana Acuna - Softball

Summative Leadership Awards - Catherin McAuley Award
(Selected by faculty and awarded to the students who exemplify the mission of the University and the McAuley School of Nursing through excellence in academics, leadership in clinical practice and community service.  The awards are named for esteemed leaders in professional nursing education and practice)
Sara Zawacki – Women's Soccer

Detroit Historic Memorial Award
(Presented to a History major by the Historic Memorial Society in Detroit for outstanding achievement in the study of American history)
Pat Masterson – Men's Lacrosse

Accounting Award
(An award presented annually to an outstanding graduating senior and to an outstanding graduate student in Accounting in recognition of outstanding academic achievement)
Rebecca Mallender - Women's Golf '15

Dean Scholar Awards
(In recognition of scholastic achievement with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 for a minimum of 30 credit hours of undergraduate course work completed while earning their first undergraduate degree)
Mackenzie Maniaci – Dance Team
Nicole Rago – Dance Team
Samantha Torres – Dance Team
Sara Zawacki – Women's Soccer

Scholar Key Awards
(Scholar Key Awards are given as following: Freshman with 12-31 credit hours must have a 4.0.  Sophomores with 32-62 credit hours much have a 3.9 or above.  Juniors with 63-94 credit hours much have 3.8 or above.  Seniors with 95 or more credit hours must have a 3.8 or above)

Jordan Manno (Fr.) - Softball
Nathaniel Nunez (Fr.) – Men's Track & Field
Molly Laird (So.) – Women's Golf
Nawrooz Putris (So.) - Cheer
Ben Kendell (So.) - Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Jenny Ponkowski (So.) - Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Hannah Susick (So.) – Pep Band
Carley Rice (Jr.) – Women's Soccer
Liz Stahl (Jr.) – Dance Team
Kaitlan Vossen (Jr.) – Women's Soccer
Julie Castner (Jr.) – Women's Lacrosse
Ryan Leahy (Jr.) - Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Natalie Peterson (Jr.) - Women's Track & Field
Sandra Pui (Jr.) – Pep Band
Martha Dunbar (Sr.) – Women's Soccer
Tatum Zurawski (Sr.) – Women's Soccer

Dean's Gold Key Award
(Presented annually to honor freshmen with at least 15 hours in residence who have achieved a 4.0 grade point average, sophomores and juniors with 30 or more hours in residence who have achieved at least a 3.90 grade point average and seniors with 30 or more hours in residence who have achieved at least a 3.80 grade point average)

Sarah Hirschmann (Fr.) – Women's Soccer
Phylisha Drayton (So.) – Women's Soccer
Rachel Joseph (Sr.) - Pep Band
Mary LeAnnais (Sr.) – Women's Soccer
Pat Masterson (Sr.) – Men's Lacrosse

Dean's Award
(Presented to undergraduate students who are not Dean's Gold Key awardees and have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher through Term I of this academic year)

Kye Dozier (Fr.) – Women's Track & Field
Allison McDonough (Fr.) – Women's Lacrosse
Bo Pickens (Fr.) - Men's Lacrosse
Annmarie Taylor (Fr.) – Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Savvy Ferstle (So.) – Softball
Taylor Smith (So.) - Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Aubrey Formica (Jr.) – Women's Soccer
Alyssa James (Jr.) – Softball
Greg Marzec (Jr.) – Men's Lacrosse
Paul Bitetti (Sr.) – Men's Lacrosse
Christopher Clark (Sr.) - Pep Band
Alex Mendonca (Sr.) – Men's Soccer

Dean's Honor Certificate
(A certificate presented annually by the Dean of the college Business Administration to Business Administration students who have earned at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average for all previous work taken at the University of Detroit Mercy)
Connor Bennardo (Fr.) – Men's Lacrosse
Emmett Green (Fr.) – Men's Lacrosse
Sam Horton - (Fr.) – Men's Lacrosse
Molly Kane (Fr.) – Women's Soccer
Emily Rapp (Fr.) – Women's Fencing
Natalie Vizard (Fr.) – Women's Track & Field
Mark Anstead (So.) – Men's Lacrosse
Charlie Felton (So.) – Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Nicole Fitch (So.) – Women's Fencing
Grant Harrison (So.) – Men's Soccer
Tyler Hughes (So.) – Men's Soccer
Eric Macrow (So.) – Men's Golf
Spiro Pliakos (So.) – Men's Soccer
Kyle Beauregard (Jr.) – Men's Lacrosse
Adam Clauss (Jr.) – Men's Soccer
Matt DeVries (Jr.) – Men's Soccer
William Coderre (Jr.) – Pep Band
Devynne Davis (Jr.) – Cheer Team
Matt Harkema (Jr.) – Men's Soccer
Anna Mindling (Jr.) – Women's Soccer
Sarah Montone (Jr.) – Women's Golf
Tyler Moorman (Jr.) – Men's Soccer
Annelise Niermann (Jr.) – Women's Lacrosse
Haleigh Ristovski (Jr.) – Women's Basketball
Alexis Steixner (Jr.) – Cheer Team
Kylie Birney (Sr.) – Women's Lacrosse
Tommy Bowman (Sr.) – Men's Soccer
Aaron Knutson (Sr.) – Men's Golf
Valeryia Kulikovskaya (Sr.) – Women's Tennis
Colleen Kurecka (Sr.) - Pep Band
Jason Leslie (Sr.) – Men's Soccer
Christa McGahuey (Sr.) – Softball
Ellyn Nedwicki (Sr.) – Women's Soccer
Chris Perry (Sr.) – Men's Soccer
Rosanna Reynolds (Sr.) – Women's Basketball
Irina Slizovskaya (Sr.) – Women's Tennis
David Thompson (Sr.) – Men's Golf
Austin Wigent (Sr.) – Men's Cross Country/ Track & Field

Scholar Certificate Awards
(Scholar Certificate Awards are given as follows: Freshman with 12-31 credit hours much have a 3.75 to 3.99.  Sophomores with 32-62 credit hours much have a 3.75 to 3.89.  Juniors with 63-94 credit hours must have a 3.75 to 3.79.  Seniors with 95 or more credit hours much have a 3.75 to 3.79)
Morgan Girardi (Fr.) – Women's Lacrosse
Anna Fredal (So.) - Dance Team
Devan Schulert  (So.) – Men's Golf

Presidential Scholar
(Students who have completed the Honors Program, volunteered a minimum of 100 hours of community service, and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.75)
Colleen Kurecka – Pep Band