2012 Athletics Awards Banquet Program (PDF)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Athletics and
Recreation Department held its annual All Sports Banquet on
Tuesday, May 1st, honoring various teams and players as well as
Director of Athletics, John Harper, who is
retiring in July.
"I was touched and surprised about all of it," Mr. Harper said of
the tributes and accolades that were heard throughout the program.
"I want you to know how lucky I have been to have had all of you as
colleagues and friends over the years."
Along with the presentation of a special gift, the university named
the Athlete of the Year Award of Mr. Harper. "It is an awesome
gesture and I will be forever grateful," he said.
Mr. Harper has been director of Athletics and Recreation since
1991, overseeing unprecedented growth of facilities and all facets
of 21 men's and women's varsity programs, intramurals, club sports
and general campus recreation. He will leave his post effective
July 31. Attending the banquet was Mr. Harper's wife, Ann, son,
Jonathan, and grandchildren, Clayton and Skyler. (His son Jason was
unable to attend.)
President Dana Mohler-Faria was on hand to present
the John C. Harper Award to standouts Shelly
DePina (basketball) and Corey Batista
(baseball).
Other major award winners were Scholar Athlete of the Year,
Michaela Ferreira (softball), Sarah
Lagasse (cross country/track), Corey
Ryser (basketball); Rookie of the Year, Alana
Watkins (basketball) and Blaise Branch
(football); Lee Harrington Unsung Hero Award, Erin
Quimby (lacrosse) and Jeff Sousa (cross
country/track); Athletic Trainer of the Year, Matthew
Chatham (undergraduate) and Jose Alvarez
(graduate); and the Student-Athlete Leadership Award,
Carrie Robitaille (soccer/track and field) and
Andrew Corley (track and field).
Also honored were more than 170 student-athletes who maintained a
GPA of 3.3 or greater, as well as the 2011-12 team captains and
senior student-athletes/trainers.
Senior Danielle Nadeua earned the Award of
Appreciation for her work with Mike Donovan, home events
coordinator. She assists in the overseeing of the scoreboards,
field set up, sideline workers, PA announcers and more.
Also in attendance were President Emerita Adrian
Tinsley, who presented the award for scholar-athletes that
bears her name; BSU Trustee Chairman Louis
Ricciardi, '81; and Mary Lou Thornburg,
vice chair of the BSU Foundation. Former BSU administrators
Lynn Willett and Dick Cost
returned to join in on the tributes for Mr. Harper.