Charles Barnes - Bard College
Charles Barnes (Chappaqua, NY), a sophomore at Bard College who is the captain of the Men’s Cross Country team, was selected as the Male Award Winner. He is a fine ambassador and representative of Bard College on and off the trails. Being a tall runner, Charlie would stand out in a field of runners. This didn’t stop him. His never ending generosity and sense of humor was part of his reputation on the team. Other coaches would comment on his enthusiasm and outreach both before and after events. He would always extend a handshake or supportive word to the runners that he had scouted and knew he would be strategically vying for during each race. During the vacations at Bard, he would volunteer his time with a group from the institution that travels to New Orleans to assist with the clean up as a result of Hurricane Katrina. This past year, he worked on the grounds of an elementary school, which since that time has re-opened. Charlie is a valued member of the Bard’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and attended the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Conference in Pittsburg where he brought back some effective ideas for the SAAC to consider.

Christine Halter - D’Youville College
Christine Halter (Holley, NY), a sophomore at D’Youville College who plays on the Women’s Basketball team, was selected as the Female Award Winner.  She is a student-athlete who dominates not only on the court but off the court too. She is a three-sport athlete, playing volleyball, basketball and softball; the only D’Youville athlete that does so. Opposing coaches would say that their team would bump into Christine and if they got knocked down, she would apologize and pick them up. She is a great competitor and sportswoman. She never shows hostility towards opponents that try to be more physical with her, and there is never any trash talking or glaring at an opponent after she blocks a shot. Christine is active in the campus community, being a Resident Assistant in her dormitory. Her work has helped ease the transition to college, not only for herself but the freshman away from home for the first time too. Christine is studying Occupational Therapy and as only a sophomore, has taken a role in leading others around her.

Women’s Volleyball - Baptist Bible College
Baptist Bible College Women’s Volleyball Team, coached by Dave Shumaker was selected as the Women’s Team Winner. They have continually impressed the importance of positive behavior and team cohesiveness. During the season, the Bard Women’s Volleyball Team had to endure a tragic accident that killed their captain’s father. The death took an impact on their whole team and coaching staff, which supported the student’s return home on a personal leave of absence during the middle of the season and semester. The teams played each other a week later. Before the match began, the Baptist Bible players gave the Bard team a beautiful, personalized card that was signed by each player with special prayers and thoughts. This act is not unusual; the Baptist Bible team is known to give an outreach of support like they showed to Bard College.

Baptist Bible College
Baptist Bible College was selected as the Institutional Winner. Baptist Bible has displayed sportsmanship by the kind and generous hospitality offered to all visiting teams. They do not treat visiting teams as opponents; rather, they treat teams more like allies on the court or field. Baptist Bible is respectful, congenial, and very appreciative of other institutions in the conference. Tennis coaches, Kelly and Josh Arp are great role models for their student-athletes demonstrating how tennis is a lifetime sport. Men’s basketball coach, Mike Show is another example of sportsmanship; Mike always has a supportive word or comment for each of the opposing players. Women’s volleyball coach, Dave Schumaker, encouraged his team to support another conference team during tough times. Jim Huckaby is a wonderful example of a kind, generous, and honest human being; it is not surprising his staff exhibit such wonderful sportsmanship qualities since Jim is a lead-by-example Director of Athletics. Not just these coaches and administrators listed above but all staff members have demonstrated the utmost sportsmanship throughout their participation in the NEAC. We applaud your consistent and honest example of sportsmanship.

Christopher Warren - Villa Julie College
Christopher Warren (Largo, MD), a graduating senior for the Villa Julie College Mustangs faced personal and family tragedy with strength and conviction and continued to participate in basketball despite the odds he faced during his collegiate career.
In his first year at Villa Julie, Chris was faced with a very hard situation when his favorite cousin, Josh, was paralyzed before the basketball season was underway.  Chris did not know whether he should stay home and comfort his mourning family or carry on with his basketball career.  After spending a couple weeks in and out of the hospital consoling his cousin, Chris decided to return to school to continue playing basketball.  He said that he felt like “he was playing every game with a purpose and that he was dedicating his career to his cousin.”  Even though Chris’ first season did not go as planned, he looked at it through an optimistic view saying “this just means that I have to work harder on my game and leadership skills.”
In his second year, Chris’ hard work during the summer started to show immediately.  He became an instant leader and was the glue to a team that went 18-10.  Chris also faced hardship in his second season when one of his family members was murdered and another was shot.  Even though he was upset by the loss, he did not let that get in the way of his goals.  Chris maintained his composure during this stressful time to the extent that the majority of his teammates did not even that he was going through tough times.  Chris was still the same – picking people up when they made mistakes.  Chris wanted his team to be as successful as possible and he never made excuses for himself no matter how badly he was hurting.
In his junior season Chris sustained a very severe ankle sprain.  After extensive rehab, he was back in the starting line up after missing only 8 games.  This “warrior” attitude that he displayed was “contagious” and this is the personality that the team took for the rest of the year.
In his senior year, Chris led the team to their first NEAC Championship.  Chris never talks trash to the other teams, but is always the first one to reprimand one of his teammates if they are not doing their job; he never let anyone slack.  His motto was “I hate to see people waste the talent that God gives them.”

Alexis Mercado - Purchase College
Alexis Mercado (Bronx, NY), a captain for the Purchase College women’s volleyball team, graduated in 2007, but walks away from the school as one of the greatest to ever play for the Panthers.  A 2007 NEAC All-Conference selection, Mercado was one of the few bright spots for Purchase the past two seasons – a reality that almost wasn’t.  Alexis Mercado is thankful for many things since her near fatal car accident in November 2002 – most notably her passion for sports.  
While driving to school her freshman year, Mercado’s car started to shake and spun out of control.  The car crashed into a partition in the road and her head hit the windshield.  When an ambulance arrived, she flat lined, but EMS was able to revive Mercado.  She does not remember much of the accident, which occurred due to mechanical problems with the car, but she does remember waking up the next morning, praying for another chance to play the games she loved most: volleyball and softball.
Doctors told Mercado she would be sidelined for the next year due to injuries suffered in the car accident.  She slowly began rehabbing and working her body strength back.  The next spring, she played softball for the first time.
But, injuries kept coming – perhaps a residual of her near fatal accident.  In fall 2003, she snapped her ankle during the volleyball season and later that spring she finally tore cartilage in the same ankle during the softball season.  She was forced to have surgery.   Barely able to walk, Mercado, only a little over a year removed for the car accident began rehabbing another injury with hopes of getting back on the field.
She would play softball and volleyball the next year, lifting Purchase to the 2005 Hudson Valley Athletic Conference championship title in softball.
Everything appeared to be behind Mercado, but the injury bug kept coming back.  She broke her leg during a game in 2006 and was sidelined for the rest of the year.  She vowed yet another return and did so – better than ever before.
In the fall of 2006, Mercado led the Panthers in nearly every statistical category, garnering All-Conference for volleyball.  She was also named team MVP at the intercollegiate athletic awards dinner.  Mercado, who also endured some academic and personal problems during her college career, graduated this spring, and was named the Gloria Cimaglia Athletic Assistant of the Year for her work with the intercollegiate athletics program when she wasn’t excelling on the field of play, or in the classroom. Mercado has been an inspiration to all of her fellow student-athlete at Purchase and that her inspiring tale will life the hearts of any one in the NEAC.