PITTSBURGH - Duquesne's student-athletes, coaches and support staff celebrated the 2022-23 season at the first annual Dukes Awards Show at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse on Wednesday night.

The evening was highlighted by the announcement of multiple award winners:

STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Nominated by their respective coaches and voted on by athletic administrators, Student-Athlete of the Year awards are presented to triple threat student-athletes. Nominees must be a senior, have a GPA of 3.0 or above, must have participated with distinction in their sport and demonstrated a commitment to leadership and service.

LAURA EHRENBERGER (track & field)

• 4.0 GPA in Pharmacy
• Two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-American (2023 pending)
• Multi-year CSC Academic All-District
• Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team
• Listed among the Top 5 indoors and outdoors in three events, including the 4x1500m school record
• Has scored at both the Atlantic 10 Indoor and Outdoor Championships
• Two-time ECAC Outdoor Qualifier
• Has long term leadership roles in the Rho Chi Honor Society, Operation Diabetes, Operation Heart and Penn Society of Health Systems Pharmacists

DOMENIC NASCIMBEN (soccer)

• 3.86 GPA in International Relations and International Security Studies
• First Team All-Atlantic 10 goalkeeper
• Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team
• College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
• United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Third Team
• Ranked seventh nationally in both save percentage and total saves
• Represented student-athletes as a member of both Duquesne SAAC and the Atlantic 10 Conference SAAC

THE BLUFF CUP
Awarded in recognition of the athletic team which demonstrates outstanding service, support and participation in the community.

WOMEN'S ROWING

• Amassed over 100 service hours
• Served hot meals and prepped non-perishable foods
• Cleaned riverbanks
• Distributed food and essential items to the homeless
• Worked with 412 Rescue and volunteered to paint the walls at the new Refuge for Women on the South Side

LEADERSHIP AWARD
Acknowledges a student-athlete who exemplifies leadership and is an outstanding representative of Duquesne Athletics.

MADISON DICKERT (swimming and diving)

• Served as an advocate for students and for those who forget they have a voice. Madison's passion and efforts focused on mental health advocacy and ensuring student-athletes on campus and those within the Atlantic 10 Conference have access and know their available resources.

STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Created by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and voted on by student-athletes.

SPENCER DADDARIO (athletic training)

• From SAAC: "Spencer always goes out of his way to make sure every player is ready, comfortable and healthy for games and practices. His office is always open for any of our needs or just to talk. He always shows how much he cares about our teams."

THE DUKE
Created by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and voted on by student-athletes, The Duke is presented to the student-athlete who embodies the Mission of Duquesne Athletics through a commitment to the department, leadership, and camaraderie. Nominees "bleed" blue and red and showcase the true spirit of a Duquesne student-athlete.

HALEY HAMILTON (cross country)

• From SAAC: "Haley is always willing to go the extra mile and is the definition of commitment, all in the spirit of humility. As a PA major, Haley balances a heavy academic schedule while consistently demonstrating grit, resilience and perseverance, whether in runs, workouts or competition."

UNSUNG HERO
Created by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and voted on by student-athletes, the Unsung Hero Award is presented to the student-athlete who has positively influenced a program through accomplishments that may not be measured in a record book, recognizing a positive attitude, selflessness, and leadership.

KENDALL DONATI (lacrosse)

• From SAAC: "Kendall doesn't concern herself with stats and playing time. She focuses on keeping practice competitive and creating a great environment around her."

MERLE E. GILLIAND AWARD
Named in honor of  the retired Chairman and Chief Executive of PNC Bank - and namesake of DU's Academic Center - the Merle E. Gilliand Award is presented to a student-athlete who exhibits outstanding commitment to developing academically, competitively, and in career preparedness via internship or job placement.

TORI KOCSIS (track)

• Earned a 4.0 GPA in her graduate work. A magna cum laude graduate with a BS in Biomedical Engineering with minors in Math and Biochemistry, Tori earned an MS in Biomedical Engineering with the Thesis: Labeling Melanoma cells with black microspheres for improved sensitivity in detection with photoacoustic flow cytometry.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Created by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and voted on by student-athletes, the Newcomer of the Year Award is presented to the student-athlete who has made an immediate impact at Duquesne in their first year of intercollegiate competition (includes freshmen and redshirts).

ASK EKELAND (soccer)

• From SAAC: "An All-Rookie and First Team Atlantic 10 All-Conference pick, Ask's presence in the midfield supplied not only eight goals but needed consistency. In addition to his playing ability, he always demands more from his teammates and sets a positive example on and off the field."

NCAA MEDALLIONS
In addition to the individual awards, NCAA medallions were presented to National Championship qualifiers Kiearra Saldi (bowling) and Amy Read (diving).