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May 5, 2007
BABSON PARK, Mass. - The Babson College Athletics Department held its 26th Annual Senior Awards Banquet on Saturday night, where a total of seven student-athletes were honored. Softball senior Andrea Cartullo (Holbrook, Mass.) was named Female Athlete of the Class, while swimming and diving senior Michael Stenman (Windsor, Conn.) was selected as the Male Athlete of the Class. Women's basketball senior Colleen Burke (Pittsfield, Mass.) and cross-country and track and field senior Sherwin Parkhurst (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) were named the Scholar-Athletes of the Class, and women's soccer senior Caitlin Cronin (Hanover, Mass.) took home the Michael J. Conlon Award.
In addition to the senior awards, West Suburban Imaging was the recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Staake Award for to outstanding contributions to Babson Athletics, while a pair of first-year athletes were also honored. Women's soccer first-year Kayla Pomponi (Belmont, Mass.) received the Lori Vengrow Award, and men's ice hockey freshman Gabriel Chenard-Poirier (St. Augustin, Quebec) claimed the Colin "Chip" Brown Award.
Cartullo was honored as the Female Athlete of the Class after a magnificent career in which she helped lead the Babson softball team to back-to-back NEWMAC Championships and NCAA Tournament berths in 2005 and 2006. The Beavers' starting centerfielder and tri-captain will graduate as the program's all-time leader with 223 hits, 289 total bases, 137 runs scored, and 63 stolen bases. She also holds the single-season records for hits, runs, and steals, and with her recent selection to the All-NEWMAC First Team, she is the only player in Babson softball history to earn All-Conference honors four times in her career. Cartullo is also a two-time First Team All-New England selection, and in 2005 she was named to the NCAA New England Regional All-Tournament Team.
Stenman claimed Male Athlete of the Class honors after a brilliant four years in the pool for the men's swimming and diving team. A two-time captain and team MVP in each of the last two seasons, he will graduate as the school record holder in the 50, 100, and 200 breaststroke events. He finished in the top eight at the NEWMAC Championship in both the 100 and 200 breast in each of his four seasons, including three top-six finishes, and he qualified for selection to the national championships in the 200 breast during his sophomore season.
Parkhurst was named the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Class after a stellar career on the course, courts, and track, as well as in the classroom. A four-year member and two-time captain of the cross-country team, Parkhurst led the Beavers in average time in each of the last two seasons. As a junior, he became the first Babson runner to win a race since 1992 when he took first place at the Regis Invitational. He then won his second career race at the Gordon Invitational this past fall. Parkhurst also played men's tennis as a freshman and sophomore before switching to track and field, where he excelled in both the 5000 and 10000 meter events over the last two years. A team captain as a senior, he holds the third fastest time in program history in the 5000 and holds three of the top nine fastest times by a Babson runner in the 10000. Parkhurst also qualified for the NCAA New England Championships in the 10000 in each of the last two seasons. Academically, he posted a 3.70 grade point average, and was a key factor in the Babson men's cross-country squad earning Academic All-American honors as a team both in 2004 and 2006.
Burke was selected as the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Class following a terrific career as a four-year member of the women's basketball team. A mainstay in the Beavers' lineup throughout her career, she played in 103 of Babson's 106 games over the last four seasons, making 99 starts. She finished her career with 298 assists, which ranks fifth on Babson's all-time list, and she was a captain and team MVP during both her junior and senior seasons. Burke was named the Most Valuable Player at both the 2003 and 2005 Babson Invitation Tournaments, making her the only two-time MVP in the history of the tourney. This past winter, she was named All-NEWMAC Second Team and was selected to play in the New England Women's Basketball Association Senior All-Star Game. In 103 career games, Colleen averaged 5.9 points, 2.9 assists, and 4.2 rebound per game at the point guard position, while also recording a 3.44 grade point average in the classroom.
A four-year member of the women's soccer team, Cronin received the prestigious Michael J. Conlon Award, which is presented each year to the senior who best exhibits the qualities of leadership, integrity, loyalty, academic excellence, and, most importantly, a willingness to find the time to care for others. One of the team's three captains, Cronin enjoyed an outstanding senior campaign in which she led the Beavers in scoring with nine goals and six assists for 24 points, including three game-winning goals. As a result of her stellar play, she was named NEWMAC All-Conference First Team and All-New England Third Team at the conclusion of the season. During the presentation, she was also cited for her remarkable strength of character, selflessness, devotion to her teammates and coaches, and mental and physical toughness both on and off the field. In addition, Cronin was lauded for her contributions to the Babson community outside of athletics, which included involvement in the Women's Leadership Scholarship Program and the Babson Judicial Board.
Presented each year to a person or entity that shows outstanding support of Babson's Athletic programs, the Paul C. Staake Award went to West Suburban Imaging. A long-time partner with Babson's Sports Medicine Department, the Wellesley Hills-based company was honored for its help with Babson's MRI, x-ray, and other medical needs. The award was presented by the College's Director of Sports Medicine, Rick Burr.
A long-time Babson tradition, the Senior Awards Banquet also included a pair of first-year honorees. Pomponi was presented with the Lori Vengrow Award, which is given each year to a first-year female athlete that best represents the qualities of loyalty, selflessness, and positive attitude. The rookie striker had a stellar season for the Beavers this fall, finishing third on the team with four goals and five assists for 13 points. Presented with the award by assistant coach Nellie Pineault, Pomponi was praised for her optimism, team-first mentality, and outstanding academic accomplishments which included a 3.42 GPA.
Chenard-Poirier was honored with the Colin "Chip" Brown Award, which is presented each year to a male first-year athlete that best exhibits courage, mental toughness, and commitment to his team and school. A rookie member of the men's ice hockey team, Chenard-Poirier was instrumental in helping the Beavers claim their first ECAC East Championship since 1992 and their first NCAA Tournament big since 1993. A member of the defense, he led the team with a spectacular plus-minus rating of +20, including a +24 mark against teams with .500 records or better. The Quebec-native was also cited for his smooth and incredibly successful transition to life at Babson, despite the fact that English is his second language.