Eight Student-Athletes Honored at Awards Reception

Eight seniors were honored Tuesday evening at Boston University’s annual student-athlete awards reception, held at the Metcalf Trustee Center. Leading the way were All-Americans Andrea Walkonen (SAR’09) of the cross-country and track and field teams, who received the Mildred Barnes Award, given to the year’s top female athlete, and Matt Gilroy (MET’09) of the men’s ice hockey team, who received the Mickey Cochrane Award, given to the year’s top male athlete.

The E. Ray Speare and Gretchen Schuyler awards, given to the top male and female scholar-athletes, were awarded to Dan Schultz (CAS’09) of the men’s soccer team and Marisha Schumacher-Hodge (CAS’09) of the women’s soccer team. Softball standout Christy Leath (SAR’09) was named the 2009 BU Woman of the Year, while Caroline Bourdeau (CGS’07, COM’09) of the women’s ice hockey team and John McCarthy (CAS’09) of the men’s ice hockey team received the John B. Simpson Award, given to seniors to acknowledge enthusiasm and leadership. David Barth (CAS’09) of the men’s track and field team received the Student-Athlete Service Award.

Walkonen is one of the most accomplished distance runners ever to compete for BU. She led the Terriers to a fourth consecutive indoor America East title and this spring qualified for the national championships in the 10,000-meter run at the Stanford Invitational, posting the fastest time in the nation to that point.

Gilroy capped off a decorated career with college hockey’s top honor, the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. Cocaptain of the 2009 national championship team, Gilroy was also named a first-team All-American. He is one of only three players in the program’s history to earn All-America honors three times.

Schultz cocaptained the 2008 America East regular-season and tournament champions and was named an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American. Schultz graduated in December with a 3.80 GPA, never missed a game in his four-year career, and made two appearances in the NCAA tournament.

Schumacher-Hodge, a midfielder for the 2008 America East champions, will graduate as a member of the first senior class to make four straight NCAA tournament appearances. A two-time America East Midfielder of the Year, she added the inaugural America East Fan’s Choice Player of the Year to her long list of accolades in 2009. Schumacher-Hodge earned a 3.53 GPA.

McCarthy was a crucial component of the Terriers’ run for their fifth national title in 2009. He recorded a career-best 29 points on 6 goals and 23 assists in his senior year and received the team’s Friends/Albert Sidd Unsung Hero Award.

Bourdeau has been with the women’s ice hockey team since its inception four years ago. She scored the program’s first goal four years ago and went on to post 15 goals and 20 assists throughout her career. A tenacious player, she earned the squad’s Spirit Award in each year of the program.

Over the past four years, Leath has blossomed as a leader both on and off the softball diamond. A three-time America East All-Conference honoree, she has a 3.49 GPA and expects to graduate cum laude.

Barth will leave his mark on BU not only as a student-athlete but also as a fervent supporter of other teams. Vice president of the Dog Pound, he helps promote and plan events having to do with BU Athletics.

Dalton, one of the finest players in BU lacrosse history, is still rewriting the record books. The Terriers’ all-time leading scorer, with 268 career points, including 231 goals, she set the Terriers’ single-game record with 8 goals. She is one of 25 nominees for the Tewaaraton Trophy, the top honor in collegiate lacrosse, for the second year in a row.