Staten Island, NY – The Wagner College athletic department has announced its individual senior award winners and team MVPs for the 2014-2015 academic year. Kelsey Parker (Lynnwood, WA / Lynnwood) of softball, baseball player Anthony Battaglia (Staten Island, NY / St. Joseph By The Sea), water polo standout Jessica Burdge (Stockton, CA / St. Mary's), track and field's Matthew Kane (Horsham, PA/Hatboro-Horsham), and football player Phil Faccone (Brick, NJ / Brick Memorial), have each earned the highest student-athlete awards that are given annually out by the Seahawk athletic department.
 
The ECAC Merit Awards are bestowed to the graduating senior student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade point average (GPA), this year's ECAC winners were Parker, who earned a 3.905 GPA in Business Administration and Battaglia, 3.88 GPA. in Business Administration.
 
The Con Edison Scholar-Athlete Awards are given annually to the two seniors who best demonstrate the values of courtesy, concern, teamwork, honesty, and respect.
 
This year's Con Edison Female Student-Athlete of this year is Burdge, who earned a 3.694 GPA in Pyschology, while earning First-Team All-MAAC honors in leading the Seahawks (25-9, 10-2 MAAC) to their second straight MAAC championship. The senior attacker tallied 53 goals and 84 points on the season to place eighth and sixth, respectively, in the MAAC.
 
With Burdge helping to lead the way, Wagner finished the season tied for 18^th in the final Collegiate Water Polo Association's National Top 20 Poll, marking the first time in program history that the Seahawks have finished in the final Top 20 poll of the season.
 
Kane is the winner of the Con Edison Male Student-Athlete of the Year award after earning a 3.772 GPA in Psychology while setting the Seahawk records for the high and long jump this year with marks of 2.14m and 7.15m, respectively. In the process, Kane became the first Seahawk to surpass the seven-foot plateau with his leap of 2.14m (7'00.25") at the Fordham Christmas Classic (12/5/14). The Keystone State native then delivered a staggering long jump number of 7.15 meters at the Knight Invite (1/10/15).
 
Faccone, who boasts a 3.802 GPA in Sociology, is this year's recipient of the Hilton Garden Inn Community Service Award. In addition to earning Second-Team All-American honors by the Sports Network, the senior long-snapper was among the 22 members named to the prestigious AFCA Good Works Team® that was honored at halftime of January's Sugar Bowl Bowl in New Orleans, LA. The AFCA Good Works Team® recognizes and pays tribute to a select group of student-athletes who have worked to positively impact the lives of others. The 22 players honored with this distinct recognition have not only dedicated their time to succeeding on the field, but have made a commitment to enriching the lives of others while contributing to the greater good of their communities.
 
During his impactful tenure on Grymes Hill, Faccone directed and/or participated in a host of several community service initiatives, including Wagner's Annual Bone Marrow Registry Drive and the Crescent Beach Restoration Project, which aids one of the many Staten Island communities devastated by Superstorm Sandy in October, 2012, to name just a few.

Last June, Faccone took part in Lauren's First and Goal Camp (LFG) at Lafayette College, a non-profit organization started in 2004 by John and Marianne Loose in honor of their daughter, Lauren, a 17-year-old pediatric brain tumor survivor. Since its inception, LFG has raised more than $1 million toward its mission to provide financial support for brain tumor research and cancer services.

Faccone served as Vice-President of Community Service for Wagner College's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), a committee comprised of student- athletes assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. In addition, he was recently elected President of Omicron Delta Kappa, a National Leadership Honor Society that recognizes achievement in a myriad of areas.

2014-15 Most Valuable Performers
Men's Basketball, Marcus Burton: 1^st-Team All-NEC / 1^st-Team NABC All-District / 3^rd-Team All-Met
Women's Basketball, Jasmine Nwajei: 2^nd-Team All-NEC / 3^rd-Team All-Met
Football, Jarrett Dieudonne: 1^st-Team All-NEC / ECAC All-Star / 3^rd-Team Sports Network All-America
Men's Golf, Erik Tedfelt: NEC Rookie of the Year
Women's Golf, Noelle Maertz: NEC Player of the Year / 1^st-Team All-NEC
Men's Lacrosse, Matt Bunting: 6^th-place in NEC in caused turnovers per game
Women's Lacrosse, Shea Gegan: NEC Midfielder of the Year / 1^st-Team All-NEC
Soccer, Johanna Konrad: 2^nd-Team All-NEC
Softball, Kelsey Parker: 2^nd-Team All-NEC
Swimming, Anu Nihipali: Outstanding Swimmer at NEC Championships
Swimming, Amanda Lucia: NEC Swimming Scholar Athlete of the Year
Diving, Samantha Lavrich: Outstanding Diving at NEC Championships
Men's Tennis, Michal Rolski: All-NEC Rookie Team / 2^nd-Team All-NEC Doubles
Women's Tennis, Marina Rull Valvieso: Team-high nine victories             
Men's Indoor Track & Field, James Naglieri: 2^nd Place at NEC Championships (Mile)
Men's Outdoor Track & Field, Saquan Mitchell: 1st-Place at IC4A Outdoor Track & Field Championships, 3^rd-Place at NEC Championships (100m Dash)
Men's Cross Country, Jacob Malakoff: 6^th-Place at NEC Championships
Women's Indoor Track & Field, Imani Jones: 7^th-Place (200IM) / 8^th-Place (60m Dash) at NEC Championships
Women's Outdoor Track & Field, Emily Pereira: 1^st-Place NEC Championships (800m)
Women's Cross Country, Lorraine Brancale: 7^th-Place at NEC Championships (All-NEC)
Water Polo, Jess Lundgren: MAAC Offensive Player of the Year / 1^st-Team All-MAAC
Baseball, Nick Dini: NEC Player of the Year, all-time career leader in hits (244), games played (213), at-bats (787)

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