ANNVILLE, Pa. (July 15, 2022)  – The Middle Atlantic Conference announced its nominations for the DIIICA Student-Athlete of the Year Award Friday and all four selections chosen to represent the MAC Freedom call Stevens Institute of Technology home.

Gina Dello Russo (women's track & field), Elizabeth Chu (women's volleyball), Brett Kaliner (wrestling) and Marc Feliu (men's tennis) were recognized as student-athletes that distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership. The conference's awards committee selected the representatives for both the MAC Freedom and the MAC Commonwealth. Alvernia's Yupha Muzyka (women's golf), Messiah's Esther Seeland (women's track & field) and Luke Groothoff (men's soccer) and York's Ryan Kennedy (men's lacrosse) were selected to represent the MAC Commonwealth.

In its inaugural year, the DIIICA Student-Athlete of the Year Award honors male and female student-athletes who have exhausted their athletic eligibility (graduating seniors or graduate students that have not been nominated in previous years are the only eligible student-athletes). These student-athletes exhibit excellence both in the classroom and in competition, while also serving their local communities.

A conference may elect to submit up to two nominations for each award if at least one nomination is an international student or an ethnic minority. The DIIICA regional selection committees will then select regional winners based on the 10 predetermined NCAA regions. Each of the MAC Freedom nominees will be placed in Region IV, while the MAC Commonwealth nominees will be slotted into Region V. 

Regional winners will be announced the week of July 25. Those individuals will then move forward to be considered for the DIIICA Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year, which will be announced on August 15. The award recipients are expected to receive their awards in an on-campus ceremony in the fall.

Dello Russo was a six-year member of the track & field program, who rewrote the program record books throughout her tenure on Castle Point. A 14-time All-American across three events (200- and 400-meter dashes and the long jump), Dello Russo won the 2021 Outdoor 400-meter dash championship to become the program's fourth national champion. She won six Athlete of the Year awards across two conferences and claimed conference titles in 13 different events. She concludes her career as the holder of 11 different conference records.

Dello Russo's work in the classroom is equally impressive. She posted a 3.94 grade-point average as an undergraduate, earning her degree in engineering management and went on to complete a master's in mechanical engineering with a perfect 4.00 and is now pursuing a doctorate in socio-technical systems. Dello Russo is a five-time Academic All-District selection by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and was a three-time Academic All-American. She earned a pair of Academic All-MAC honors and was the 2021 MAC Outdoor Track & Field Senior Scholar-Athlete. She was also a top-30 honoree for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year award.

Chu amassed 1,720 digs in just three competitive seasons on Castle Point to finish fourth in program history. The Old Tappan, New York native was a three-time conference Defensive Player of the Year award winner, including twice in the MAC Freedom. She averaged 4.82 digs per set, while also dishing out 257 assists, serving up 134 aces and recording nine kills. A three-time first-team All-Conference honoree, Chu's impressive resume of accolades also includes an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Third Team All-America selection and two AVCA All-Region nods. Chu was named Stevens' NCAA Woman of the Year earlier this week.

In the classroom, Chu completed her undergraduate degree in chemical biology with a perfect 4.0 GPA and was recognized by Stevens as one of 16 students named Top of the Class of 2022. A three-time Academic All-American, Chu was the recipient of the Lawrence C. F. Horle Memorial Award, the Luigi Pollara Award, the Maurice E. Roglin Award and the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award in Chemistry and Chemical Biology at the 2022 undergraduate awards ceremony. Chu was also recognized by the New York American Chemical Society with its student award for excellence in chemical biology. Chu was also the 2022 MAC women's volleyball Senior Scholar-Athlete and was a two-time Academic All-MAC selection.

Kaliner put an exclamation point on his distinguished career on the mats with a perfect 29-0 season during his final season on Castle Point, culminating with a 4-2 decision over Baldwin Wallace's Michael Petrella at 149 to earn the program's first national championship. The 2018 D3Wrestle and Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year, 24 of Kaliner's 29 victories during the 2021-22 season came with bonus points and he improved his career record as a Duck to a remarkable 143-13. The 2022 Middle Atlantic Conference Wrestler of the Year, Kaliner is also a four-time regional champion, a four-time conference champion and concluded his career as a five-time All-American. 

In the classroom, Kaliner achieved a 3.92 GPA as an undergraduate, earning his degree in business & technology. He then completed his master's degree in financial analytics and finished with a 3.95 GPA. The 2021 Middle Atlantic Conference Wrestling Senior Scholar-Athlete, Kaliner was recognized by the National Wrestling Coaches Association as a Scholar All-American in each of his five seasons on the mats. The West Chester, Pennsylvania native was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and earned four Academic All-District honors. Kaliner also served as the Sponsorship Chair of StevensTHON.

Feliu totaled 109 victories, with 45 coming in singles play and 64 in doubles during his time on Castle Point. A three-time conference Player of the Year, including two in the MAC Freedom, Feliu turned in a perfect junior campaign, winning all 10 of his singles matches and all 12 of his doubles contests to finish the year 22-0, including a doubles win with partner Aashi Kulakarni in the opening round of the 2021 NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship. The 2019 Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year, Feliu has earned three all-conference nods and has spent all but 17 of his career singles matches atop the Ducks' lineup. He also captured the MAC's Individual Championship at No. 1 singles in 2019 and was a two-time conference champion at first doubles. 

In the classroom, Feliu maintained a 3.85 GPA and completed his degree in music & technology. A four-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete, Feliu was also recognized for his combination of academic and athletic excellence by the conference office, when he was named the 2022 MAC Senior Scholar-Athlete in April. A two-time Academic All0MAC selection, Feliu is also an accomplished DJ and music producer and is the co-founder of Muzeamp, which offers marketing and music mentorship services for up & coming artists.

Additionally, Chu, Dello Russo and Kaliner are three of just 17 student-athletes in school history to earn multiple Academic All-America selections. Chu and Dello Russo are two of four Ducks to conclude their time in Hoboken as three-time Academic All-Americans, while Kaliner was the first Academic All-American in program history.

Facebook: "Like" Stevens Athletics         
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks
#AllRise