NEWTOWN, Pa. (April 26, 2024) – Stevens Institute of Technology graduate students Laura Mathews and Louden Moran and seniors Aashi Kulakarni and Gus Vickers were each named Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Senior Scholar-Athletes for their respective sports, the conference office announced Friday.

Mathews earned the award in women's outdoor track and field after receiving the accolade for the indoor season one week ago. Moran represented men's volleyball, while Kulakarni and Vickers were recognized in men's tennis and men's golf, respectively. The recognitions increased Stevens' all-time total to 24 as Stevens climbed inside the top-10 in the conference's lengthy history of honorees. Kulakarni is the second Stevens men's tennis player to earn one of the conference's highest individual honors, while Moran and Vickers are the first from men's volleyball and golf to receive the accolade.

Established prior to the start of the 2000-01 season, the MAC Senior Scholar-Athletes are traditionally announced after the completion of each sport season, The awards are bestowed to one senior student-athlete from each sport who exhibits top academic excellence and athletic prowess. The MAC Senior Scholar-Athlete Award is based 50 percent on academics and 50 percent on athletic achievements.

Mathews has been a standout on the track for Stevens in the outdoor season, earning two All-America honors, while setting multiple indoor school, and conference, records. Among her many accomplishments, the Denville, New Jersey native has earned nine All-Conference placements, both a Rookie of the Year and Athlete of the Year Award from the MAC and was the 2022 United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Metro Region Athlete of the Year.

Off the track, Mathews has achieved a 3.857 cumulative grade-point average as an engineering management major. The 2023 Donald N. Merino Award winner for academic excellence, is a three-time Academic All-MAC selection, a three-time Academic Honor Roll selection and was the MAC Woman of the Year in 2023. Additionally, Mathews was an Academic All-District honoree and won the prestigious Ansary Competition last spring.

On the court, Moran has established himself as one of the best setters both in program history and across Division III. To date, the Joliet, Illinois product has totaled 714 assists (8.93 per set) this season and is one of just seven active players across all NCAA divisions with 3,000 or more assists. When Moran crossed the 3,000-assist mark in the MAC tournament, he joined alumnus Kevin Aeckerle as the only players in program history to reach the milestone. This season, Moran also totaled 62 kills, 149 digs, 44 blocks and a team-high 30 aces. 

Off the court, Moran has achieved a 3.741 GPA as an engineering management major. The 2023 CSC Academic All-American as also named to the academic all-conference team one year ago and has multiple MAC honor roll placements. 

Kulakarni has been an outstanding player of the court for the men's tennis program. A two-time MAC Freedom Tournament Most Valuable Player, Kulakarni is a three-time first-team all-conference selection and is closing in on 100 career wins. The fourth-year player was the Rookie of the Year for the MAC Freedom in 2021 and captured the league's Player of the Year honor in 2023. He has never lost a match in MAC play.

Off the court, Kulakarni has continued to maintain a perfect 4.0 average as a mechanical engineering major and will be the valedictorian of this year's graduating class. The Coimbatore, India native has been recognized for his academic successes by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, the MAC and College Sports Communicators. 

On the course, Vickers has become one of the best players in program history. He's won five tournaments over the course of career, tying for the most in program history. The two-time MAC Freedom individual champion, Vickers earned All-Region honors, becoming the third player in program history to do so. A three-time All-MAC Freedom selection, Vickers is aiming to become the first golfer in conference history to win three straight league titles. 

In the classroom, Vickers has achieved a 3.726 GPA as a finance major. He's a two-time Golf Coaches Association of America All-American Scholar and a two-time academic all-conference selection. He has also served as an equity analyst for the Stevens Student Managed Investment Fund. 

Joining the Ducks' quartet of honorees in getting recognized by the league office Friday were York's Robby Elzinga (Baseball), Will Harnick (Men's Lacrosse) and Bella Garabo (Women's Lacrosse), Lebanon Valley's Jordan Walter (Softball) and Emma Dissinger (Women's Golf), Misericordia's Brianna Pizzano (Women's Tennis) and Stevenson's Nathan Williams (Outdoor Track & Field).

The 2023-24 Senior Scholar-Athletes will be recognized at the MAC's annual awards luncheon in May.

2024 Middle Atlantic Conference Spring Senior Scholar-Athletes

Sport	Student-Athlete	School
Baseball	Robby Elzinga	York
Softball	Jordan Walter	Lebanon Valley
MEN'S GOLF	GUS VICKERS	STEVENS
Women's Golf	Emma Dissinger	Lebanon Valley
Men's Lacrosse	Will Harnick	York
Women's Lacrosse	Bella Garabo	York
Men's Outdoor Track & Field	Nathan Williams	Stevenson
WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD	LAURA MATHEWS	STEVENS
MEN'S TENNIS	AASHI KULAKARNI	STEVENS
Women's Tennis	Brianna Pizzano	Misericordia
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL	LOUDEN MORAN	STEVENS

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