Falcon Athletes Honored For Their Accomplishments

May 4th, 2016

Daytona State College will conclude the 2015-2016 academic year next week.  As this year comes to a close the Falcon Athletics Department took the opportunity to celebrate the student-athletes that make it truly a privilege to be a Falcon.

Over 150 student-athletes, family members, faculty, and Daytona State Administration and supporters came out Tuesday to share in the special evening that gives the coaches and staff an opportunity to recognize and honor the great accomplishments of not only the teams, but the individual athletes that raised the bar and exceeded expectations earning them special honors chosen by the administration and coaching staffs.

Each coach had the opportunity to share an overview of their season success. Women’s basketball had an opportunity to celebrate their NJCAA National Tournament appearance and their exceptional 28-3 season.  Men’s basketball recognized their 3rd Mid-Florida Conference Championship under the management of Head Coach, Ryan Ridder.  Coach Laura Stegall with Women’s Volleyball honored the team in their 3rd consecutive winning season and their second straight season of being ranked in the NJCAA National Top 25.  Golf, is looking forward to pursuing their 8th NJCAA National Title in two weeks out on the links of the LPGA under Coach Laura Brown’s direction.  Women’s Softball recorded an impressive record of 34-18 led by Coach Sabrina Manhart and a Regional Tournament appearance, and once again Coach Tim Touma and the Men’s Baseball team have a chance to lead the nation as the National Academic Team of the Year. 

Each sport presented a handful of honors that recognized top offensive and defensive players, as well as, their MVPs and Scholar Athletes of the Year.  These special honors have lasting impacts in their recipients’ lives and are well deserved honors for those individuals that have left their mark on Daytona State College and have played a pivotal role in creating the tradition that never graduates in Falcon Athletics.

Special department honors were given out for leadership and top student-athletes of the year.  The Falcon Athletic Department chose Tivon Fanyette and Haleigh Delligatti to represent the athletic department as the G. Lemerand Leadership honorees for their service as the President and Vice President of the Student-Athlete Council.  Their countless hours alongside their teammates providing service to the community did not go unnoticed, but rather was honored at the highest level.  Fanyette and Delligatti alongside other exceptional Falcon Athletes volunteered at Westside Elementary in their Food Brings Hope afterschool program, assisted the Junior League with back to school shopping for children of need, donated to Operation Christmas Child, served the community of Give A Kid A World Village, cheered the runners of MeStrong in their 5K, walked alongside special needs children and their families in the Easter Seals 5K, as well as, countless other projects.  The Falcon Athletic Department is grateful for the contributions and leadership of Fanyette and Delligatti.

Another exceptional honor awarded by the Athletic Director, Will Dunne, is that of Student-Athlete of the Year.  Both a female and male student-athlete is honored for their contributions in their sport, for their exceptional work in the classroom, as well as, the way they represent Falcon Athletics each day on campus and in the community through their servant leadership.  Volleyball athlete, Alica Kandler, and baseball standout, Tivon Fanyette, were recognized for their remarkable contributions this year.

The evening was an amazing tribute to the bright young women and men that are evolving through sport into leaders not only in athletics but in life.  Through the core values they have learned as student-athletes at Daytona State College one can be confident that their futures are bright, as many of the Falcon sophomores will transition to their next destination in their collegiate journey in the months ahead.