BOSTON - The America East Conference unveiled today the finalists for the 2017 America East Man & Woman of the Year awards. These awards honor the conference's top male and female senior student-athletes who have best distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership.
Man of the Year Finalists
David MacKinnon, Hartford - Soccer/Baseball
- Earned his bachelor's degree in business/accounting and graduated with a 3.87 GPA.
- Academic All-American.
- America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete.
- 2016 America East Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
- 2016 America East Baseball Player of the Year.
- All-Conference selection in both baseball and soccer.
- Spearheaded Hartford Team Impact relationships in both baseball and soccer and devoted to time to several other organizations as well.
Joe Miceli, Binghamton - Track & Field
- Received his undergraduate degree in integrative neuroscience with a 3.75 GPA.
- America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete.
- America East Elite 18 and All-Academic honoree.
- Most Outstanding Men's Field Athlete at 2017 America East Outdoor Championship after winning the decathlon.
- Volunteered numerous hours with several medical and youth organizations in the Southern Tier.
Chris Wingate, New Hampshire - Soccer
- Graduated in December with a 3.76 GPA in business administration with concentration in finance and information systems & business analytics.
- CoSIDA Academic and Senior CLASS Award All-American.
- America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete.
- Two-time America East Midfielder of the Year.
- Devoted to several community causes, including UNH's Sexual Harassment & Rape Prevention Program.
Woman of the Year Finalists
Laura Rose Donegan, New Hampshire - XC/Track & Field
- Graduated with a perfect 4.00 in political science.
- 2015-16 America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
- America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete.
- Was named the NCAA Elite 90 award winner at the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championship for having the highest GPA amongst top finishers.
- Two-time first-team All-American (2015 cross country, 2016 outdoor track & field).
- Project officer for Jesuit Social Services and volunteer for So Others May Eat.
Laini Leindecker, Albany - Volleyball
- Graduated with a 3.71 GPA in human biology.
- Two-time America East Volleyball Scholar-Athlete and a three time America East All-Academic selection.
- Three-time America East All-Conference selection at outside hitter.
- Albany SAAC President AE SAAC representative.
- Organized Albany's 'Danes Dodge Cancer' dodgeball fundraiser and gave time to several other causes.
Christina Melian, Stony Brook - Cross Country/Track & Field
- Graduated with a 3.92 GPA in health science with a concentration in emergency and critical care.
- America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete.
- America East Elite 17 honoree.
- Three-time America East Scholar-Athlete.
- Four-time NCAA individual qualifier.
- Stony Brook Student Ambassador and member of its Academy of Leaders.
- Volunteer at Stony Brook Hospital and Pediatric Cancer Center.
The finalists were selected from a pool of the America East institutional nominations, which were announced on May 16. Nominee Release
To be nominated, student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in his primary sport by the end of the 2016 spring season, received his undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2016 term and had a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale).
The 2016-17 America East Man and Woman of the Year will be announced on Friday, June 2 at the conference's annual awards dinner.
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.