Massachusetts Maritime joined numerous schools across the country in the celebration of National Student-Athlete Day on Wednesday morning, as 14 Buccaneer student-athletes were honored for their achievements both in competition, in the classroom and in the community.

The third annual Massachusetts Maritime National Student-Athlete Day Academic Excellence Breakfast, which was co-sponsored by the Office of the Academic Affairs and the Department of Athletics, brought together student-athletes, coaches, faculty and administration to celebrate National Student-Athlete Day, which recognizes the accomplishments of student-athletes nationwide who excel in the classroom, on the playing fields and in their communities.  Created by the Northeastern University Center for the Study of Sport in Society, National Student-Athlete Day is also supported by both the NCAA and the National Consortium for Academics and Sports.  This year’s event also kicks off Massachusetts Maritime’s participation in the week long national celebration of NCAA Division III Week.

Each of the Buccaneer honorees represented their respective program in achieving several outstanding accomplishments, whether it be in the classroom with the highest grade point average for the Fall 2011 semester or by demonstrating outstanding leadership both in competition and in the community.  The 2012 Massachusetts Maritime National Student-Athlete Day honorees are:

BASEBALL               4/C Zacary Cooney                          East Bridgewater, Mass.              

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY/

OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD         2/C Evan Balderelli                         Brimfield, Mass.

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY     1/C Emily Burbank                           Yarmouthport, Mass.

MEN’S CREW                              4/C Michael Singleton                   Middletown, R.I.

WOMEN’S CREW                       3/C Kelsie Brien                               Methuen, Mass.

FOOTBALL                                3/C Brandon Rodrigues                 Brockton, Mass.

MEN’S LACROSSE                    2/C James Burns                               Duxbury, Mass.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE             2/C Sarah Derrane                           Utica, N.Y.

RIFLE                                       4/C Diana Kurek                               Stamford, Conn.

SAILING                                  4/C Frederik Holm                          Pittsburgh, Pa.

MEN’S SOCCER                       3/C Daniel Riley                               Hanover, Mass.

WOMEN’S SOCCER                 2/C Kim Courcy                                 Warwick, R.I.

SOFTBALL                               2/C Rachel Johnson                        South Chatham, Mass.

VOLLEYBALL                          4/C Alexandra Chrysovergis        Sharon, Mass.

The cadets were presented with special awards by Captain Brad Lima, Massachusetts Maritime’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, and were offered congratulatory remarks by Academy President Admiral Rick Gurnon and Director of Athletics Bob Corradi.