Seniors Antonia Perhat (Porec, Croatia.) of the volleyball team and Lexton Moy (New York, N.Y.) of the men’s soccer team were also honored as LIU’s Scholar-Athletes of the Year. In addition to the Athlete of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, Long Island also recognized award winners for each sport and its other major awards.

Nainima compiled an endless list of individual awards this year, earning All-Northeast Conference First Team honors for the second straight year while also earning All-Met First Team honors as well. She helped lead the women’s basketball team to the best record in program history at 24-8 and to within a game of the NCAA Tournament. She ranked 10^th in the nation in scoring and with just two seasons under her belt, she has already eclipsed the 1,000 point mark. In the classroom Nainima was named CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 1 Second Team.

Mutekanga joined the Blackbirds in January and promptly won his first career indoor race, taking the 500 meter dash at the Terrier Classic. He went on to win the event at the Northeast Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, before setting the school record at the ECAC/IC4A Championships. Mutekanga has continued to rewrite the record book in the outdoor season, breaking the 800-meter record he had previously set earlier in the season. He will represent LIU at the NCAA East Regional and IC4A Championships in both the 400-meter and 800-meter races.

The scholar-athlete awards are presented annually to the male and female student-athletes who have completed their eligibility during the current year and have the highest overall grade-point averages through the fall semester. Perhat, a marketing major, is graduating summa cum laude with a 3.914 grade-point average and is a member of the Northeast Conference Academic Honor Roll. She played in 36 matches in the fall, while ranking third on the team with 214 digs and helping LIU to its third straight undefeated NEC record. Moy is a physical education major and will graduate summa cum laude with a 3.866 GPA. He has been a member of the NEC Commissioner’s Honor Roll and appeared in 12 contests as a senior, starting all of them on defense. He scored a goal and assist against Philadelphia University in the season finale.

Dolly King Athletic Excellence Award: Kellen Allen, Sr., Men’s Basketball

Presented to the student-athlete who exemplifies leadership, sportsmanship and achievement that the late William “Dolly” King personified as a student-athlete, administrator and coach.

Clair Isicson Athletic Excellence Award: Jessie DePippo, Sr., Softball

Presented to the student-athlete who exemplifies leadership, sportsmanship and achievement that Clair Isicson-Merle  personified as a student and an athlete

Leonard Ching International Student-Athlete Award: Mikaelar Whippy, Sr., Women’s Basketball

This award is in honor of Leonard Ching, a Brooklyn Campus administrator in the student activities office from 1967 until he retired in 1984. Through his efforts, the enrollment of international students increased and the student life was enhanced.

Michelle Hamden Memorial Award: Albert Forbes, Sr., Men's Basketball

Men’s Basketball

      Co-MVP: Kellen Allen, Sr.

      Co-MVP: Jaytornah Wisseh, So.

      Coaches: Ren Azinge, Sr.

Women’s Basketball

      MVP: Valerie Nainima, So.

      Coaches: Mikaelar Whippy, Sr.