2019 Honors Convocation Award Winners

Lucas Durling accepts his Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award from President Albert.

SHU conducted its annual Honors Convocation April 26 to honor academic achievement during the 2018-19 academic year. The following award winners were honored during the ceremony:

Thomas Emmet Student-Athlete Award: Madisyn Reed (women’s golf); Aaron Bitz (men’s golf, eSports).
Team Academic Award: Women’s Volleyball.
Outstanding Graduate Student Award: Laura Hubbard.
St. Catherine of Alexandria Medal: Grace Carey.
Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award: Lucas Durling, Lucielle Gould.
Staff Excellence Award: Kate Daisher, Ruben Tapia.
Sister Jean Cecile Hunt Outstanding Advisor Award: Cathleen Emery.
Sister Eileen Rice Award for Outstanding Teaching: Julie Barst.
Jack Bologna Innovative Teaching Award: John Labriola.
Staff Emeritae: Wanda House.
Faculty Emeritae: Dr. Linda Campbell, Dr. Peggy Motsch.

Summer 2019 Athletics News

Saints Have Nine Scholar-Teams

Nine SHU teams were honored as NAIA Scholar-Teams for their efforts in the 2017-18 academic year. With the fourth highest grade point average in the NAIA, the women’s golf team led the Saints as it sported a 3.84 GPA. The dance team earned a 3.62 GPA, followed closely by the softball team with a 3.59 GPA. Other teams honored by the NAIA include women’s volleyball (3.50), women’s soccer (3.44), women’s lacrosse (3.40), men’s golf (3.26), baseball (3.13) and cheer (3.04). For a team to be considered for the award, it must have a minimum 3.0-grade point average. The team grade point average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes.

Student-Athletes Excel in the Classroom (Again)

A total of 522 SHU student-athletes earned a 3.15 grade point average in the 2018 winter semester. Leading the way in the classroom was the women’s golf team with a 3.86 GPA, followed by softball (3.62), women’s soccer (3.53), women’s volleyball (3.52) and women’s cross country (3.51). All 11 of the women’s teams earned a 3.0 GPA or higher, with an aggregate of 3.41 for the women. On the men’s side, the men’s bowling team led the way with a 3.18 GPA, followed by the baseball team (3.16), men’s golf (3.13), men’s soccer (3.03) and men’s cross country and men’s volleyball (3.0). The men’s aggregate GPA for the semester was 2.95.

The Saints’ 610 student-athletes had a cumulative 2.94 grade point average for the fall 2019 semester. The women’s volleyball team led the way with a 3.54 GPA, with women’s soccer second (3.49) and softball third (3.46). The top men’s team was cross country with a 3.05 GPA.

Lasting Legacy

After More than 42 Years, Fred Smith Leaves an Indelible Mark on SHU Athletics

By Doug Goodnough

In more than 30 years of coaching, Fred Smith never needed to use a whistle.

His booming voice, commanding personality and imposing 6-foot, 5-inch frame were more than enough to get the attention of his student-athletes, coaches, referees and anyone else within earshot.

After more than 42 years representing Siena Heights University Athletics as a coach and administrator—including the last 36 as athletic director—Fred Smith retired on June 30, 2019.

That means it will be a little quieter on the Siena Heights University campus.

But his indelible legacy will not be silenced.

His 21-year men’s basketball head coaching career included 527 wins, the most in the institution’s history. During his tenure, Siena Heights was one of the winningest small-school programs in the country. The Saints recorded five 30-win seasons, 12 appearances in the NAIA National Tournament and eight WHAC titles. His 1996-97 squad finished as the NAIA Division II national runners up, losing the title game to Bethel College 95-94.