The third day of Worcester State’s Virtual Awards Week starts with the Margaret “Peg” Nugent Senior Scholar-Athlete Awards.
The Peg Nugent Awards are presented annually to a male and female senior student-athlete for their outstanding performance in the classroom as well as in athletic competition.
This year, we have two female Peg Nugent Award recipients, and one male recipient.
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The first Female Peg Nugent Award honoree is a member of both the field hockey and women’s golf teams at Worcester State. She is a dual-major in elementary education and psychology, who has achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.86 in her four years. This student-athlete will graduate as one of the best players to ever slip on a Worcester State field hockey uniform, leaving as the program’s all-time leader in both goals and points. A four-time Little East All-Conference selection, this athlete also was on the very first Worcester State women’s golf team, and captained the squad as a senior. She serves on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Athlete Mentor Program, is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, and is an active Presidential Student Ambassador on campus. Recently, this athlete received the top prize in the University’s “Next Big Idea” competition for her pitch of an eco-friendly laundry detergent vending machine.
The first 2020 Female Margaret “Peg” Nugent Scholar-Athlete Award, from field hockey and women’s golf, is OLIVIA ANTONELLI!
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The second Female Peg Nugent Award recipient is a four-year member of the women’s basketball team. This criminal justice and psychology dual-major has achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.62. This athlete has been dominant for the women’s basketball team in her career, receiving a pair of MASCAC All-Conference honors in her career. As a junior last season, she led the nation with three triple-doubles, and helped her team to back-to-back MASCAC Championship appearances in each of the last two seasons. This athlete’s contributions continue away from the court as well. She works on campus as an academic assistant for the Student Accessibility Services office, and is an active member in the university’s Sexual Assault and Violence Education (SAVE) group. She is a five-time Dean’s List honoree, a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, and has made multiple appearances on the MASCAC All-Academic Team.
The second recipient of the 2020 Female Margaret “Peg” Nugent Scholar-Athlete Award, from the women’s basketball team, is CATHERINE SWEENEY!
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The Male Peg Nugent Award will be presented this season to a member of the baseball program. This business administration major, with a concentration in accounting, is enrolled in the Commonwealth Honors Program, and has achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.76. On the diamond, this athlete was a four-year starter in the Lancer middle infield and was a two-year captain. He was chosen to the MASCAC All-Sportsmanship Team in 2019, and led his team to a MASCAC Championship as a freshman in 2017. He is a three-time MASCAC All-Academic Team selection, and has been named to the Dean’s List every semester he has been enrolled at Worcester State. A member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Athlete Mentor Program, this athlete was also a volunteer for the Little League Challenger Division, the division of Little League baseball for children with physical and intellectual disabilities.
The recipient of the 2020 Male Margaret “Peg” Nugent Scholar-Athlete Award, from the baseball team, is KENAN KOLANDA!
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