HAMBURG, N.Y. - The Hilbert College Athletics Department proudly honored the 2021-22 student-athletes at its annual Athletic Awards Reception Monday, May 2.  Prior to the Swan Auditorium ceremony, a casual reception was held in the West Herr Atrium.

At the conclusion of the evening, Ashley Schroeder (Caledonia, MN/Caledonia) and Jonathan Wilson (Silver Creek, NY/Lake Shore) were introduced as the 2022 McGrath Academic Award winners. These two individuals were honored for their outstanding achievements in the classroom and in competition, and they will be forever enshrined in the Athletic Department's Wall of Achievement located inside the Hafner Recreation Center.

The McGrath Award is provided by Francis and Marie McGrath, two generous benefactors of Hilbert College who stipulated the award be given to one male and one female graduating student-athlete who has demonstrated exemplary achievement both academically and athletically while at Hilbert College.

        

Ashley Schroeder jumped into action her first year on campus, making a name for herself on the basketball court and in the classroom just three-short years ago.

Schroeder has been a two-year starter for the women's basketball team and helped the Hawks earn back-to-back appearances in the AMCC Post-season tournament.  The 5-7 point guard averaged 9.6 points and 27.5 minutes per game her rookie season which ended with a loss in the AMCC Championship game in 2020.  Then, because the AMCC league reduced competition to exhibition games only in 2021, Schroeder was recognized in her third season on campus as an NCAA sophomore. She turned up the heat as the season progressed this winter and led the AMCC league with 411 points scored, in addition to leading the conference with the greatest number of free throws made and attempted.  Schroeder was selected to the AMCC Third Team All-Conference Team after averaging 16.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

Academically, Schroeder has maintained a 4.0 cumulative grade point average, has earned the distinction of being a three-time AMCC Academic All-Conference member and  AMCC Individual Peak Performer.  She helped lead her basketball team to the 2020 AMCC Team Peak Performer Award.  Schroeder was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma National Student-Athlete Academic Honor Society in April 2022.

Schroeder will graduate this month with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice but will return next fall to complete her athletic career while completing her Criminal Justice Administration master's degree as part of the 4+1 program.  

Jonathan Wilson is a four-year member of the Hawks baseball program and has been a consummate team leader both on and off the diamond. 

Wilson was a consistent competitor for the Hawks as an outfielder starter since his rookie campaign.  The senior captain posted a 265-career batting average with 18 doubles, three triples and three home runs while logging 44 RBIs, 57 runs scored and stole 14 bases over the past 3.5 years. Prior to the start of his junior year, Wilson was named to the 2021 NCAA Division 3 Players to Watch List after having a stellar sophomore season reduced to 11 games at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He was named the team's Most Improved Player in 2020 and was also selected, by his teammates, as the Hawks' representative on the AMCC All-Sportsmanship team that same year. 

Wilson is a four-time AMCC Academic All-Conference member as well as a four-time AMCC Peak Performer.  On April 19th he was inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta Business Honor Society and last May, 2021 he was inducted into the New York Theta Chapter in the Chi Alpha Sigma National Student-Athlete Academic Honor Society.

After carrying a cumulative 3.99 grade point average through his four-year career, Wilson will graduate this month with a bachelor's degree in accounting.  

Tim Seil, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, served as the evening's primary presenter and emcee.  Hilbert's President Michael Brophy offered an opening reflection and continued with his welcoming remarks as the celebration continued.   The evening consisted of a series of presentations which profiled Hilbert's student-athlete academic and athletic achievements as well as senior athlete award presentations.  Brandon Job served as this year's Senior Student Speaker, and he addressed his fellow student-athletes prior to the distribution of team awards.

All of the aforementioned honors and awards will be announced as the week progresses.