HAMBURG, N.Y. - The Hilbert College Athletics Department proudly honored the 2022-23 student-athletes at its annual Athletic Awards Reception Monday, May 1.  Prior to the Swan Auditorium ceremony, a casual reception was held in the West Herr Atrium.

At the conclusion of the evening, Abigail Dent (Oneonta, N.Y. / Oneonta) and Zach Miller (North Tonawanda, N.Y. /  Christian Central Academy)  were introduced as the 2023 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.

        

To say that Abby Dent has gotten the most out of her four-year experience is an understatement.  She has been a two-sport athlete these past four years. Yet she added a third sport this winter when she trained and represented the Hawks at the Nazareth Indoor Track and Field Meet in January.

The Oneonta, New York native jumped into action her first year on campus, making a name for herself on the running trails, the softball diamond and in the multiple campus clubs while upholding her academic responsibilities as an Honor Student.  She served as a Resident Assistant, a Student Ambassador for the Admissions Office while also working there, is the Vice President of the Student Government Association and has been active in the Student-Athlete Advisory Club all four years. 

Abby has been a gift to the campus, and every organization she has been a part of has benefited from her leadership.  She was given the Coaches Award in Softball last year and twice as been honored in Cross Country.

Abby, with her 3.94 cumulative grade point average, is a 4x AMCC Academic All-Conference member, and an Individual Peak Performer.  She helped lead her cross country team to a pair of AMCC Team Peak Performer Awards and was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma National Student-Athlete Academic Honor society last spring.

Abby will graduate this month with a forensic science | crime scene investigation degree but plans on returning next fall so that she can complete her athletic career with the cross country team while finishing her Criminal Justice Administration graduate degree.

Zach Miller is a four-year member of the Hawks basketball program and has been a consummate team leader both on and off the court.  
 
The senior captain recorded 303 points and graduates as the men's basketball program's all-time leader with an impressive 46-percent success rate from beyond the 3-point line.  Zach appeared in 56 games over his three-year career having lost his sophomore campaign due to the world-wide pandemic in 2020-21. 

Zach was selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court for his contributions on the court and his diligent work in the classroom.  He is a three-time recipient of the Coaches Award as selected by his coaching staff.

The Christian Central Academy graduate has been active on campus, serving as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's Treasurer since his junior year.  He is a 4x AMCC Academic All-Conference member as well as a 4x AMCC Peak Performer.  A year ago, in May 2022, he joined several other Hawks as the newest members of the New York Theta Chapter in the Chi Alpha Sigma National Student-Athlete Academic Honor Society.

Zach will graduate with a paralegal degree with a cumulative 4.0 grade point average and will continue his education at the University of Buffalo having been accepted into their Law School.
 
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.  Kristine Twoguns served as this year's Senior Student Speaker, and she addressed her fellow student-athletes prior to the distribution of team awards.

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