Four University of Albany Great Danes Earn America East Conference Scholar-Athlete Honors - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – Four UAlbany student-athletes earned America East Conference Scholar-Athlete honors, as announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon. Meagan Butsch (softball), Valete Graham (men’s outdoor track and field), Garrett Pedley (men’s lacrosse) and Jessica Signorelli (golf) were all named the top scholar-athletes for their respective sports for the 2008-09 winter/spring season.

Butsch, the 2009 America East co-player of the year, was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I Second team as a senior and was a two-time member of the conference’s all-academic team. A member of the UAlbany Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, she was an all-conference first-team selection for the second straight season and was named to the all-championship team for the third consecutive year. Butsch, an NFCA All-Northeast Region and All-ECAC first team honoree, broke the school record for career home runs with 31 after hitting a program-best 16 this season. She is ranked on several UAlbany career record charts and helped lead the Great Danes to four straight America East Championship game appearances. Butsch posted a 3.40 cumulative grade point average in biology.

Graham was a member of the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team and the America East all-academic team during both the indoor and outdoor seasons as a junior. Also a member of the 2008 USTFCCCA Division I Men’s All-Academic Team, Graham has been an America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll member throughout his career. He has helped lead the Great Danes to three America East titles as well as the first IC4A championship by any league institution. Graham, a three-time all-conference selection and two-time reigning champion in the long jump, broke the school record in the long jump this year with a leap of 24-feet, 9.25-inches. A 2009 All-East selection in the long jump who missed qualifying for NCAA nationals by one centimeter, Graham recorded a 3.69 GPA with a major in psychology and minor in business administration.

Pedley, a two-time member of the America East All-Academic Lacrosse Team, was one of just 30 senior men’s lacrosse players nationally to be a candidate for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award. A member of the UAlbany Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, he was the school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member chosen to represent UAlbany at the America East SAAC meeting. Pedley has participated in many community service projects, including founding a charity golf tournament in New Hampshire that benefits college scholarships. Athletically, Pedley was named to the 2009 America East first team, earning all-conference honors for the second time in his career. A team captain as a senior, he posted a 3.21 GPA in business administration with a minor in communication.

Signorelli helped lead UAlbany to the 2009 America East Conference Golf Championship, the Great Danes’ second title in as many years. A member of the UAlbany Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, she was a two-time member of the league’s All-Academic Golf Team and earned America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll accolades in 2008. Signorelli finished tied for third at this season’s championship with a two-round score of 161. A member of SAAC, she recorded a 3.77 GPA with a major in communication and a minor in accounting.

A committee of athletic administrators and NCAA Faculty Athletics Representatives chose an honoree in each of the 15 winter/spring championship sports. Each America East Scholar-Athlete was a starter or prominent reserve and carries a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.20. Each scholar-athlete will join the six Fall Scholar-Athletes to make up the ballot for the America East Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, which will be named in July.

University of Albany´s Leah McIntosh Earns Spot on Canada's Senior National Softball Team - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Surrey, British Columbia – UAlbany’s Leah McIntosh earned a spot on the Canadian National Softball team and will represent her country at the 16th Canada Cup International Women's Fastpitch Tournament in Surrey, British Columbia from July 4-12, as announced by Softball Canada on Monday evening. The native of Whitby, Ontario was one of 19 players and five pitchers selected to the squad which will compete against other national teams such as the Netherlands, Australia, Venezuela and the United States over the nine-day period.

The roster includes nine players returning from the 2008 Olympic Team, four players who played for the Canadian Junior Women’s National Team two years ago and six others who were selected from three evaluation camps held over the past month.

McIntosh, who competed as a member of the Canadian Junior National Softball Team in 2007, is a two-time NFCA all-regional selection and the reigning America East Conference Pitcher of the Year. She hurled a national-best four perfect games as well as 10 shutouts this spring. McIntosh broke the Division I program records for career strikeouts (621) and no-hitters (6) while leading America East with a 1.34 earned run average. A member of the ECAC Division I All-Star Team, her 10.6 strikeouts per seven innings led the conference and ranked third in the country.

The Canada Cup is one of the premier women's international softball competitions in the world with annual average gate attendance of over 100,000 fans for the nine-day event. Last year’s tournament included five of the top eight Olympic squads as they prepared for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

University of Albany's R.J. Sniffen Competes in 5,000-Meter Run at USA Junior Nationals - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Eugene, Ore. – University at Albany’s R.J. Sniffen placed 23rd in the men’s 5,000-meter run final at the USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Sunday, June 28 at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field. The junior national competition, with athletes ranging from 14 to 19 years-old, is the qualifying meet for the 2009 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships which will be held at the Hasley Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad from July 31 through August 2.

Sniffen, an all-state second-team cross country selection at Shaker who qualified for the national competition by registering a mark of 8:31.12 in the 3,000 at the Great Dane Classic this winter, crossed the tape in 16:01.39. Oklahoma State’s Colby Lowe, who placed 17th at the NCAA Championships two weeks ago, won the event in 14:31.27, while Virginia’s Sean Keveren also qualified for the Pan American Junior Athletics Championships for finishing second in 14:38.30.

Sniffen was the sixth and final Great Dane to compete at the four-day meet this weekend. Triple jumpers Jenn Gurrant, Mike McCadney and Nasim Siddeeq as well as 400-meter hurdlers Alie Beauvais and Joe Greene all competed at the senior level over the first three days of competition.

“This weekend concluded our dream year,” said head coach Roberto Vives, whose men’s and women’s teams combined to win five conference championships. “It was a huge step forward for our program, and we are doing all the right things. Our kids really stepped forward as individuals as well as athletes this year, and most importantly, they represented the school in a first-class manner.”

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Junior Men’s 5,000-Meter Run: 1. Colby Lowe (Oklahoma State) 14:31.27, 2. Sean Keveren (Virginia) 14:38.30, 3. Trevor Dunbar (Kodiak H.S., Alaska) 14:43.98, 4. Griffith Graves (Syracuse) 14:50.00, 5. Kevin Burnett (Texas A&M) 14:53.69, 6. Jim Walmsley (Air Force) 14:59.66, 7. Thomas Porter (Mountain View H.S., Va.) 15:05.49, 8. Conner Peloquin (Gig Harbor H.S., Wash.) 15:07.04, 23. R.J. Sniffen (UAlbany) 16:01.39.

University of Albany's Lindsey Hart & Brittany Scott Lead Canada to Bronze Medal at 2009 FIL World Cup - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Lindsey Hart and Brittany Scott helped lead Team Canada to a bronze medal for the first time in 27 years at the 2009 FIL World Cup (Federation of International Lacrosse) in Prague, Czech Republic on Saturday, June 27. Canada defeated England, 14-9, in the bronze-medal match at Slavia Praha Stadium. Team USA edged Australia, 8-7, for the gold medal.

Hart, who served as Canada’s captain, is UAlbany’s head women’s lacrosse coach. Scott, a UAlbany graduate assistant and former student-athlete, was a midfielder on the 18-player squad. Hart broke her collarbone while diving for a ground ball in her Canada’s 12-10 semifinal loss to Australia. Team Canada members wore number 3s (Hart’s jersey number) drawn onto their legs to honor her while playing the bronze-medal match.

In her fourth season, Hart guided the UAlbany program to its first winning season since the 2000 campaign. The Great Danes made their third consecutive America East Conference postseason appearance. Hart, the most prolific scorer in Ohio University history, has previously played in the FIL World Cup in 2001 and 2005.

Scott recently completed her first season as a graduate assistant on Hart’s coaching staff. She started 55 of 61 games played as a member of UAlbany’s lacrosse program. She served as captain in 2008 and totaled 47 goals and 20 assists as a midfielder during her career.

University of Albany´s Greene and Beauvais Compete in 400-Hurdles Semifinal at USA Track & Field Championships - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Eugene, Ore. – University at Albany's Joe Greene and Alie Beauvais placed sixth and eighth, respectively, in the opening heat of the men's 400-meter intermediate hurdles semifinals at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, June 27, at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field. The event was broadcasted live on ESPN.

Fighting intense winds on the backstretch for the second consecutive night, Greene, a three-time All-American in the event, finished his final race as a Great Dane in 49.87 seconds. Running in the faster heat, his time was better than the fourth-place mark of 50.40 in the second section. Beauvais, who placed second behind Greene at the IC4A and America East championship meets, navigated the track in 52.74.

South Carolina’s Johnny Dutch, the second-place finisher at the NCAA Championship, edged out two-time Olympic gold medalist Angelo Taylor to win the heat in 49.24. Bershawn Jackson, who won the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, ran the fastest time of the day and won the second heat in 48.80. The top four finishers in each race advanced to Sunday’s final.

In addition, Jenn Gurrant competed in the women’s triple jump on Friday night. The senior captain who holds UAlbany’s outdoor school record in the event ended her career by placing 17th with a mark of 40-feet, 9.75-inches. Shameeka Welsch, the two-time Olympic Trials runner-up, won the event for leaping 46-11.

UAlbany’s R.J. Sniffen will compete in the 5,000-meter run at the USA Junior National Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field on Sunday night at 7:50 p.m. Eastern. He will have the opportunity to become the eighth Great Dane to garner junior All-America honors.

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Men’s 400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (Semifinals): 10. Joe Greene 49.87, 16. Alie Beauvais 52.74. Women’s Triple Jump: 17. Jenn Gurrant 40-9.75.

University of Albany´s Greene and Beauvais Advance, McCadney Breaks Record at USA Track & Field Championships - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Eugene, Ore. – University at Albany's Alie Beauvais and Joe Greene each advanced to the men’s 400-meter intermediate hurdles semifinals and Mike McCadney eclipsed his own school record in the men’s triple jump at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 25 and 26 at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.

Battling winds which were gusting up to 21 miles per hour, particularly on the back straightaway, Greene and Beauvais finished ninth and 16th, respectively, in the 400 hurdles on Friday night to advance to Saturday’s semifinals. Only one competitor, Justin Gaymon of Georgia, was able to finish in less than 50 seconds due to the weather conditions.

Greene clocked in at 50.72 seconds to place second in his heat. He will be one of six athletes who garnered All-America honors at the NCAA Championships two weeks ago that will run in tomorrow’s semifinal round. Beauvais, who was running in the fastest heat, finished fifth in 51.63 to lock up the last qualifying spot. Two-time reigning NCAA champion Jeshua Anderson of Washington State and South Carolina’s Johnny Dutch, who finished second at this year’s NCAA meet behind Anderson, were among the five collegians Beauvais competed against.

McCadney, a senior captain and NCAA East Regional qualifier who was seeded 15th in the triple jump, placed ninth among 24 competitors with a mark of 51-feet, 4.25-inches on Thursday night. His previous standard was 51-3.25, which he recorded at the NCAA East Regional Championship in Greensboro, N.C. three weeks ago.

Junior transfer Nasim Siddeeq, the USTFCCCA and America East Conference Field Athlete of the Year indoors, finished 13th for leaping 50-9.50. The mark moved him up to second on the program’s all-time top 10 list behind McCadney.

Greene and Beauvais will run in the semifinal round of the 400-meter intermediate hurdles on Saturday, June 27 at 8:24 p.m. Eastern. The event will be broadcasted live on ESPN.

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Men’s 400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (First Round): 9. Joe Greene 50.72, 16. Alie Beauvais 51.63. Men’s Triple Jump: 9. Mike McCadney 51-4.25 (School Record), 13. Nasim Siddeeq 50-9.50.

University of Albany Men's Basketball Announces Fran Urli Has Signed to Play for UAlbany in 2009-10 Academic Year - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany men's basketball coach Will Brown announced on Wednesday, June 24 that Fran Urli, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward from Zagreb, Croatia, has signed a national letter of intent to play for the Great Danes in the 2009-10 academic year.

Urli was selected to the All-Region XIV honorable mention all-conference team in his sophomore season at Panola College in Texas. He averaged 10.2 points and 7.1 rebounds, plus shot 48.4 percent from the field in leading his team to a 16-14 campaign. Urli ranked 16th among the Region XIV leaders in rebounding. He received the Buddy Lowery Award as the school's top male student-athlete and was chosen academic all-conference. Urli contributed 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds as a freshman in his first year at the Texas school. He is the fourth player from the Panola program to sign with a Division I program.

"Fran Urli is a very skilled power forward who can score inside and out," said UAlbany coach Will Brown about a player who was a member of the Croatian U16 and U18 national teams. "He will add talent and versatility to our lineup and I expect him to present match-up challenges for our opponents. More importantly, Fran is a great person and an excellent student."

Gavin Glanton, a 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward from Forrest City, Ark. (Forrest City H.S.), Blake Metcalf, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound center from Camby, Ind. (Plainfield H.S.), and Ralph Watts, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound swingman from Peekskill, N.Y. (Peekskill H.S.), each signed during the November period. Mike Black, a 6-foot, 175-pound guard from Chicago, Ill. (Oak Park Fenwick H.S.) and Derrek Tartt, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound guard from Chicago, Ill. (Oak Park Fenwick H.S. / Brewster Academy), each made his commitment in April.

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2009-10 University at Albany Men's Basketball Signings

Name Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt. Hometown (Previous School)

Mike Black G Fr. 6-0 175 Chicago, Ill. (Oak Park Fenwick)

Gavin Glanton F Fr. 6-7 215 Forrest City, Ark. (Forrest City)

Blake Metcalf C Fr. 6-9 250 Camby, Ind. (Plainfield)

Derrek Tartt G Fr. 6-3 180 Chicago, Ill. (Oak Park Fenwick / Brewster Academy)

Fran Urli F Jr. 6-8 220 Zagreb, Croatia (Panola College)

Ralph Watts G/F Fr. 6-5 195 Peekskill, N.Y. (Peekskill)

University of Albany Sends Six Individuals to USA Junior and Senior Track and Field Championships - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Three-time All-America 400-meter hurdler Joe Greene leads a group of six student-athletes who will represent the University at Albany at the 2009 USA Track and Field Junior and Senior Track & Field Championships. The national competitions will be held from June 25-28 at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field, the site of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in 1972, 1976, 1980 and 2008.

Joining Greene at the senior level will be Alie Beauvais in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles as well as triple jumpers Jenn Gurrant, Mike McCadney and Nasim Siddeeq. The senior competition is the qualifying meet for the right to represent Team USA in Berlin, Germany this August at the IAAF Championship, which will be the first major international track and field event held at Olympic Stadium since the 1936 Olympic Games.

R.J. Sniffen will compete in the 5,000-meter run at the junior national competition, the selection meet for the 2009 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships which will be held at the Hasley Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad from July 31 through August 2. USA Junior Nationals competitors must be at least 14 years old on the day of competition but not turn age 20 during 2009.

Greene and Beauvais most recently competed at the NCAA Track and Field Championships at the University of Arkansas’ John McDonnell Field earlier this month. Greene became the first Great Dane to earn outdoor All-America honors three times in an event for placing fourth in 49.67 seconds, which was also a school record. Beauvais, who just picked up the event as a sophomore at Lincoln (Mo.) University, finished 10th overall and ninth among the Americans at the NCAA meet to fall one spot shy of All-America status. He also placed second in the event behind Greene at the IC4A and America East championship meets.

NCAA East Regional Championship qualifiers McCadney and Gurrant eclipsed the program standard in the men’s and women’s triple jump this spring. Gurrant, the ECAC indoor and outdoor champion, leaped 42-feet, 0.75-inches to place second at the America East Conference Championship, while McCadney recorded a mark of 51-3.25 at the regional after finishing second at the IC4A meet and winning the America East title in the event. Competing unattached, McCadney and Gurrant posted marks of 52-2.75 and 43-0.25, respectively, at the Constitution Classic held at Averill High School on June 7 to qualify for the senior meet. Siddeeq’s best performances this year came indoors to be named the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Northeast Field Athlete of the Year and the America East Conference Field Athlete of the Year. A transfer from Robert Morris where he held school and Northeast Conference records in the event, his best showing of 51-7.25 was the winning mark at the Great Dane Classic and a program standard at the time.

Sniffen was the number two runner on the cross country team this past fall and carried the same effort over to be one of the Great Danes’ premier student-athletes in the distance events on the track. An all-state second-team cross country selection at Shaker, he qualified for this week’s national competition when he finished second in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 8:31.12 at the Great Dane Classic. Sniffen also accumulated points for UAlbany at the America East indoor meet.

In previous USA national competitions, the Great Danes have produced seven junior All-Americans, including Greene in the 400 hurdles, Tyler Fogarty in the 800-meter run, Ryan Gaedje in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Alyssa Lotmore at 1,500 meters, John Moore in the 800, Jenna Ortman in the 1,500 and Jessica Ortman at 800 meters.

PAW PRINTS: UAlbany head coach Roberto Vives announced the track and field program’s most valuable player awards for the 2009 outdoor season ... Joe Greene, who earned his third All-America honor in the 400 hurdles and was named the America East Conference Most Outstanding Track Performer, was the men’s MVP ... Fey Adaramola, the America East 100- and 200-meter dash champion, Jenn Gurrant, the ECAC triple jump winner and Kamilah McShine, an All-East selection in the 400 hurdles who also won both AE hurdles titles, shared women’s MVP honors.

University of Albany´s NanoCollege Investments Top $5B With Partners Like IBM, AMD, & Toshiba

Private, federal and state investments at the University at Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering have topped $5 billion, the college reported today.

Employment at Albany NanoTech, which is 10 years old this year, has also exceeded the 2,500-mark. That’s the number of scientists, researchers, engineers, students and faculty that now work at the 800,000-square-foot complex. With an average salary of $81,000, those numbers translate to an annual payroll of $202 million.

Albany NanoTech opened its fourth building, NanoFab 300 East, this past spring. The facility lays claim to being one of the world’s most advanced centers for next-generation computer chips.

Some of the private companies that work at the site include: IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM), Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD), GlobalFoundries, Sematech, Toshiba, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, ASML, Vistec Lithography and Atotech.

University of Albany´s College of Nanoscale Science And Engineering To Ofer B.S. In Nanoscale Science

SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher (pictured) announced today that the state has approved a new bachelor’s degree offering in nanoscale science at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering in Albany.

Up until now, the college, which was founded in 2004, only offered master’s and doctoral degrees.

The NanoCollege also announced that it has raised a $10 million endowment for fellowships and scholarships that will pay tuition and other expenses for students.

One of the donors was G. Thomas Selfridge, president of Albany Valve & Fitting Co. In an interview after the one-hour ceremony, he declined to say how much his contribution was. Another donor was a former student of NanoCollege CEO Alain Kaloyeros who is now a successful businessman in Taiwan.

Kaloyeros said the school will begin offering some undergrad courses in the fall, although the program will begin in earnest in the spring of 2010. He expects an initial class of 25, with a “couple hundred” within three to four years.

The state Education Department approved the program on May 15.

The NanoCollege has 52 professors and 130 enrolled graduate students.

Zimpher, who became chancellor June 1, made the announcement as part of her pledge to tour all SUNY campuses this summer.

She was also given the first B.S. in nanoscale science from the college. Officials said it was the first of its kind in the world.

by Larry Rulison

Former York Catholic Star Jacob Iati Transfers To University of Albany - UAlbany Sports 2009

Following an older brother, Jon, who scorched nets and smashed scoring records at York Catholic, Jacob Iati wanted to make his own way on the basketball hardwood for the Fighting Irish.

So how did he carve his own niche? He merely became the York-Adams League's all-time leading scorer, adding a District 3-AA title along the way.
Now, with Jon's five-year career at the University at Albany over, Jacob is again faced with cementing his own legacy in a path traveled by his sibling. Jacob Iati committed to NCAA Division I Albany recently, opting to leave Division I High Point (N.C.) after head coach Bart Lundy was fired after the season.

Felt need for a change: Iati went through three weeks of spring practice with High Point's new coach, Scott Cherry. Ultimately, though, he felt a change was needed.

So what better place to head than to the program that his brother helped reach the NCAA Tournament? Even if Jacob Iati is foregoing the warm comfort of North Carolina for the never-ending winters of upstate New York.

"It's tough to play for the coach that didn't recruit you and if coach Lundy was there, I'd still be (at High Point) today," said Iati, who scored 2,388 points in his high school career and will have to sit out a season because of NCAA transfer rules. "I felt comfortable (at Albany) more than a lot of other schools. I'm still playing Division I with a coach I'm comfortable with."

That coach is Will Brown, who led the Great Danes to a 15-16 record in the 2008-09 season. Brown guided Albany to the program's first back-to-back 20-win seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances recently.

Seeking the right fit: Jacob Iati, meanwhile, said he looked at several Division I and Division II programs in his search for a new school. He said that sitting out a season was not the deciding factor that one might imagine.

"I would've gone D-II if I saw somewhere I was really comfortable with," said Iati, who will be on a full scholarship at Albany and said he has already been accepted to the school. "(Sitting out) didn't play into my decision as much as a lot of people might think."

Iati, who will enter his sophomore year in the fall, will have to prove himself all over again, though, after earning some consistent minutes at High Point toward the end of last season.

He saw some time at point guard and shooting guard for the Panthers -- Iati was more of a scorer, slasher-type in high school -- and averaged 1.8 points and 11 minutes per game last season.

Establishing himself for a new coach and teammates, plus living in his brother's shadow again, may be a daunting task. But it's one Iati is ready for.

"I'm going to take it as a challenge, to live up to what he did with how hard he worked," Jacob Iati said of his brother. "I want to be respected (the same way) for how hard I work. That's all I can ask."

By JEFFREY A. JOHNSON

Over 180 University of Albany Student-Athletes Named to America East Winter/Spring Honor Roll - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – The University at Albany had 183 student-athletes named to the 2008-09 America East Conference Winter/Spring Academic Honor Roll, as announced by the conference office on Thursday afternoon. Student-athletes had to earn grade point averages of 3.0 or above to receive this recognition, with those earning a 3.5 GPA or better earning Commissioner’s Honor Roll distinction. America East honored over 1,700 student-athletes from around the conference. UAlbany also had 79 student-athletes on the Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

The UAlbany women’s indoor track and field team featured the highest number of honorees for the Great Danes, with 31 student-athletes earning recognition. The women’s outdoor track and field team posted 30 members to the honor roll, while the indoor and outdoor men’s programs had 23 and 21 representatives, respectively. Women’s lacrosse featured 20 honorees, with a department-high 13 members reaching Commissioner’s Honor Roll status.

Rounding out the winter sports, the women’s basketball team boasted seven members on the honor roll, while men’s basketball had five student-athletes make an appearance. Men’s lacrosse had 15 team members on the list, including five reaching Commissioner’s Honor Roll status, while the baseball and softball programs had 11 and nine representatives, respectively. Four members of the America East Conference Champion golf team gained honor roll accolades, while seven UAlbany tennis team members were on the list.

Binghamton University had the most student-athletes named to the Academic Honor Roll with 273 recipients. University of Vermont came in second with 226 athletes recognized, followed by University of New Hampshire (204), Boston University (194), University at Albany and Stony Brook University (182), UMBC (168), University of Maine (162) and University of Hartford (139).

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2009 America East Conference Winter/Spring Academic Honor Roll

Baseball: Chris Bouchard, Adam Cutspec, Sean Donovan, Pete Eichner, Sean Gregory, Ryan Gugel*, Ralph Keppler, Dave Noble, Chris Ott*, Ralph Rizzo*, Travis Wilson*.

Men’s Basketball: Billy Allen, Tim Ambrose, Logan Aronhalt, Brian Connelly, Michael Johnson.

Women’s Basketball: Shelby Coon*, Kate Cronin, Amira Ford, Charity Iromuanya, Felicia Johnson, Tabitha Makopondo*, Britney McGee*.

Golf: Corrin Conroy, Annemarie Kissane, Jessica Signorelli*, Stephanie Klein*.

Men’s Lacrosse: Donald Baker*, Anthony Behling, Luke Cometti*, Kyle Crotty*, Brendan Gleason, Mike Kehoe, Travis Lyons, Matt Novosel, Keith Olson, Garrett Pedley, Mark Phelan*, Joe Pompo, Joe Resetarits, Corey Small, Derek Speziale*.

Women’s Lacrosse: Jodi Battaglia*, Kayla Best, Nikki Branchini*, Jane Bush, Julie Bush*, Brianna Day, Christine Grueniger*, Tricia Hurley, Olivia Jarem*, Stephanie Kempf*, Renee Levitin, Katie Neer*, Jennifer Primeau, Tricia Primomo*, Rory Redmond*, Mackenzie Riegel*, Mel Rorie*, Ashley Ross*, Samantha Strebel, Kimberly Sumcizk*.

Softball: Jess Bergin, Kristine Bill*, Meagan Butsch*, Nicole Kothe*, Diane Macdowell, Gina Mason*, Julianne Petraitis*, Marissa Powell, Stephanie Talerico*.

Women’s Tennis: Aubrey Brooks*, Melissa Coughlin, Caitlin Crowley*, Susan Ma*, Laine Mackey*, Holly Smith, Kim Weltman*.

Men’s Indoor Track & Field: Garrett Askew, Michael Dempsey, Ian Ellis-Jones*, Ricardo Estremera*, Frank Fazzino*, Ryan Florkiewicz*, Valete Graham, Kadeem Howell, Mohamed Kanu, Paul Lagno*, Bryan Lasky*, Kevin Lee, Michael Lynch, Christopher Manico*, Kevin O’Reilly, Andrew Overbaugh*, Peter Rowell, Nasim Siddeeq, Richard Sniffen, Mitchel Troise*, Freddie Wills*.

Women’s Indoor Track & Field: Jennifer Adams*, Fey Adarmola, Sandy Antenor*, Jessica Barberio*, Esperanza Blanco, Laura Bolognino, Celine Cauderlier*, Octavia Clarkson, Sineaid Corley, Catherine Coxon, Laura Cummings*, Emily Curry, Brittany Eveleth*, Zuliana Fontanez, Elia Francis, Kristin Grab, Jenn Gurrant, Lindsay Hall*, Renee Johnson, Rebecca Kelly, Ada Lauterbach, Mellissa Lee, Candice Mann*, Lesan Mattis, Emily Mino, Jessica Panos*, Alexandra Panos*, Jennifer Pierson, Arielle Roberts, Laine Sefick*, Laura Varble.

Men’s Outdoor Track & Field: Garrett Askew, Nick Assini, James Carroll, Michael Dempsey, Ricardo Estremera*, Frank Fazzino*, Ryan Florkiewicz*, Valete Graham, Kadeem Howell, Mohamed Kanu, Paul Lagno*, Bryan Lasky*, Kevin Lee, Michael Lynch, Christopher Manico*, Alan Nimblette, Kevin O’Reilly, Andrew Overbaugh*, Peter Rowell, Nasim Siddeeq, Richard Sniffen, Mitchel Troise*, Freddie Wills*.

Women’s Outdoor Track & Field: Jennifer Adams*, Fey Adarmola, Sandy Antenor*, Jessica Barberio*, Esperanza Blanco, Laura Bolognino, Celine Cauderlier*, Octavia Clarkson, Sineaid Corley, Catherine Coxon, Laura Cummings*, Emily Curry, Brittany Eveleth*, Zuliana Fontanez, Elia Francis, Kristin Grab, Jenn Gurrant, Lindsay Hall*, Renee Johnson, Rebecca Kelly, Ada Lauterbach, Melissa Lee, Candice Mann*, Lesan Mattis, Emily Mino, Jessica Panos*, Alexandra Panos*, Jennifer Pierson, Laine Sefick*, Laura Varble.



*Denotes America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll

University of Albany´s Lee McElroy Will Receive Under Armour Div. I FCS Northeast Region Athletic Director of the Year - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Westlake, Ohio – University at Albany’s Lee McElroy has been chosen to receive the Under Armour Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Northeast Region Athletic Director of the Year Award for the 2008-09 academic year. McElroy will be recognized during NACDA’s 44th Annual Convention at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort on Saturday, June 20 during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon.

McElroy is completing his ninth year of providing leadership for the school’s NCAA Division I 19-sports intercollegiate athletics program for men and women. He served as president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in 2006-07.

In 2008-09, UAlbany captured six America East Conference championships in field hockey, women’s volleyball, men’s indoor track, women’s golf, men’s outdoor track and women’s outdoor track, plus won its second consecutive Northeast Conference football title. Volleyball and field hockey advanced to NCAA Tournament play, while several track athletes qualified for national competition.

Under McElroy’s guidance, the Great Danes have won 37 conference championships, two IC4A track & field crowns and made 15 NCAA appearances in men’s basketball, men’s lacrosse, softball, women’s volleyball, baseball and field hockey. UAlbany was awarded the Stuart P. Haskell Jr. Commissioner’s Cup as America East’s top athletic program in 2004-05. The Great Danes recently finished second in the Commissioner’s Cup standings for the third consecutive year.

McElroy has been a member of NACDA Executive Committee, a chair of the Directors’ Cup Committee, has served as president of the America East Conference Executive Committee and has gained national prominence for his roles with numerous professional organizations and NCAA committees. He was honored with the 2004 General Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletic Director Award by the All-American Football Foundation.

In one of his first moves when appointed athletics director in July 2000, McElroy spearheaded a successful search for a broad-based athletic conference when the University accepted an invitation to join the America East Conference in the 2001-02 academic year. He has led the development of a master to plan to upgrade the institution’s athletics and recreational complex, including the recent construction of John Fallon Field, the home to UAlbany men’s and women’s lacrosse, and Alumni Turf Field, an adjacent area used for field hockey and as a multi-use recreational field for UAlbany students.



Paw Prints: UAlbany’s Lee McElroy is among ten current athletics directors named by the NCAA to new program called the NCAA Champions Forum. Eleven football coaches from past NCAA Expert Coaches Academies will join the group in an effort to bring minority coaches closer to the mindset of athletics directors who hire head football coaches. The NCAA Champions Forum will take place June 18-19 in Orlando in conjunction with the NACDA convention.

University of Albany's Lindsey Hart & Brittany Scott Compete for Team Canada at 2009 FIL World Cup - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Lindsey Hart and Brittany Scott are competing at the 2009 FIL World Cup (Federation of International Lacrosse) in Prague, Czech Republic. The tournament is being held at SK Slavia Praha Sports Centre, from June 18-27.

Hart, the school’s head women’s lacrosse coach, and Scott, a UAlbany graduate assistant and former student-athlete, are members of Team Canada. The nine-day competition begins with pool play and concludes with the gold- and bronze-medal matches.

In her fourth season, Hart guided the UAlbany program to its first winning season since the 2000 campaign. The Great Danes made their third consecutive America East Conference postseason appearance. Hart, the most prolific scorer in Ohio University history, has played in the FIL World Cup three times, winning a bronze medal in 1999.

Scott recently completed her first season as a graduate assistant on Hart’s coaching staff. She started 55 of 61 games played as a member of UAlbany’s lacrosse program. She served as captain in 2008 and totaled 47 goals and 20 assists as a midfielder during her career.

University of Albany´s Greene, Schoen and Estremera Garner All-America Laurels at NCAA Track and Field Championships - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Fayetteville, Ark. – University at Albany’s Joe Greene broke his own school record and finished fourth overall in the men’s 400-meter intermediate hurdles to earn All-America status at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships on Friday, June 12 at the University of Arkansas’ John McDonnell Field. Luke Schoen also garnered All-America recognition for the second consecutive season outdoors and third time overall for placing eighth in the pole vault and matching his own program standard. Ricardo Estremera earned the same honor for finishing eighth among the Americans in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

In addition to having a program-high three members of the squad achieve All-America status, UAlbany placed 40th among 74 scoring teams with six points. It was the team’s highest finish ever at the national competition.

Greene, who was UAlbany’s first male athlete to qualify for the outdoor championships in a track event three years ago, sprinted 49.67 seconds and broke his own standard of 49.72 set at the IC4A championship earlier this spring in his final collegiate race. Washington State’s Jeshua Anderson crossed the tape first in 48.47 to claim his second straight national title.

“It felt like my best race ever,” said Greene, who became the first Great Dane in school history to be a three-time outdoor All-American in one event. “I was not worried about the time I ran in the semis because the only thing I was focused on was making the finals. I’m very happy to have set the school record and a personal record in my final race.”

Greene, who missed last year’s championship due to an injury, was named an All-American in 2007 for finishing fourth in the 400-meter hurdles. He also garnered the national recognition as a freshman in 2006 for finishing eighth among the American runners at the championship meet.

Schoen equaled his own school record in the pole vault, clearing 17-feet, 6.50-inches on his third attempt. The junior, who was an indoor All-American this winter and earned the distinction in the event at last year’s outdoor meet, also cleared 16-8.75 and 17-2.75 on his final try. Schoen was one of five competitors to reach the 17-6.50 mark, which was only surpassed by three others, but he finished in his position based on number of misses. Jason Colwick of Rice, who was also the indoor national champion this winter, recorded the first-place mark of 18-8.25 on his first attempt.

Estremera, UAlbany’s first national qualifier in the steeplechase since the program upgraded to Division I in 2000, stayed with the pack for most of his final race and crossed the tape 11th in 8:51.50. The senior, who entered the championship meet seeded 17th, broke the school record for the third time this season two days ago in the preliminaries to reach the final. Brigham Young’s Kyle Perry, who ran the fastest time in the semifinal, won the individual title in 8:29.24.

“This was a tremendous season,” said head coach Roberto Vives, who guided the men’s program to a clean sweep of the indoor and outdoor America East Conference and IC4A team titles this past year. “It was absolutely the best ever in school history. These guys ran like champions. They all performed and made the university proud. There is no question about that. We will come back (to Albany) with (several) All-Americans. All four of them finished high in their event, which was unbelievable. I am very proud of these guys.”

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400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (Final): 4. Joe Greene 49.67 (All-American, School Record). 3,000-Meter Steeplechase (Final): 11. Ricardo Estremera 8:51.50 (All-American). Pole Vault (Final): 8. Luke Schoen 17-6.50 (All-American, Matches School Record).

University of Albany´s Joe Greene Reaches 400-Meter Hurdles Final at NCAA Track & Field Championships - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Fayetteville, Ark. – University at Albany’s Joe Greene automatically qualified for the men’s 400-meter intermediate hurdles final for the third time in his career at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships on Thursday, June 11 at the University of Arkansas’ John McDonnell Field. Ricardo Estremera, one of a program-high four UAlbany athletes competing at nationals, advanced to the 3,000-meter steeplechase championship race earlier in the day after his event was delayed more than three hours due to weather.

Greene navigated the track in 50.14 seconds to finish third in the second heat and sixth overall. The senior’s race, which featured four of the top five seeds going into the championship, was won by Washington State sophomore Jeshua Anderson. The reigning national champion clocked in at 49.27, the fastest time of the day, while second-seeded Justin Gaymon of Georgia was second in the heat ahead of Greene in 49.49. Five of tomorrow’s nine finalists ran at the NCAA East Regional two weeks ago.

“I felt good through the first five hurdles, but I was not as confident going over the sixth and seventh hurdles since my momentum was slowed down,” said Greene, a 2007 All-American in this event. “However, the hard part is over and the slate is clean. I saw several of these guys (who I will run against in the final) at the regional championship, so that meet served as a preview to the nationals. I am going to look to go out there, run my race and give it my all.”

UAlbany’s Alie Beauvais, who earned an at-large selection to the championship, remained in the top three of the the first semifinal heat until he knocked over the final hurdle. A transfer from Lincoln University in Missouri who was competing at the NCAAs for the first time, Beauvais finished his heat fifth overall in 50.45 and missed qualifying for tomorrow’s final by one spot and .21 seconds. South Carolina’s Johnny Dutch, who came into the meet as the top seed, won the race in 49.48.

Estremera, whose race scheduled for 9:15 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday was delayed due to severe thunderstorms in the area, broke his own school record in the steeplechase and earned the final spot in Friday’s final. The two-time America East Conference champion who automatically qualified for the national meet finished in 8:48.72, which placed him eighth in his section and 14th overall. The senior was in the back of the pack for most of the preliminary race before breaking out during the last two laps.

“I was running in the fastest section,” explained Estremera, who passed Wyoming’s Mark Korir just before the water jump with about 500 meters to go and crossed the tape less than a second before Nebraska’s David Adams to make the final field of 14 finalists. “Even though I was not in the front, I stayed focused and positive because I was still running at a pace to set a personal (and school) record. Either everyone was going to set a personal record, or some of the runners would fall back and allow me to catch up. Fortunately, I was able to pass (Korir) before the second to last water jump (and reach the final).”

Luke Schoen, an indoor and outdoor All-American, will be the first of three Great Danes competing in a final on Friday when the men’s pole vault begins at 4:45 p.m. Eastern. Estremera will run his race at 7:40 p.m. Eastern, while Greene will close out the evening at 9:05 p.m. The top-eight finishers will earn All-America recognition.

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3,000-Meter Steeplechase (Semifinal): 14. Ricardo Estremera 8:48.72 (School Record). 400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (Semifinal): 6. Joe Greene 50.14, 10. Alie Beauvais 50.45.

University of Albany´s Luke Schoen, Alie Beauvais and Joe Greene Advance in NCAA Track & Field Qualifying - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Fayetteville, Ark. – University at Albany’s Luke Schoen reached the men's pole vault final and Alie Beauvais and Joe Greene each advanced to the men’s 400-meter intermediate hurdles semifinals at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, June 10 at the University of Arkansas’ John McDonnell Field. UAlbany sent a program-high four student-athletes to the national competition.

Schoen, an indoor and outdoor All-American who missed nearly the entire month of May due to a hamstring injury suffered at Penn Relays, cleared 17-feet, 2.75-inches to advance to the final of the pole vault for the second consecutive year. He will compete against 13 other student-athletes on Friday at 4:45 p.m. Eastern.

“I warmed up about three times as much as I normally do,” said Schoen, who almost pulled his hamstring again on one of his first accelerations while warming up. “I cleared the first height on my third attempt, but I was able to make the third height on my first try to advance to the final. It feels good. I am much more confident going into the final than last year since I know all the guys.”

Beauvais, who was an at-large selection based on his second-place performance at the IC4A championship, won the opening heat of the 400-meter hurdles in 50.41 seconds. Beauvais, whose mark was the fourth-fastest time of the day, is in his first season with the UAlbany program. A native of Hempstead, N.Y., he transferred from Lincoln University in Missouri.

“This was my first appearance (at NCAAs), but I went in thinking that this was just a regular track meet,” explained Beauvais, who trailed Nebraska’s Kirkland Thornton for most of the race before catching him on the final straightaway. “The runner ahead of me (Thornton) was moving fast, but I stayed in control. Coming towards the end of the race, I picked it up and focused on getting over that last hurdle to finish strong. I did not get to warm up the way I wanted to, but I finished first. I am really excited about tomorrow and the opportunity to get to the finals.”

Greene, a 2007 All-American in the 400-hurdles, advanced to the semifinal for the third time in four years. He was clocked in at 50.73 seconds to finish second in the event's final first-round qualifying heat and post the tenth-best mark of the day. Beauvais and Greene will run in the semifinals on Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern. In addition, Ricardo Estremera's 3,000-meter steeplechase preliminary race has been delayed due to weather and was not scheduled until later this evening.

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400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (First Round): 4. Alie Beauvais 50.41, 10. Joe Greene 50.73. Pole Vault (Qualifying): T-6. Luke Schoen 17-2.75.

University of Albany Finishes Second in 2008-09 America East Conference Commissioner's Cup Standings - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Burlington, Vt. – After winning six conference championships, the University at Albany finished second in the 2008-09 Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner’s Cup Standings, as announced on Tuesday, June 9 at the conference’s annual meeting. The Commissioner’s Cup annually recognizes the strongest athletic program in America East as determined by a scoring system which rewards a school for success both during the regular season and championship competition in the conference’s 21 sports.

Boston University was awarded the Commissioner’s Cup by accumulating 396 points. The Terriers captured seven America East championships. UAlbany scored 353 points and was second in the standings for the third consecutive year. The Great Danes won the Commissioner’s Cup in 2004-05 and followed with a third-place finish the next year.

In the current academic year, the Great Danes registered conference championships in field hockey, women’s volleyball, men’s indoor track, women’s golf, men’s outdoor track and women’s outdoor track. UAlbany was the runner-up in baseball, softball and women’s indoor track. Volleyball and field hockey each claimed America East regular-season titles and advanced to NCAA Tournament play.

The Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner’s Cup is named in honor of the first commissioner of America East. Haskell served as commissioner of the conference from 1987 until his retirement in 1997.

The scoring system for the Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner’s Cup is as follows: In sports where regular-season round robin competition is conducted, the first-place institution in the final standings receives four points times the total number of teams involved in conference play. The second-place institution receives

four less points; third place receives eight less points, and so on. Additionally, the America East (tournament) champion receives two points times the total number of teams participating in the championship. The second-place institution receives two less points; third place receives four less points and so on down to the last-place institution which receives two points.

In sports where regular-season round robin competition is not conducted (cross country, golf, tennis, track and field, swimming and diving), the first-place institution at the America East championship receives two points times the total number of teams participating in the championship. The second-place institution receives two less points; third place gets four less points and so on down to the last place team which receives two points.


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2008-09 America East Conference Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner’s Cup

Standings: 1. Boston U. 396, 2. UAlbany 353, 3. Binghamton 339, 4. Stony Brook 275, 5. New Hampshire 272, 6. Vermont 253, 7. UMBC 241, 8. Maine 175, 9. Hartford 156.

University of Albany's Meagan Butsch & Leah McIntosh Selected to ECAC Division I Softball All-Star Team - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Centerville, Mass. – University at Albany’s Meagan Butsch and Leah McIntosh have been named to the ECAC Division I Softball All-Star Team, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday, June 9.

Butsch earned her first ECAC all-star selection after landing on the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I All-Northeast Region first team. She was voted America East Co-Player of the Year. Butsch was also a member of the all-conference first team for the second straight season and earned a spot on the all-championship team for the third year in a row. The senior broke school records for home runs in a career (31) and a single season (16). She led the league in home runs, runs scored (50), on-base percentage (.492), slugging percentage (.806) and tied for first in RBI (44). Butsch finished her career ranked second all-time in RBI (121), tied for third in doubles (31) and fifth in both hits (177) and runs scored (118).

McIntosh, a two-time NFCA all-regional selection, is also being honored for the first time by the ECAC for her work in the circle. She became the fourth Great Dane in the past seven seasons to be named the America East Pitcher of the Year. A first-team all-conference standout for the second straight year, she hurled a national-best four perfect games as well as 10 shutouts this spring. The junior broke the Division I program records for career strikeouts (621) and no-hitters (6) while leading the league with a 1.34 ERA. In addition, her 10.6 strikeouts per seven innings ranked first in the conference and third in the country.

Both student-athletes were instrumental in the Great Danes’ run to the championship round of the America East Conference Tournament for the fifth consecutive season. UAlbany set a school record by winning 38 games.

University of Albany´s Chris Ott & Dave Noble Earn America East Conference Baseball All-Academic Honors - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Chris Ott and Dave Noble were both named to the America East Conference All-Academic Baseball Team, as announced by the league office on Monday, June 8. Ott, a senior pitcher, owns the highest grade point average of the 11 honorees, posting a 3.81 with a major in biology.

Noble, a senior pitcher from Bronx, N.Y., posted a 3.76 GPA in accounting with a minor in business administration. The lefthander posted a 7.88 ERA in 17 appearances out of the bullpen. He struck out 17 opposing batters in 24 innings of work. Noble is also a member of the UAlbany Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.

Ott made 10 appearances this season, starting two games while coming out of the bullpen in eight contests. A member of the UAlbany Athletics Honor Roll, Ott recently received the Presidential Scholar-Athlete Award, given to the school’s top senior male and female student-athletes with the highest GPA. He is also a member of Athletes Helping Athletes.

To earn a spot on the America East all-academic squad, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve for their team, and participate in at least 50 percent of their team’s games or competitions. Pitchers are required to have thrown at least 10 innings. In the classroom, student-athletes must have a 3.30 GPA and have completed at least one year at their institution.

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2009 America East Conference Baseball All-Academic Team

Jeff Abrams, Jr., Binghamton; Jonathan Balentina, So., Maine; Mike Errigo, Sr., Stony Brook; Ken Jacobi, Sr., Binghamton; Simon Kudernatsch, So., Hartford; Steven Mazzurco, Sr., Stony Brook; Dave Noble, Sr., UAlbany; Chris Ott, Sr., UAlbany; Murphy Smith, Jr., Binghamton; Michael Stephan, Jr., Stony Brook; Rodger Wilmot, So., Hartford

University of Albany´s Brett Gifford, Will Harris & Tim Ambrose Named Men's Basketball Captains for 2009-10 Season - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, NY. – University at Albany men’s basketball coach Will Brown announced on Monday, June 8 that Brett Gifford, Will Harris and Tim Ambrose will serve as captains for the 2009-10 campaign. The Great Danes return seven letterwinners, including three starters, from a squad that reached the America East Conference’s semifinal round last season.

Gifford, a senior center from Columbia, Mo., started 28 of 31 games played last year. He averaged 2.5 points and 3.9 rebounds, plus blocked a team-high 24 shots and had a .538 field goal percentage. Gifford grabbed six or more rebounds on 11 occasions as a junior. Gifford, who has earned three varsity awards and played in 91 games as a collegian, ranks among the program’s top-20 career shot blockers with 50.

A native of Corona, N.Y., Harris earned a spot on the All-America East Conference third team in his first season with the UAlbany program. He ranked 10th in scoring (12.9 ppg) and seventh in rebounding (6.5 pg) among the conference leaders. Harris, a 6-foot-6 senior, recorded six double-doubles, including an 18-point, 10-rebound performance against Vermont in the America East quarterfinals. He scored in twin figures 22 times and had five 20-plus point games.

Ambrose, a 6-foot guard from Brentwood, N.Y., is the first junior captain since 2005-06. He was ninth among the America East scoring leaders at 14.3 points per game and was voted to the all-conference third team. Ambrose averaged 5.1 points and 2.6 assists, plus led the squad in steals with 35. Ambrose, who received last year’s team most valuable award, scored 20 or more points seven times, including a career-high 29 vs. Vermont during the regular season. He also posted his first career double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds against Boston University. Ambrose was a member of the 2008 America East All-Rookie Team.

University of Albany Track & Field's Valete Graham & Laura Cummings Voted to All-District I Academic Team - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Philadelphia, Pa. – University at Albany’s Valete Graham and Laura Cummings have been named to the ESPN The Magazine District I Academic All-America Track and Field Teams, as announced on Thursday, June 4 by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Graham was selected to the all-district first team and will be placed on the national ballot, while Cummings made the second team.

Graham, a junior psychology major who carries a 3.74 cumulative grade point average, was a member of the America East indoor and outdoor all-academic teams. He was also named to the 2008 USTFCCCCA Division I All-Academic Team. Graham, who has helped the Great Danes win six America East championships and two IC4A titles in his career, broke school records in the long jump this year at the America East championship (24-9.50, outdoors) and Arkansas’ Tyson Invitational (24-5, indoors). The league’s two-time defending outdoor long jump champion was named All-East for placing seventh with a mark of 24-2.25 at the NCAA East Regional last weekend. His effort helped UAlbany finish 10th among 122 schools in the region with 21 points, which are both program highs. A native of Bronx, N.Y., Graham met the IC4A standard in both horizontal jumping events indoors and outdoors. He placed fifth in the long jump at the IC4A indoor meet (23-5.50) and seventh at the outdoor championship (23-10.25). UAlbany became the first school to sweep the IC4A team titles in the same year since Rutgers in 2005.

Cummings, a senior English major with a 3.41 cumulative GPA, is being awarded all-district honors for the second straight season. She was one of two distance runners to garner all-academic team laurels by America East in all three sports, and also earned a spot on the 2008 USTFCCCCA Division I All-Academic Team. Cummings, who holds the school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:33.60), is a two-time all-conference recipient and NCAA East Regional Championship qualifier. Cummings placed 20th at the regional meet last weekend, clocking in at 10:53.90. Her third-place performance at the league championship helped the Great Danes win their third America East crown in the last four years. At ECAC indoors, she most notably ran on the 4x800-meter relay squad which placed third and set a program standard (9:00.07). A native of Bay Shore, N.Y., Cummings anchored the distance medley relay team to a second-place finish (12:16.84) at the America East championship.

University of Albany Selects Internationally Renowned Architect Perkins+Will to Bring World-Class Business School to Capital Region - UAlbany Business

In one of her first stops on her statewide 64-campus tour, State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher joined University at Albany Interim President George M. Philip today to announce the selection of the architecture firm Perkins+Will as the designer of the University's new School of Business building. Chancellor Zimpher was welcomed for the first time to the University at Albany campus and the Capital Region by the UAlbany community and regional political and business leaders.

The selection of Perkins+Will, an internationally recognized leader in business school design and sustainable architecture, will help UAlbany fulfill its vision to have the new facility serve as a center for learning, networking and innovation for future and current business professionals throughout the Capital Region and New York State.

UAlbany joins the ranks of some of the world's leading institutions of higher education for which Perkins+Will has planned or designed business school facilities, including the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, the Haas School of Business at UC-Berkeley, and the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Perkins+Will is an international leader in sustainable architecture. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment selected two Perkins+Will buildings as Top 10 Green Projects for 2009. This international award recognizes the best examples of sustainable architecture and green design solutions.

"The partnership between UAlbany's School of Business and its alumni demonstrates how the public/private model leverages resources that otherwise wouldn’t be available for such an important undertaking," said Chancellor Zimpher. "This facility will serve as an intellectual hub for business students, faculty and professionals in the Capital Region, New York and throughout the world."

In February, the SUNY Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name Dr. Zimpher the 12th chancellor of SUNY, the largest comprehensive system of public higher education in the country. Chancellor Zimpher is visiting SUNY's 64 campuses during her first three months. The tour constitutes the first step in the creation of a SUNY-wide strategic plan.

The University also announced that recent philanthropic gifts have brought total support for the building within 10 percent of its $64 million goal. A group of 61 UAlbany School of Business alumni at the professional services firm, Ernst & Young, and the Ernst & Young Foundation contributed $100,000 for the School of Business project, bringing total private support to more than $3 million. The University also received $54 million in support from the 2008-09 New York State budget for the state-of-the-art academic and research facility. The private support represents more than 1,300 individuals as well as numerous international and national firms.

"In this era of fast-moving, global business, the selection of Perkins+Will ensures this building will offer our students and faculty a world-class facility with an innovative learning environment," said Interim President Philip. "We thank the alumni at Ernst & Young for investing in their alma mater. Their generous support brings us closer to our fundraising goal."

Part of the support from Ernst & Young will be used to provide resources for a communication class for accounting majors, as well as mentoring, and career and faculty development. Ernst & Young hires about 25 School of Business graduates each year, and accepts 15-20 interns.

"The University at Albany alumni at Ernst & Young are committed to supporting excellence in higher education and preparing UAlbany students for professional service careers in business," said Alex Fredericks, ’95, partner at Ernst & Young.

"We are enthusiastic about working with Perkins+Will to design a modern facility that will enhance innovation, entrepreneurship, community engagement, and collaboration with other colleges at the university, and also promote the intellectual growth of our students and faculty," said School of Business Dean Donald S. Siegel. "We thank our alumni at Ernst & Young for providing the resources to better prepare our graduates to become this country’s next generation of successful entrepreneurs. We are within reach of our $64 million goal, but as most fundraisers know, the last 10 percent is always the most difficult."

Consistent with the University's commitment to sustainability, the business school's plan will integrate Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) measures, incorporating green building design elements to improve energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

"Perkins+Will is dedicated to setting worldwide standards for exceptional service and design innovation in architecture, interiors, branded environments, and planning and strategies," said Robert Goodwin, AIA, design principal of Perkins+Will. "We're confident that the design of the new building will be a memorable expression of the vision of the UAlbany School of Business."


Plans for the building call for a student-focused environment featuring technologically advanced classrooms and meeting spaces, wireless Internet access, breakout rooms for team projects, space for student and career services, student reception areas, collaborative research centers, and additional graduate assistant work space. There will also be space allocated to student and faculty-based enterprise.

Plans for the building call for a student-focused environment featuring technologically advanced classrooms and meeting spaces, wireless Internet access, breakout rooms for team projects, space for student and career services, student reception areas, collaborative research centers, and additional graduate assistant work space. There will also be space allocated to student and faculty-based enterprise.

The School of Business currently occupies a building on the uptown campus designed in the 1960s. Since then, the School's enrollment, faculty, programs and physical needs have grown exponentially. Small-scale renovations and facelifts are no longer sufficient. The new building will position the School to compete more effectively with other prominent business schools for outstanding students and stellar faculty scholars, while improving teaching, learning and research environments. The business school building is expected to be completed by 2013.

"UAlbany's new business school facility is an investment in our region and state in providing a state-of-the-art learning environment for students and business professionals," said Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari. "I look forward to seeing the results of the architect’s design and am pleased that UAlbany’s business school building will join the ranks of other prestigious schools."

"This new building will become home to the business professionals who will one day lead the economy of our state," said New York State Senator Hugh Farley, professor emeritus of UAlbany's School of Business. "This facility will provide a state-of-the art learning environment to help strengthen the School’s status among the elite business programs in the United States."

The School of Business is engaged in exceptional undergraduate, graduate and executive programs, pioneering research, and the ethical and globally oriented pursuit of business opportunity. The School is renowned for innovative contributions to the business and accounting professions through discovery, communication and the application of new knowledge. Eighty-five percent of School of Business undergraduates are employed full-time within three months of graduation and another 12 percent go on to graduate school. For the full-time MBA program, 97 percent are placed in full-time positions within three months of graduation.

In addition, the School was named among the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs most highly rated by their students, according to a report in the April issue of Entrepreneur magazine. The School is one of 15 top-rated graduate schools of business named to "Student Opinion Honors for Business Schools" in the general management category.

The School's MBA program also ranks ninth in the nation as a "Greatest Opportunity for Women," according to the Princeton Review's 2009 Best 296 Business Schools. The ranking determines the support structure for female students at the school, the level of business school coursework for women entrepreneurs, and whether case study materials for classes proportionately reflect women in business.

Recently, the Society for Human Resource Management, the premier human resource association, certified the School's Human Resource Information Systems concentration as one of four MBA programs in the country that meets criteria for a comprehensive education in human resource management. It is the only MBA program in the nation to incorporate information technology into a human resource curriculum. The HRIS MBA program was established in 1985.

University of Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering One of 10 To Receive HP Innovations Grants

The University at Albany’s nanocollege was one of 10 higher education institutions in the country to receive an HP Innovations in Education grant.

The College of NanoScale Science and Engineering joins schools such as Clemson University and the University of Illinois in receiving the HP grant, which is designed to address the need for more students to pursue and complete high-tech undergraduate degree programs in such areas as engineering, computer science and information systems.

UAlbany’s NanoCollege will receive an HP award package of HP technology, cash, and professional services valued at more than $286,000. The school will receive wireless HP Tablet PCs, wide-format HP DesignJet printers, and remote access to HP Blade Workstations from anywhere on campus.

UAlbany said the grant will allow the nanocollege to develop a “virtual laboratory complex” built on HP’s server and tablet PC hardware and software technology.

Alain Kaloyeros, the nanocollege’s CEO, said only 5 percent of the proposals received funding.

HP is investing more than $17 million in mobile technology, cash and professional development internationally as part of the global 2009 HP Innovations in Education grant initiative.

Marine Corps Coordinating Council Supports UAlbany Foundation Scholarship with $75,000 Donation

The Marine Corps Coordinating Council of NY Capital Region has donated $75,000 to the University at Albany Foundation to establish the Marine Sergeant William D. Powers Scholarship.

The Marine Sergeant William D. Powers Scholarship provides support for a student who is pursuing a degree at UAlbany, and who is either currently enlisted in the Marine Corps (Actives or Reserves) or a veteran who has been honorably discharged. The Marine Corp Coordinating Council of NY Capital Region created the scholarship in honor of Powers, a former Marine sergeant who served five years active duty in the U.S. Marine Corp and now serves as the Council's honorary president. A former chairman of the state Republican Committee from 1991 to 2001, Powers currently heads Powers & Company, an Albany-based governmental and business development consulting firm.

"We are grateful to the Marine Corps Coordinating Council for establishing this scholarship," said University at Albany Interim President George M. Philip. "Their generous support will have a positive impact on the lives of deserving student Marines."

"I understand the many challenges our Marines face and I know that education is one of the best ways for them to advance in life," said former Sergeant Powers. "Between the training they receive in the USMC and the education from the University at Albany I am sure our young scholar Marines will go far. This scholarship will help ensure that."

The University at Albany Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized for the purpose of encouraging philanthropic contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other organizations in support of activities and programs of the University at Albany. Responsibility for governance of the Foundation is vested in a Board of Directors, comprising alumni, community and University representatives. The executive director of the Foundation reports regularly to the Board of Directors, is responsible for the management of all funds in its accounts and is committed to ensuring their proper stewardship.

New York Residents: SUNY Reform Bill Pending

UPDATE: THIS BILL PASSED THE NYS SENATE, AND IS BEING TAKEN UP IN THE ASSEMBLY, SPECIFICALLY IN THE ASSEMBY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE NOW!

CALL THEM AND ASK THEM TO INCLUDED UALBANY AND ALL UNIVERSITY CENTERS IN THIS LEGISLATION OR KILL THE BILL.

In January 2009, Buffalo-area legislators introduced Bill A.2020/S.2020 (the "UB 2020Flexibility and Economic Growth Act") to provide the University at Buffalo relief from burdensome state regulations. Shortly afterwards, President Lois B. DeFleur joined with the presidents of the other SUNY University Centers to request that Binghamton, Albany and Stony Brook be included in the legislation.

The bill seeks to implement several recommendations made by New York's Commission on Higher Education, including increased spending and contracting flexibility and greater access to capital funding. These common-sense regulatory reforms will allow the SUNY University Centers to increase quality, compete for the best students and reduce costs. Given the current fiscal crisis, reducing New York's excessive red tape represents the most viable path toward reaching our goal of becoming the nation's premier public university. None of our peers are subject to similar bureaucratic processes that New York State requires of our outstanding academic institutions.

The Senate Committee on Higher Education is currently considering this legislation. Send your message to designated New York legislators today, urging them to pass this long overdue legislation with all four SUNY University Centers included.

Courtesy: BU News

Suggested Email To NYS Representatives:

Subject: Pass SUNY Reform Bill With University At Albany Included

In January 2009, Buffalo-area legislators introduced Bill A.2020/S.2020 (the "UB 2020Flexibility and Economic Growth Act") to provide the University at Buffalo relief from burdensome state regulations. Shortly afterwards, the presidents of the other SUNY University Centers — Binghamton, Albany and Stony Brook — requested to be included in the legislation.

I urge you to pass the legislation with all four university centers included. The bill seeks to implement several of the recommendations made by New York's Commission on Higher Education, including increased spending and contracting flexibility and greater access to capital funding. These reforms will allow the SUNY University Centers to increase quality, compete for the best students and reduce costs.

Given the current fiscal crisis, regulatory reform represents the most viable path toward improving the quality of higher education in New York state. These are common-sense recommendations that should be widely implemented — not confined to just one University Center. Peer institutions in other states are not subject to the bureaucratic processes that New York state requires of SUNY. With your support, all four SUNY University Centers can continue to grow and excel.

Please support and pass an amendment to include all 4 university centers, Albany – Binghamton – Buffalo – Stony Brook, in this proposed legislation.

Pass with all 4 university centers or kill the bill.

CALL, WRITE, AND EMAIL ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTE MEMBERS NOW.

GlickD@assembly.state.ny.us
Deb Glick

AlfanoT@assembly.state.ny.us
Tom Alfono

BarronI@assembly.state.ny.us
Inez Barron

ButlerM@assembly.state.ny.us
Marc Butler

CahillK@assembly.state.ny.us
Kevin Cahill

Castronl@assembly.state.ny.us
Nelson Castro

ConteJ@assembly.state.ny.us
James Conte

CusickM@assembly.state.ny.us
Michael Cusick

EddingP@assembly.state.ny.us
Patricia Eddington

EngleS@assembly.state.ny.us
Steve Englebright

FitzpatrickM@assembly.state.ny.us
Michael J. Fitzpatrick

GottfrR@assembly.state.ny.us
Richard N. Gottfried

JaffeeE@ assembly.state.ny.us
Ellen Jaffee

LavineC@assembly.state.ny.us
Charles Lavine

LiftonB@assembly.state.ny.us
Barbara Lifton

LupardoD@assembly.state.ny.us
Donna Lupardo

MageeW@assembly.state.ny.us
William Magee

MillerJ@assembly.state.ny.us
Joel Miller

MorellJ@assembly.state.ny.us
Joseph Morelle

PaulinA@assembly.state.ny.us
Aimee Paulin

PeopleC@assembly.state.ny.us
Crystal Peoples

PeraltJ@assembly.state.ny.us
Jose Peralta

PheffeA@assembly.state.ny.us
Audrey Pheffer

QuinnJ@assembly.state.ny.us
Jack Quinn

StirpeA@assembly.state.ny.us
Al Stirpe

GlickD@assembly.state.ny.us,AlfanoT@assembly.state.ny.us,BarronI@assembly.state.ny.us,ButlerM@assembly.state.ny.us,CahillK@assembly.state.ny.us,Castronl@assembly.state.ny.us, ConteJ@assembly.state.ny.us,CusickM@assembly.state.ny.us, EddingP@assembly.state.ny.us,EngleS@assembly.state.ny.us,FitzpatrickM@assembly.state.ny.us,GottfrR@assembly.state.ny.us,JaffeeE@assembly.state.ny.us,LavineC@assembly.state.ny.us,LiftonB@assembly.state.ny.us,LupardoD@assembly.state.ny.us,MageeW@assembly.state.ny.us,MillerJ@assembly.state.ny.us,MorellJ@assembly.state.ny.us,PaulinA@assembly.state.ny.us,PeopleC@assembly.state.ny.us,PeraltJ@assembly.state.ny.us,PheffeA@assembly.state.ny.us,QuinnJ@assembly.state.ny.us,StirpeA@assembly.state.ny.us,TobaccoL@assembly.state.ny.us



CALL, WRITE, AND EMAIL YOUR OTHER REPS NOW.

UAlbany Interim President George M. Philip
presmail@uamail.albany.edu
Phone:(518) 956-8010

UAlbany Interim Provost Susan D. Phillips
sdphil@uamail.albany.edu
Phone: (518) 956-8030

- - - - - -

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
speaker@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-3791

Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari
canestr@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-4474

Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb
KolbB@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-5772

Assembly Minority Leader Pro Tempore James Tedisco
tediscj@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-5772

Assemblyman John McEneny
mcenenj@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-4178

Assemblyman Bob Reilly
ReillyR@ assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-5931

Assemblyman Tim Gordon
GordonT@ assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-5931

- - - - - -

NYS Senate Majority Leader Malcom Smith
masmith@senate.state.ny.us
Phone: (518)455-2701 / Fax:(518)455-2816

NYS Senator Neil Breslin - Senate Assistant Majority Leader
breslin@senate.state.ny.us
Phone: (518)455-2225

NYS Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos
skelos@senate.state.ny.us
Phone: (518)455-3171

NYS Senator Hugh Farley
farley@senate.state.ny.us
Phone: (518)455-2181, fax (518) 455-2271

NYS Senator Roy McDonald
mcdonald@senate.state.ny.us
Phone: (518)455-2381 Fax: (518)426-6985

NYS Senator James Seward
seward@senate.state.ny.us
Phone: (518)455-3131

NYS Senator Steve Seland
saland@senate.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-2411

- - - - - -

Governor Patterson
Phone: 518-474-8390

City of Albany Mayor Jennings
mayor@ci.albany.ny.us
Phone: (518) 434-5100 Fax: (518) 434-5013

President of The University of the State of New York (USNY) and Commissioner of Education
Phone: (518) 474-3852

Office of SUNY Chancellor
chancellor@suny.edu
Phone: (518) 443-5355

NYS Commission on Higher Education - Hunter Rawlings - Chair, John Reid - Executive Director
hecomm.sm.web@nysemail.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 486-4238

- - - - - -

Contact those above and contact your reps:

Find Your NYS Assembly Reps
Find Your NYS Senate Reps

SUNY Chancellor Dr. Nancy L. Zimpher Visits UAlbany Today @ 2:15pm In The Atrium of University Hall

To the University at Albany Community

Please join me on Thursday, June 4 at 2:15 p.m. in the Atrium of University Hall as we officially welcome the new SUNY Chancellor, Dr. Nancy L. Zimpher, to our campus and to the Capital Region.

In February, the SUNY Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name Dr. Zimpher the 12th chancellor of SUNY, the largest comprehensive system of public higher education in the country. Chancellor Zimpher has stated one of her first orders of business is to visit all campuses in the SUNY system. We look forward to helping her begin her state-wide tour with a visit to UAlbany.

School of Business Dean Donald Siegel, and members of the business and legislative community will also be with us for an important announcement about the University at Albany School of Business.

UAlbany's School of Business is one of the premier public business schools in the Northeast, renowned for innovative contributions to the business and accounting professions through discovery and the application of new knowledge.

Our announcement will be the next step in positioning the School as a world-class center for learning, networking and innovation for business professionals throughout the Capital Region and the State of New York.

I hope you will be able to join us to welcome Chancellor Zimpher and to celebrate an exciting new chapter for our School of Business.


Sincerely yours,

George M. Philip
Interim President
University at Albany


PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE: THIS EVENT WILL NOW BE HELD AT 2:15 p.m.
ON THURSDAY, JUNE 4.
(The original time was 11:00 a.m.)

Please Note: Free parking will be available in the Collins Circle Visitors’ Lot.

University of Albany's Alie Beauvais & Luke Schoen Earn At-Large Berths to NCAA Track & Field Championship - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Luke Schoen and Alie Beauvais have been selected to compete at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship, as announced on Tuesday, June 2 by the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Committee. The national championship will be held at the University of Arkansas’ John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark. on June 10-13. Schoen and Beauvais join teammates Joe Greene (400-meter intermediate hurdles) and Ricardo Estremera (3,000-meter steeplechase) at this year’s NCAA meet. The Great Danes will send a program-high four competitors to nationals.

Beauvais, who received All-East recognition in the 400-meter hurdles for placing seventh at the NCAA East Regional championship, was selected based on his personal-best time of 49.99 seconds at the IC4A championship. A junior from Hempstead, N.Y., Beauvais ranked first nationally among at-large candidates. UAlbany will have two student-athletes compete in the same event for the first time at the Division I level.

Schoen, an indoor and outdoor All-American in the pole vault, will be making his second straight appearance at the NCAA outdoor championship. He tied for ninth at last weekend’s regional championship in his first competition since suffering a leg injury at the Penn Relays in April. Schoen, a junior from Bohemia, N.Y., broke his own school record by clearing 17-feet, 6.50-inches at the Duke Asics Invitational, a mark which was ranked fourth on the list of athletes eligible for an at-large bid.

“I am happy to see Alie get an opportunity to compete on the national stage,” said UAlbany coach Roberto Vives, who took three athletes to the 2007 NCAA meet. “He has come a long way in the intermediate hurdles in a short period of time. Although Luke has missed a significant part of the season due to injury, he should do very well at the NCAA championship. He is a two-time All-American and a big meet performer.”

Greene and Estremera automatically qualified for the championship meet by placing in the top five of their respective events at the NCAA East Regional. Greene, who advanced to nationals for the third time in his career, finished third in the 400-meter hurdles in 50.21 seconds. He missed last year’s championship due to injury after making the field in 2006 and 2007. Estremera was fifth in the regional 3,000-meter steeplechase in 8:52.76. He posted the second-fastest time in school history despite running with a shoe which was damaged in the opening meters of his sectional race.

*********

NCAA Division I Track & Field Championship Men’s Qualifiers

2004: Brandon Howlett (AQ, discus)

2006: Joe Greene (AL, 400m hurdles), Marc Pallozzi (AL, javelin)

2007: Gered Burns (AL, 800 meters), Joe Greene (AQ, 400m hurdles), Marc Pallozzi (AQ, javelin)

2008: Luke Schoen (AQ, pole vault)

2009: Alie Beauvais (AL, 400m hurdles), Ricardo Estremera (AQ, 3,000m steeplechase), Joe Greene (AQ, 400m hurdles), Luke Schoen (AL, pole vault)

AQ--automatic qualifier, AL--at-large