UAlbany Photos

University of Albany's Mike Konstanty Selected By Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball Draft: UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Mike Konstanty became the sixth player in the baseball program’s history to be chosen in the Major League Baseball Draft when the Cincinnati Reds took him in the 39th round on Friday, June 6. Konstanty, a senior first baseman, was the 1,169th player selected in the 2008 MLB Draft.

Konstanty, at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, established the school’s single-season record with 13 home runs this spring. He had a .295 batting average with 18 doubles, 47 RBI and a .591 slugging percentage. A native of Oneonta, N.Y., Konstanty started all 55 games and totaled 57 hits and 45 runs.

“We are very proud of the opportunity that he has been given to play at the next level,” UAlbany coach Jon Mueller said. “Mike put together a nice season and was very disciplined in his everyday approach. He worked hard for this moment.”

UAlbany catcher Tom Hill was taken by the Kansas City Royals in 34th round one year ago. Terry Kenny was the first Great Dane to be drafted in 1974, when San Francisco selected him in the ninth round. In the Division I era, Steve Checksfield (Houston, 10th round) was drafted in 2001, Mike Grasso (Atlanta, 11th round) was picked in 2002 and Adam Kroft (San Diego, 30th round) was chosen in 2004.

University of Albany's Laura Cummings Named to ESPN The Magazine District I All-Academic Track & Field Team

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Hamilton, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Laura Cummings has been named to the ESPN The Magazine District I Academic All-America Women’s Track and Field Team, as announced on Thursday, June 5 by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Cummings, a District I first-team member, will now advance to the national ballot.

Cummings won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2008 America East Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship in a school-record and regional-qualifying time of 10:33.60, and finished 21st in the steeplechase at NCAA East Regional. Cummings, the indoor track team co-MVP and cross country team MVP, also placed third in the 1,500-meter run and fifth in the 800-meter run at the America East outdoor competition. The junior from Bay Shore, N.Y. registered a third-place finish in the 1,000-meter run at the 2008 America East Indoor Championship. She was named an All-East runner after finishing seventh at ECAC cross country meet in 18:42.

Cummings, who is studying English, posted a 3.75 grade point average. She was selected to both the conference’s indoor and outdoor track all-academic squads. To be eligible, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.20 while performing as a varsity starter or key reserve.

UAlbany Football's John Allen Chosen For Expert Coaches Academy in Dallas on June 5-7

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Indianapolis, Ind. – University at Albany’s John Allen is one of 28 football coaches that have been selected to participate in the 2008 NCAA Expert Coaches Academy, scheduled to take place on June 5-7 in Dallas, Texas. Allen is in his first season as the UAlbany program’s wide receivers coach.

The Expert Coaches Academy is an NCAA program that addresses the critical shortages of ethnic minorities in head coaching positions in the sport of college football, primarily at the Division I level. The academy’s program prepares coaches for many of the issues they will experience at the head coaching level and offers networking opportunities.

Coaches will participate in workshops during the three-day program that focus on communications, interview skills, fiscal responsibilities, compliance, academic issues, and building and managing a successful football program. The participants represent Division I, II and III colleges and universities.

Allen was previously the head coach of NFL Europe’s Berlin Thunder until the National Football League ceased league operations in June 2007. He had been the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for the Amsterdam Admirals from 2004-07. On the collegiate level, Allen was the wide receivers coach at Bucknell University in 2002. He served as both offensive coordinator and receivers coach at Division II Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania from 1996-02.

University of Albany Alum Frank Resetarits Leads Lizards Past Boston

During their first two games, the Long Island Lizards combined to score just 22 points and dropped both of their opening games. However, they erupted for a season-high 20 points and earned their first win of the season, a 20-19 overtime victory over the Boston Cannons at Mitchel Athletic Complex on Saturday evening.

Frank Resetarits scored the game-winning goal off a feed from newly acquired attackman Spencer Ford at the 4:01 mark of the overtime period to hand the Cannons their second straight loss.

The Lizards jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead in the first five minutes of the opening period before the Cannons stormed back to tie the game at 5-5 by scoring four of the next five goals, including a pair of markers from Matt Poskay.

Just over two minutes into the second quarter, Tom Zummo gave the Cannons a 6-5 edge with an unassisted marker before the Lizards exploded for six straight goals, including two from Resetarits, for a 12-6 advantage with 4:53 left in the firs thalf. Boston cut the margin to 13-9 by scoring three points in the final four minutes, including a two-point marker from Joe Kostolansky.

Led by two goals from Blake Miller, the Lizards opened the third quarter with three consecutive goals before the Cannons answered with three goals in a five-minute span. Keith Cromwell snapped the Boston spurt with 37 seconds left in the stanza when he converted a pass from Tim Goettelmann.

A pair of two-point goals by the Cannons in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter tied the game at 16-16. After the teams traded goals twice, the Cannons took a one-point lead when Poskay took a feed from Sean Morris and scored his third goal of the game. But, Glenn Adams scored an unassisted goal with just three seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime.

Resetarits was one of four Long Island players who recorded a "hat trick" in the victory while Peter Vlahakis won 28 of 40 face-offs and recorded 13 ground balls en route to being named the Bud Light MVP.

Morris led the Cannons with two goals and six assists while Zummo had two goals, including a two-point marker, and two assists.

Courtesy: Inside Lacrosse

UAlbany Class of 2008 Donates Largest Gift in University's History

The University at Albany-SUNY's 2008 Senior Class left its mark on the campus by donating more than $16,300 to UAlbany. Funds from the Senior Class Gift will be used toward a new ambulance for Five Quad Volunteer Ambulance Service, a New York State certified ambulance service run and operated by UAlbany students.

A record number of University seniors participated in the Senior Class Gift with 484 students pledging donations. The class was challenged by Interim President George M. Philip, Foundation Board President George Hearst, and Acting Vice President for Development Fardin Sanai, who each pledged $1,000 if more than 300 students donated this year.

"This gift is a testament to the overwhelming generosity of students in UAlbany's graduating class and their ability to step up to a challenge for the betterment of the campus community," said Philip.

"The students rallied around this project and truly made it their own," said Sanai. "It's exciting to see such a sense of community among our graduating class."

"The Senior Class Gift is our chance to leave a lasting impression on our alma mater and leave the University in a better situation than we found it, and I hope we've done that," said senior Nick Fahrenkopf, who presented Philip with the check at commencement.

The Senior Class Gift, which is donated through The University at Albany Foundation, is a way for student to give back to the University at Albany, and serves as a living tribute to great memories, an outstanding education, and a bright future. Previous gifts include a bronze sculpture of UAlbany’s Great Dane mascot, art work in the Campus Center, and scholarships for needy students.

Since it's founding in 1973, Five Quad Volunteer Ambulance Service, Inc. has been serving the University at Albany community, as well as the surrounding areas of Albany and Guilderland. Five Quad is a New York State certified ambulance agency that is run and operated by University at Albany students. Five Quad is successfully able to provide Basic Life Support 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the fall and spring semesters. Each semester, Five Quad has 50-90 active members (including actively participating alumni), 20-30 members-in-training, and two functional ambulances.

University of Albany's Pole Vaulter Luke Schoen Ties for Second at NCAA East Regional Track and Field Championships

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Tallahassee, Fla. – University at Albany’s Luke Schoen matched his own school record in tying for second place in the men’s pole vault at the NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday, May 31 at Florida State University’s Mike Long Track. Schoen advanced to the NCAA Division I Championships on June 11-14 in Des Moines, Iowa. The top-five finishers in each event automatically qualify for nationals.

Schoen, a sophomore from Bohemia, N.Y., cleared the bar at 17-feet, 5-inches on his second attempt to equal a program mark he established at the UAlbany Spring Classic three weeks ago. Schoen, who finished15th in NCAA regional competition as freshman, won the America East Conference title and placed second at the IC4A meet earlier this month.

Clemson’s Mitch Greeley won the pole vault by clearing 17-feet, 9-inches, a height the senior made on his first approach. Schoen and Virginia Tech’s Yavgeniy Olhovsky tied for the runner-up position after each vaulter missed three times at Greeley’s winning mark.

“It’s a sweet feeling to make nationals” said Schoen, whose father, Ken, played on UAlbany’s first three varsity football teams from 1973-75. “Technically, it was one of my best days. I just got a new pole, and it gave me some extra height. I just missed at 17-9, so I feel there’s more to come.”

Mike McCadney, a junior who was coming off victories at the America East and IC4A championships, was not as fortunate in the men’s triple jump. McCadney went 50-feet, 3.25-inches on his first try, but then fouled on his next two attempts. McCadney, who narrowly missed a trip to NCAA nationals last year, ended up in 12th position.

In the women’s triple jump, Jenn Gurrant placed 17th after posting a distance of 40-feet, 8.75-inches on her second attempt. Gurrant, who was making her second consecutive regional appearance, took third at the ECAC meet on May 19. Arina Gerasimova was 22nd in the same event with a leap of 39-6.50. Laura Cummings, the America East champion in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, finished in 21st place with a time of 11:00.17.

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NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track & Field Championships (Tallahassee, Fla.)

Men’s Pole Vault Final

1. Mitch Greeley (Clemson), 17-9, t2. Luke Schoen (UAlbany), 17-5, t2. Yavgeniy Olhovsky (Virginia Tech), 17-5, t4. Gonzalo Barriolhet (Florida State), 16-7.25, t4. Sean Young (South Florida), 16-7.25, t7. Jordan Jodon (Virginia Tech), 16-7.25, t7. Justin Semeyn (Florida), 16-7.25.

Valete Graham Places 13th in Men's Long Jump at NCAA East Regional Track and Field Meet

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Tallahassee, Fla. – University at Albany’s Valete Graham finished 13th in the men’s long jump at the NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday, May 30 at Florida State University’s Mike Long Track. Graham, a sophomore, is one of 12 UAlbany athletes competing in the two-day regional competition.

Graham went 23-feet, 8.75-inches on his first attempt. The reigning America East Conference champion qualified for the regional by topping the 24-foot mark at last month’s Penn Relays. Florida State’s Ngonidzashe Makusha went 26-0.25 to capture the NCAA East Regional crown. The top-five finishers in each event automatically advance to the NCAA Championships on June 11-14 in Des Moines, Iowa. UAlbany’s Kyle Nadler was 24th in the long jump with a leap of 22-7.

Daniel Avery and Jean Juste did not reach the men’s 110-meter hurdles final after placing third and fourth, respectively in their heat. Avery, a freshman who already holds the program’s top Division I time, was clocked in 14.04 seconds. Juste, who won the America East title in a conference-record performance, sprinted 14.26, just one-hundredth of a second off his personal best. Kamilah McShine, the America East champion in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, was sixth in her heat with a time of 14.21 seconds and failed to advance. Jeffery Barnes, the America East 200-meter winner, took sixth in his preliminary heat in 21.76.

Pole vaulter Luke Schoen, the school record holder, leads a group of six athletes who will compete during Saturday’s schedule. Schoen vaulted 17-feet, 5-inches earlier this month. Michael McCadney, who is coming off victories at the America East and IC4A championships, posted a school-record effort in the triple jump two weeks ago. Laura Cummings established the program’s standard in the 3,000-meter steeplechase when she won the conference crown.

University of Albany Men's Basketball Signs Three Student-Athletes to Complete Class for 2008-09 Academic Year

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany men's basketball coach Will Brown announced on Friday, May 30 that three student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play for the Great Danes in the 2008-09 academic year. Louis Barraza, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound swingman from Phoeniz, Ariz. (Trevor Browne H.S.), Michael Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound guard from Brooklyn, N.Y. (Sheepshead Bay H.S.), and Edmund "Scotty" McRae, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward from Rosedale, N.Y. (Benjamin Cardozo H.S.), each made his commitment.

"I am very excited about the talent level and versatility of this class," Brown said. "We feel that we addressed our biggest need which was scoring. All of the student-athletes that we signed can score the ball. This class also brings balance to the make-up of our roster (three seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen)."

Barraza, who attended Yavapai Community College in 2007-08, was named the Arizona Community College Freshman of the Year. He was named to the NJCAA All-Region I second team after averaging 20.1 points and nearly 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Barraza, who shot 50.3 percent from three-point range, was also chosen second-team all-conference. As a high school senior, he accounted for 19.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists, and played in the Arizona 4A-5A North-South All-Star Game.

Johnson, one of six players from Blinn (Texas) College to sign with a Division I program, earned second-team All-Region XIV recognition last season. He averaged 15.7 points and 5.7 assists, plus ranked 13th nationally in steals at 3.4 per game. He shot 54.6 percent from the field and 78.7 percent from the line in leading the Buccaneers to an 18-13 record. Johnson, who was a 20-game starter the previous year at Howard College, was a second-team All-Brooklyn selection as a senior at Sheepshead Bay High.

McRae led Eastern Wyoming College (23-13) to the Region IX championship and a NJCAA national tournament appearance. McRae was among the top-15 in the region in scoring (15.8 ppg) and rebounding (6.9), plus averaged 2.1 blocked shots. He was voted first-team All-Region IX and to the Central Sub-Region squad. McRae, who had 29 points in an overtime win against Western Nebraska, attended Benjamin Cardozo High as a high school senior.

Logan Aronhalt, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound swingman from Zanesville, Ohio (Zanesville H.S.), Jake Lindfors, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward from Addison, Ill. (Driscoll Catholic H.S.), and Anthony Raffa, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard from Strathmere, N.J. (Wildwood Catholic H.S.), each made his commitment during the November signing period.

Aronhalft, who averaged 23.2 points in his final scholastic season, was named the Ohio Division I Player of the Year by the OHSBCA. Lindfors was chosen second-team all-state in Illinois by the IBS and IBCA after averaging 25.9 points and 11.9 rebounds. Raffa, a second-team Associated Press all-state selection in New Jersey as a high school senior, led Winchendon (Mass.) School to the New England Prep School Athletic Conference Class A championship final.

2008-09 University at Albany Men's Basketball Signings
Name, Pos., Cl., Ht., Wt., Hometown (High School / Junior College)
Logan Aronhalt, G/F, Fr., 6-4, 215, Zanesville, Ohio (Zanesville)
Louis Barraza,G/F, So., 6-5, 200, Phoenix, Ariz. (Trevor Browne / Yavapai (Ariz.) Community College)
Michael Johnson, G, Jr., 6-1, 195, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Sheepshead Bay / Blinn (Texas) College)
Jake Lindfors, F, Fr., 6-9, 220, Addison, Ill. (Driscoll Catholic)
Edmund "Scotty" McRae, F, Jr., 6-8, 210, Rosedale, N.Y. (Benjamin Cardozo / Eastern Wyoming College)
Anthony Raffa, G, Fr., 6-1, 180, Strathmere, N.J. (Wildwood Catholic / Winchendon School)

University of Albany's Jordan Levine & Brett Queener Chosen in Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Hoboken, N.J. -- University at Albany’s Jordan Levine was chosen in the first round of the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft by the New Jersey Pride on Wednesday, May 28. Levine, the 10th overall selection, becomes the second player in the UAlbany program’s history to be taken in the MLL Draft. Frank Resetarits was chosen in the third round last year.

“It’s a great feeling to be drafted,” said Levine, a midfielder who was named to the USILA All-America squad for the second consecutive year last weekend. “I will be close to home where my family and friends can see me play. After the season general managers and coaches started calling, and that’s when I knew this really could happen.”

A native of Bethpage, N.Y., Levine was voted to the All-America East Conference first team in three consecutive seasons. In 2008, he was third on the UAlbany squad in scoring with 13 goals and 20 assists in leading Great Danes to their seventh straight appearance in the conference tournament championship game. Levine, who led the program to pair of NCAA Tournament berths, finished his career with 57 goals and 56 assists for 113 points and accounted for 321 ground balls.

“I am thrilled for Jordan and our lacrosse program,” UAlbany coach Scott Marr offered. “To be selected in the first round shows how much respect he has earned in the lacrosse world. It’s a proud day for UAlbany lacrosse.”

In addition, UAlbany goalkeeper Brett Queener was drafted in the fifth round (48th selection overall) by the Rochester Rattlers. Queener, a three-time all-conference standout from Penn Yan, N.Y., ranked 14th among the NCAA Division I leaders in goals against average (7.85) and 16th in save percentage (.579) as a senior. He is fifth on the school’s all-time saves chart with 467 and stopped double-figure shots against 27 opponents. Queener, who scored his third career goal with a goalie stick in the regular-season finale against Stony Brook on April 26, was also used as an attacker in man-advantage situations.

“I am excited for and proud of Brett,” Marr said. “He is made for the MLL; his style of play is a perfect fit. With his ability to play two positions, he is an asset.”

University of Albany's Amber Maisonet Named University Division National Softball All-American

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Amber Maisonet has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America University Division Softball Team, as announced on Wednesday by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America. Maisonet, a senior left fielder, is just the fifth UAlbany student-athlete to earn national first-team honors, and is the first female athlete chosen to a national first team at the Division I level.

Maisonet, a native of Newburgh, N.Y., earned All-America East Conference first-team recognition for the fourth straight season after finishing second in the league with a .379 batting average and first in stolen bases (27). Maisonet, who is nominee for the America East Woman of the Year award, also received an ECAC Merit Medal as the school’s top senior female student-athlete during the current academic year. She was named to the NFCA All-Region second team and finished as the UAlbany career leader with 233 hits and 151 runs. Maisonet is also ranked second in career stolen bases with 96 and is fourth with a .360 batting average.

Maisonet posted a 3.85 grade point average while majoring in psychology. To be eligible, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.20 while performing as a varsity starter or key reserve. Since the program’s inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed more that 14,000 Academic All-America honors.

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2008 Academic All-America Softball University Division First Team

Angela Tincher, Sr., P, Virginia Tech

Stacey Nelson, Jr., P, Florida

Chelsea Bramlett, So., C, Mississippi State

Jessica Chrabaszcz, Sr., IF, Delaware State

Jessica Toocheck, Sr., IF, Kent State

Colleen McGlaughlin, Jr., IF, Iowa

Sara Dyer, Sr., IF, Tulsa

Lisa Kinsmore, Jr., OF, Winthrop

Lillian Hammond, Jr., OF, Tennessee

Amber Maisonet, Sr., OF, UAlbany

Mary Beth Puccio, Jr., DP, Fordham



UAlbany’s Division I First Team Academic All-Americans

J.T. Herfurth (2000, Football)

Victor Camacho (2003, Football)

Emil Bove (2003, Men’s At-Large/Lacrosse)

Stephan Hall (2005 & 2006, Men’s Soccer)

Amber Maisonet (2008, Softball)

University of Albany Sends 12 Track & Field Athletes to NCAA East Regional at Florida State: UAlbany Athletics

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Tallahassee, Fla. – Twelve athletes will represent the University at Albany at the NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 30-31. The regional competition will be held at Florida State University’s Mike Long Track.

The list of UAlbany qualifiers include Daniel Avery, Jeffery Barnes, Valete Graham, Jean Juste, Mike McCadney, Kyle Nadler (Colonie Central), Luke Schoen, Laura Cummings, Arina Gerasimova, Jenn Gurrant, Kamilah McShine and Brenna Militello. The top-five finishers in each individual event will automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships on June 11-14 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Avery and Juste will each compete in the 38-member field of the 110-meter high hurdles. Avery, a freshman from Cooper City, Fla., turned in a UAlbany Division I record time of 13.96 seconds at the Florida Relays on April 4. Juste, a junior from Hempstead, N.Y., won the event in a conference-record time of 14.25 seconds at the America East Championship on May 4 in Orono, Maine. Barnes earned entrance into the regional meet by winning the 200-meter dash in 21.62 seconds at the America East Championship.

Schoen, a sophomore from Bohemia, N.Y., will compete in the pole vault after a first-place finish at the America East Championship and a second-place finish at the IC4A Championship. At the America East meet on May 3, Schoen topped the field by crossing the bar at a conference-record and then-school record height of 17-feet, 3-inches. A week later at the UAlbany Spring Classic, Schoen vaulted a program-best 17-feet, 5-inches.

McCadney, coming off victories at the America East and IC4A championships, is a regional competitor in the triple jump for the second straight year. McCadney, a junior from Rochester, N.Y., recorded a program-record leap of 51-feet, 1.75-inches to earn UAlbany’s first IC4A triple jump title. He topped his own school record of 50-feet, 11.50-inches, set at last year’s NCAA East Regional. Graham and Nadler, a pair of sophomores, will represent UAlbany in the long jump. Graham, the America East champion, qualified for regional competition with a distance of 24-feet, 1.50-inches at the Penn Relays on April 25. Nadler registered a regional-qualifying leap of 24-feet, 1.50-inches, the second-best jump in program history, to place third at the IC4A meet.

Cummings, a junior from Bay Shore, N.Y., will compete in her first NCAA regional in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Cummings turned in her fastest time of the season at the America East Championship with a first-place finish in a school-record time of 10:33.60.

Gerasimova and Gurrant will each compete in the 34-member field of the triple jump. Gerasimova, a senior from Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine, recorded a program-best leap of 41-feet, 10.75-inches to capture first place at the New York Relays on April 20. Gurrant, a junior from Batavia, N.Y., is making her second appearance in regional action after competing in the long jump last season. Gurrant finished third in the triple jump at the ECAC Championship with a distance of 41-feet, 7.75-inches, the second-best mark in school history.

McShine and Militello won America East titles in the 100-meter hurdles and high jump, respectively, to qualify for regional competition. McShine won the 100-hurdles in a conference-record time of 13.98 seconds, while Militello cleared the bar at 5-feet, 4.25-inches.

University of Albany's Julita Patrosz receives 2008 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

Julita Patrosz is fascinated with molecules: their unique shapes, their complexities and their interactions with other molecules in the human body. An aspiring bioinformatics researcher, Patrosz satiated her fascination through research opportunities at the University at Albany-SUNY, leading her on a path toward academic achievement and recognition.

Patrosz, who will be a junior in the fall, was one of 321 college sophomores and juniors nationwide to receive the 2008 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. The award is designed to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in math, the natural sciences and engineering. Patrosz is the 15th UAlbany undergraduate to be chosen for the scholarship since the highly competitive program began in 1986.

"I am interested in pursuing a deeper understanding of the chemistry of life and trying to discover something new," said Patrosz, a biochemistry and molecular biology major and Honors College student. "Then other people can use it to find better medical treatments."

Patrosz has been studying with faculty member Jayanti Pande, associate professor of chemistry, how mutations in the proteins of the eye lens lead to cataracts. Patrosz was paired with Pande through the University's Undergraduate Research Program.

"I am interested in pursuing a deeper understanding of the chemistry of life and trying to discover something new."

Julita Patrosz "The selection of Julita Patrosz for the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship is both a glowing testimony to the scholarly excellence of UAlbany's undergraduate student body and emblematic of the University's reputation as a global leader in preparing students to be pioneers in the next-generation fields of scientific research and discovery," said Alain Kaloyeros, faculty representative to the Goldwater Scholarship Program and Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.

Goldwater Scholars have very impressive academic qualifications that have garnered the attention of prestigious post-graduate fellowship programs. With the scholarship, Patrosz will receive $15,000 toward undergraduate study over the next two years.

Eventually, Patrosz, of Yonkers, N.Y., would like to earn a Ph.D. and continue the adventure of scientific discovery and exploration that she began at UAlbany.

Courtesy: UAlbany News

University of Albany's Yvette Nsiah Competes for Miss Universe in July

Yvette Nsiah, a student at the University at Albany, has been crowned Miss Universe Ghana, and will compete for the title of Miss Universe in Nha Trang, Vietnam, on July 14.

Nsiah, an Africana studies major and education minor who just completed her junior year, was born on Long Island. At the age of nine, she and her family moved to Kumasi, Ghana; they eventually relocated to the capital city of Accra. When she graduated high school, she decided to return to the U.S. for college. “My brother went to Albany, so I knew a lot about the school,” she said. She decided to follow in his footsteps.

Her enrollment was fortuitous: during her sophomore year, she entered UAlbany’s annual African Queen pageant, and won. This was her first foray into the world of pageants, and began to change her perception of these competitions. “It’s not all about beauty,” she said.

After the African Queen win, Nsiah was contacted about competing for the Miss Universe Ghana title. She returned to Accra, attended preliminary castings, and was chosen as one of five women to compete in the final event, eventually claiming the crown in late April. “I still feel like it’s not me,” she said. Remarking on her one year’s worth of experience – considered very little in the pageant world – she added, “I guess I have luck.”

Nsiah describes herself as “very low-key,” which is why she was wary of becoming involved with pageants. “I did think it was all about beauty,” she admitted. “But it’s all about questions.” She added with a laugh, “You have to think on your feet with people staring at you.”

One other component that the Miss Universe competition stresses is passion, which Nsiah has in spades, especially concerning her chosen charity cause: foster care and children’s education. “There are lots of kids suffering and that’s not fair. They don’t have access to a lot of things and that’s not their fault,” she said.

If she wins the Miss Universe title, Nsiah will work for Donald Trump for a year, promote her charity, and receive a $40,000 prize, all while maintaining her status as a student at UAlbany. Trump is the executive producer of the July event, which will be televised on NBC.

No matter the outcome of the contest, she is hoping it will propel her on to bigger and better things, both on a personal and professional level. A musician who sings, plays keyboard, and composes her own songs, she sees this exposure as something to benefit a future career in music. “It’s a great coincidence all this happened,” she said. But she stresses that education, her own as well as that which she hopes to bring to less-fortunate children, comes first, and that any musical aspirations she has will wait until she is done with school.

For now, Nsiah will enjoy the month she will be spending in Vietnam. Starting in mid-June, she will be sightseeing, meeting prominent local leaders, “And then we get to work,” she said with a laugh.

University of Albany Midfielder Jordan Levine Named to USILA Division I All-America Lacrosse Team

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Baltimore, Md. -- University at Albany’s Jordan Levine has been chosen to the 2008 USILA All-America Team as announced on Sunday, May 25 by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. Levine, who was selected in the honorable mention category, becomes the first UAlbany player at the Division I level to be named to the All-America squad twice after earning second-team honors last year.

Levine, a senior midfielder from Bethpage, N.Y., had 13 goals and 20 assists this spring, and ranked 22nd nationally in ground balls at 4.5 per game. He was voted first-team All-America East Conference for the third consecutive season, the third Great Dane player to earn that distinction. Levine was also named to the America East all-championship team for the second year in a row after leading the program to its seventh consecutive conference tournament final.

Levine finished his career with 57 goals, 56 assists and 321 ground balls. His assist total ranks eighth on the school’s all-time list. He accounted for four or more points on 12 occasions as a collegian, and equaled a career-best with five points in the regular-season finale with Stony Brook on April 26. Levine is one of five UAlbany players to receive USILA Division I All-America recognition.

UAlbany’s USILA Division I Lacrosse All-Americans

Luke Daquino (2005, honorable mention)

Jordan Levine (2008, honorable mention; 2007, second team)

Brett Queener (2007, honorable mention)

Frank Resetarits (2007, first team)

Merrick Thomson (2007, third team)

University of Albany's Steve Ammann Voted to ESPN The Magazine All-District I Academic All-America At-Large Team

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Washington, D.C. -- University at Albany’s Steve Ammann has been voted to the ESPN The Magazine All-District I Academic All-America Men’s At-Large Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA) on Thursday, May 22. Ammann, a senior midfielder on the lacrosse team, was named to the first team and will advance to the national ballot. Mike Ammann, also a lacrosse midfielder, earned second-team all-district recognition.

Steve Ammann, a native of Putnam Valley, N.Y., was chosen to All-America East Conference second team for the second year in a row. He has a 3.86 cumulative grade point average in business administration with a concentration in finance and marketing. He accounted for 15 goals and 12 assists this season in leading the Great Danes to their seventh consecutive appearance in the conference tournament championship final. Ammann received the 2008 Presidential Scholar-Athlete Award and UAlbany President’s Award for Leadership.

Mike Ammann posted a 3.87 GPA in accounting with a dual minor in business administration and mathematics. He had seven goals and nine assists from his second midfield line. Ammann, who along with his twin brother, led the Great Danes to a pair of NCAA berths and two conference championships during his career. He also received the Presidential-Scholar Athlete Award and President’s Award for Leadership and has worked on community service projects with Juvenile Diabetes and Habitat for Humanity.

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