Six Seawolves Receive SUNY Scholar Athlete Award

This year six Stony Brook University students — Allie Cukrov, softball; Christina Melian, women’s cross country; Courtney Murphy, women’s lacrosse; Cole Peragine, baseball; Christian Ricard, football; and Eric Speakman, men’s cross country — were honored with the SUNY Scholar Athlete Award, which recognizes outstanding academic excellence and athletic achievement.

Cukrov was voted America East Pitcher of the Year and was first team all-conference pitcher and member of the All-Academic team. She finished her career as the all-time wins, saves and complete games leader in school history. Melian earned All-Region status with a 15th-place finish in 6k time of 20:44.95 at NCAA Regionals. Murphy was first team All-America East and became the eighth player in program history to score 100 career goals. Peragine started all 53 games at shortstop, hitting .287 with 36 RBI. He ranked top 10 in the America East in runs scored, RBI, walks, triples and stolen bases, and was named first-team All-America East. Ricard started all 12 games and led the team with 92 tackles and 21.0 tackles for loss, a single-season school record. Speakman was named 2014-15 America East Man of the Year in recognition of the conference’s senior male student-athlete who has best distinguished himself throughout his collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership.

Stony Brook’s Director of Athletics Shawn Heilbron nominated the student athletes, whose academic credentials and athletic accomplishments were then reviewed by a panel of athletic directors from across the SUNY system and members of the SUNY Provost’s Office.

“The SUNY scholar athletes are some of our most exemplary students, having achieved the highest levels of success not only in class but in their respective sports,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “Congratulations to each of the students recognized for these achievements over the past year, and thank you to the many professors, coaches and staff across SUNY who support them.”