SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) returned its annual SAAC Cardinal Red Carpet Event for the first time since 2019. On Monday, April 25, student-athletes, coaches and athletic administrators gathered in the McCombs Center Rosenberg Skyroom to celebrate the success of the department over the 2021-22 academic year.
 
"It is great to be back and get a chance to celebrate the success of our student-athletes both on and off the playing field," said UIW Athletic Director Richard Duran. "I am particularly proud of the more than 5,000 hours of community service our student-athletes performed over the past school year, as well as the 3.29 GPA they have achieved. It is a testament to the fact that they truly understand the opportunity they have been given to not only perform on the field, but also in the classroom and as true servant leaders who work to fulfill the Mission of the University of the Incarnate Word."
 
Throughout the event, teams, student-athletes and staff members received awards for being active members in the classroom, community and competition over the past year.
 
Frank Garcia, a member of the UIW Sodexo staff, was the recipient of this year's Staff of the Year award. This new award was created to honor a UIW employee based on their specific contributions to the Mission, goals and values of the department and the University. Garcia, fondly known as "the omelet guy," takes great care of all UIW students and shows kindness every day, something that truly embodies the Cardinal mission.
 
UIW women's tennis won the team GPA award, posting a 3.81 cumulative GPA. This accolade, selected based on the Academic Advising Statistics, was given to the team that had the highest cumulative GPA for the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters.
 
The UIW men's golf team earned the team community service award, annually given to the team that had the highest cumulative service hours recorded for this academic year. Men's golf contributed 251 hours of service, per the Life Skills Statistics.
 
The Individual Service Award was given to Jackie Arrington (volleyball) and Joseph Kimmey (football), two student-athletes who have shown excellence in their community service efforts this year. This award was selected by the Life Skills Coordinator.
 
The 2022 SAAC Members of the Year Award was presented to Warren Fulgenzi of men's tennis, Marissa Watters of women's swimming, Ese Akpoyoware of men's track and field, and Hannah Rowley of women's swimming. This award was given to the top four student-athletes on the SAAC who went above and beyond to make the committee a better place by volunteering at various events, staying on top of tasks, and being interactive in meetings and group chats. This prestigious award was voted by the SAAC representatives.  
 
The Cardinal Spirit Award is given to one student-athlete on each team who embodies the UIW Mission and core values, as voted on by each team's coaching staff.
The award recipients are:
Men Soccer: Bernabe Lopez
Women Soccer: Amaya Spearman
Men's Basketball: Josh Morgan
Women's Tennis: Taylor Parkinson
Volleyball: Allison Palmi
Softball: Avalon Sanchez
Cheer: Vijay Kuri
Women's Cross Country: Maddie Marrone
Men's Cross Country: Matthew Hernandez
Women's Track and Field: Kiana Cleveland
Men's Track and Field: Kyle Lewis
Women's Basketball: Chloe Storer
Women's Golf: Hannah Cash
Football: Roger McCuller
Artistic Swiming: Lindsay Paper
Women's Swimming and Diving: Annie Kramer
Men's Swimming and Diving: Trevor Smith
Baseball: Ridge Rogers
Men's Golf: Drew Hermesmeyer
Men's Fencing: Isaac Grigar
Women's Fencing: Carolina Geyer
Men's Tennis: Warren Fulgenzi
Dance: Madison Plata
 
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