UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Grant Ament, who is majoring in economics in the College of the Liberal Arts and Kaleigh Riehl, who is majoring in kinesiology in the College of Health and Human Development, have been selected as the 2020 recipients of the Ernest B. McCoy Memorial Award.

The McCoy Award is presented annually to one senior student-athlete who has combined successful athletic participation with academic excellence. The award is named for the longtime dean of Penn State’s College of Physical Education, who also served as the University’s athletic director.

Grant Ament 

Ament has established himself as one of the best players in the 107-year history of the Penn State men’s lacrosse program, setting Big Ten and school records with 270 points and 181 assists early in his senior season. He is a three-time NCAA All-American, including first team honors last season, and was a first team All-Big Ten selection in each of the past two seasons.

After missing an entire season with an injury, Ament returned to have his best season last year, leading Penn State to the most successful season in program history. He was the first player in team history to be named a Tewaaraton finalist while leading the team to its first Big Ten regular season title, its first Big Ten Tournament championship and its first appearance in the NCAA Semifinal Round. Ament received the Lt. Col. J.I. (Jack) Turnbull Award for Outstanding Attackman after setting NCAA Records for assists (96) and assists per game (5.65).

Ament is a Senior CLASS Award candidate this year due to his combined athletic and academic accolades. The team captain is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and earned one Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award, earning a 3.26 cumulative grade-point average.

Kaleigh Riehl

Riehl became the NCAA Division I all-time leader in minutes played by a position player during her senior year in 2019. Riehl was a two-time All-American, 2018 Big Ten Defender of the Year, a three-time All-Region performer and a four-time All-Big Ten honoree. Riehl was drafted by Sky Blue FC with the 11th overall selection in the NWSL draft following her senior season.

Riehl started in all 101 games of her Penn State career and is one of just 11 Nittany Lions to earn multiple All-America honors in University history. During Riehl’s four seasons of competition in 2015, 2017-19, Penn State won 72 games, two Big Ten regular season titles, three Big Ten Tournament titles and the 2015 NCAA National Championship.

In the classroom, Riehl finished with a 3.92 cumulative grade-point average and was named a first-team Scholar All-American in 2019 and second-team Scholar All-American in 2018 by the United Soccer Coaches. Riehl was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten Selection, twice named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2019. 

Riehl was called to the U.S. women’s national soccer team training camp earlier this year and has spent time with the U-20 and U-23 women’s national team.