Penn State Schuylkill honors student-athletes at annual recognition ceremony

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — On May 1, Penn State Schuylkill celebrated the remarkable achievements of its student-athletes during the annual Student-Athlete Recognition Ceremony, held in a packed Morgan Auditorium. The evening served as a powerful tribute to the dedication, talent, and resilience of students from 15 different sports teams, who were honored for their performance on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.

Cory Scherer, interim chancellor, opened the evening by acknowledging the commitment and hard work of Schuylkill’s athletes, praising their efforts in balancing academic success with athletic excellence.

Guest speaker Ryan Ehrie, commissioner of the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC), highlighted the strength and reputation of the Schuylkill campus athletic program. He then presented one of the evening’s most prestigious honors: the John S. Egli Outstanding Student-Athlete Award.

For the first time in 29 years, Penn State Schuylkill swept this award. Andrew Sepp, a standout on the men’s basketball team, and Malak Mowafi, a multi-sport athlete, were named the top student-athletes in the entire PSUAC. Sepp became only the second male student-athlete from Penn State Schuylkill to ever receive this award. The duo delivered heartfelt speeches, thanking the athletics department, their coaches, and teammates for their support and guidance.

The ceremony continued with a highlight moment — the presentation of championship rings and banner to the women’s soccer team, who made campus history by capturing the PSUAC 2024 Championship title. The celebration drew loud cheers and standing ovations from the crowd, marking a milestone achievement for the program.

A wide range of awards were also distributed to student-athletes across all sports, celebrating both conference and campus-level achievements. Athletes were recognized with PSUAC and USCAA honors including Player of the Week, Rookie of the Year, All-Academic Team, Player of the Year, and the John Fritz Sportsmanship Award.

Penn State Schuylkill also presented its own accolades, including the prestigious Athletes of the Year award, given to Malak Mowafi and Zack Wilcox. In addition, one student-athlete from each team was honored with a Coaches Award, Lions Award, and Most Valuable Player distinction, celebrating the unique contributions made by individual athletes to their respective programs.

In a fun and personal touch, custom-made Funko Pop dolls were presented to each of the 39 graduating senior athletes, making for a unique and memorable takeaway from their time at Penn State Schuylkill.

The athletics department also took a moment to acknowledge the behind-the-scenes heroes — the work-study students whose efforts help organize events, manage logistics, and ensure athletic programs run smoothly year-round.

The evening was expertly hosted by Alivia Payne, coordinator of game day production and media content, who kept the energy high and the program flowing.

To close the ceremony, graduating student-athlete Kaely Walshaw took the stage to deliver an emotional speech celebrating her fellow athletes. She praised their perseverance, teamwork, and determination, encouraging them to carry those values forward in their next chapters.