Center Valley, PA (July 1, 2024) – The DeSales University athletics department has announced its end of the year award winners following the conclusion of the 2023-24 athletic year with senior Mikaela Reese of the women's basketball team and senior Shane Artis of the men's cross country and track & field team highlighting the award winners being named the Dr. John Compardo Male and Female Athletes of the Year.

Other award winners included senior Jozlyn Minnema of the women's soccer team named the Stanley J. Orzechowski award winner, senior Olivia Scotti of the women's basketball team earning the Al Senavitis service award, and senior Nick Manidis of the men's cross country and track & field team, senior Batur Yaman of the men's soccer team, and senior Catie McGrath of the field hockey team being honored as the male and female scholar-athlete award winners.

Reese is named the Dr. John Compardo Female Athlete of the Year. She was named the MAC Freedom Player of the Year and to the All-MAC Freedom First-Team. Reese also earned D3hoops.com All-Region Second-Team honors, WBCA All-Region First-Team honors, and was All-ECAC. In addition she was a D3hoops.com Fourth-Team All-American and WBCA Honorable-Mention All-American. Reese led DSU to the MAC Freedom Championship and to the Second Round of the NCAA Division III Tournament averaging 15.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while also leading the team with 86 blocked shots.

Artis is named the Dr. John Compardo Male Athlete of the Year. He earned All-MAC First-Team and All-Region honors in cross country finishing in second place at both the MAC Championships and NCAA Metro Region Championships. Artis also individually qualified for the NCAA Division III National CC Championships for the second straight year. In T&F he earned All-MAC Second-Team honors in indoor track & field and was a two-time MAC Champion at the MAC Outdoor T&F Championships.

Minnema was named the Stanley J. Orzechowski award winner as a member of the women's soccer team.  This award is granted to the athlete whose personal courage and fortitude was a source of inspiration to his/her teammates and to the DeSales University community.  Minnema started all 19 games in goal for the Bulldogs totaling 81 saves and two shutouts as a senior overcoming an injury during her junior season.

Scotti was given the Al Senavitis service award as a member of the women's basketball team.  She was instrumental in bringing the mental health issue to the forefront as part of the Hidden Opponent Club.  Her work on the "Your Mind Matters" campaign along with her partnership with Active Minds led to several community-based events that raised awareness regarding student-athlete mental health as well as addressing the stigma within the sports culture.   DeSales students, fans and opponents all benefited from her work throughout the year. 

The male and female scholar-athlete award is given to the seniors with the highest cumulative grade point average (GPA) who have competed on a varsity team. Manidis, a chemistry major, and Yaman, a biology major, each finished with a 3.99 cumulative GPA to each earn the award, while McGrath, a dual major in chemistry and biology, also finished with a 3.99 cumulative GPA.