EASTON, Pa. - The PARDees, an annual awards show which began in 2012, recognizes Lafayette's student-athletes for their individual and team accomplishments. The May 4 event is set to cap the 2025-26 athletic season at 6:30 p.m. in Kirby Sports Center Arena.

Student-athletes, coaching staff and athletic administration will enjoy food and fun activities before the award ceremony begins at 7:15 p.m.

The evening's major awards include the Charles L. Albert '08 Award and the Class of 1913 Trophy. The Albert Award has been given out since 1966 to one male and one female student-athlete with the most outstanding athletic career. The 1913 Trophy has been awarded since 1940 to senior student-athletes who have attained the greatest distinction both as an athlete and a scholar.
In addition, the Leopard of the Year, Maroon Club Scholar-Athletes, Team of the Year, Coaching Staff of the Year, Oaksie, Courage and PARDS awards have been doled out since 2021. Two new awards have been added to the program this spring: the John L. Squarcia '69 Male and Female of the Year as well as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Rising Impact award.

Director of Athletics Sherryta Freeman and Lafayette College President Nicole Hurd will deliver remarks to the audience, while Gary Laubach, play-by-play voice for Lafayette Sports Network, and Téo Rodriguez '24 are slated as the emcees for the evening. 

Additionally, during the ceremony, votes will be submitted by student-athletes for best shoes, best dressed and best accessory at the PARDees. The Leopards will vote live to crown the 2025-26 Top Play, which will be announced at the end of the night.

The full list of awards and nominees can be found below:
 
Team of the Year exhibits competitive excellence and has the best success in its sport. The team portrays a good team rapport, attends department events/activities and engages with the campus community.

Coaching Staff of the Year honors the coaching staff which best exemplifies the attributes of Lafayette Athletics. The staff has helped its team demonstrate and achieve significant athletic accomplishments, academic achievements, engagement in campus activities and has shown leadership within the department.

John L. Squarcia '69 Female & Male Athletes of the Year is awarded to one female and one male Lafayette senior athlete either residing in the greater Lehigh Valley, or who graduated from a greater Lehigh Valley High School, who has made significant contributions to the intercollegiate athletic program, and who demonstrates academic achievement, and a dedication to, and pride in, the Leopard spirit. Presented by the Lafayette Alumni of the Lehigh Valley.

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Rising Impact Award recognizes an underclass student-athlete who has gone above and beyond in serving others and making a meaningful impact in the community and on their team. It celebrates individuals who truly embody the SAAC mission, by using their platform as student-athletes to lead, serve, and uplift those around them both on campus and beyond.
 
Maroon Club Scholar-Athlete is presented to one male and one female student-athlete and must be a starter or important reserve with strong athletic accolades, currently maintaining a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA and must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at the College.
Teresa Kiewiet | Women's Basketball
Alexa LaSasso  | Women's Track & Field
Nadia Zaffanella | Women's Soccer
Hilla Wetherill | Fencing
Raffi Fragomeni | Field Hockey
Natalie Johnson | Women's Swimming & Diving
Emma Ahlborn | Softball
Jordan Siemonsen | Women's Lacrosse
Joe Duggan | Men's Lacrosse
Ivan Tejada | Men's Track & Field
Eric Axtman | Men's Soccer

Leopard of the Year is presented to one male and one female non-senior student-athlete who best exemplify the attributes of someone who has demonstrated and achieved significant athletic accomplishments and made an outstanding contribution to their team by showing evidence of growth in their talent, performance and leadership.
Nadia Zaffanella | Women's Soccer
Sarah Newman | Women's Swimming & Diving
Makenzie Switzer | Field Hockey
Haylie Adamski | Women's Basketball
Ben DiBattista | Men's Lacrosse
Samir Dishnica | Men's Soccer
Matt Colella | Baseball

The Oaksie Award is named in honor of Dr. Wilbur Oaks '51 (Oaksie) whose life was dedicated to service, his family and Lafayette. The Community, Leadership and Service Award recognizes a student-athlete who has made significant contributions to the community by demonstrating leadership and a commitment to service and/or volunteerism. This award, presented annually to one student-athlete, recognizes a graduating senior whose multi-year commitments have made lasting contributions to the Lafayette community.
Aidan Kopen | Men's Lacrosse
Megan Lovasz | Women's Swimming & Diving
Olivia Hover | Women's Lacrosse
Trace Florio | Baseball
 
The Courage Award is given to one student-athlete who possessed strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to display positivity following a hardship. The recipient has influenced his/her program on-and-off the playing field with a positive attitude, a willingness to help in any capacity and a commitment to excellence following a hardship.
April McDonald | Women's Soccer
Lukas DiGiovanni | Men's Lacrosse
Trevor Olson | Men's Swimming & Diving
Daisy Decker | Women's Swimming & Diving
Josephine van Wijk | Field Hockey
Marisa Powell | Softball
Carol Ulichney | Volleyball
Mia Putzi | Women's Lacrosse
 
The PARDS Award recognizes one student-athlete for striving towards the values Lafayette Athletics embodies, being a Leopard: Passionate, Accountable, Resilient, Driven and Selfless. This award is given to a student-athlete who promotes the athletic department's mission, vision and values through his/her actions, demonstrates exceptional leadership ability and fosters a positive and motivating environment for their team and the athletic department as a whole. The recipient will always exhibit enthusiasm, spirit, and leadership while helping to cultivate a championship culture that drives success.
Ryan Pettit | Men's Basketball
Roman Conca | Men's Track & Field
Zach Zukowsky | Men's Lacrosse
Tyler Morse | Fencing
Makenzie Switzer | Field Hockey
Eli Steward | Football
Eric Axtman | Men's Soccer
Kylee Sweet | Softball
Hannah Ehrich-Pollock | Volleyball
Amelia Duncan | Women's Lacrosse

The 1913 Trophy represents the senior scholar-athlete award. This award is presented to a distinguished senior class male and a distinguished senior class female for stellar academic achievement and outstanding athletic performance.
Alexa LaSasso | Women's Track & Field
Katrina Santelli | Women's Soccer
Raffi Fragomeni | Field Hockey
Katie Hensell | Women's Swimming & Diving
Olivia Catalina | Softball
Abby Nicholson | Volleyball
Tyler Morse | Fencing
Peter Curtis | Men's Swimming & Diving
Eric Axtman | Men's Soccer

The Charles L. Albert Award '08 is presented to a distinguished senior class male and a distinguished senior class female with the most outstanding athletic performance.
Makenzie Switzer | Field Hockey
Isabella Van Ess | Women's Swimming & Diving
Emily Gouldrup | Volleyball
Joe Doherty | Men's Lacrosse
Brian Baucia | Football
Thomas Weber | Men's Swimming & Diving
Nick Liebich | Men's Soccer
 
2025-26's Top Plays
1. 3/6/26 MLAX vs. Army: Josh Heaney for a goal, a pivotal moment in the first win over Army in program history.
2. 11/15/2025 MSOC vs. Lehigh: At the end of regulation, Jackson Vajda scored a goal that took the team into overtime before claiming the 2025 Patriot League Men's Soccer Title. 
3. 9/21/2025 FH vs. Penn State: Raffi Fragomeni's shootout win over Penn State who was ranked #16 in the country at the time.
4.  11/8/2025 FB vs. Colgate: One-handed 19-yard catch by Mason Kuhner in the team's 59-42 victory over Colgate. 
5.  11/2/2025 WSOC vs. Holy Cross in the PL Quarterfinals: Nadia Zaffanella's goal that forced overtime and led to the Leopards winning on PKs 4-2. 
6.  4/11/2026 SB vs. Bucknell: Maggie Klug and Dani Rosner had a 2-6-2 double play that helped propel the team to a 11-3 victory over the Bison.
 
 
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