ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend Athletic Department held its annual athletic picnic on Sunday, April 30, honoring the top student-athletes for the 2016-17 academic year. Team Most Valuable Players, Most Improved Players, Rookie and Sportsmanship Awards, and several special departmental award were presented.

Richard Dill Outstanding Service Award: Awarded annually to a person who has provided outstanding service as a lay volunteer to the Penn State Behrend Lions athletic program.
Bob Light, Penn State Behrend Senior Associate Dean & COO

Herb Lauffer Leadership/Scholarship Award: Awarded annually to the athlete who best exemplifies the qualities that Herb Lauffer strove for: to be a leader, an excellent student, and a sincere, genuine person who strives to make everyone around them better. Creative Imprints owner Rick Santos, a very close friend of Herb's, sponsors this award.
Manny Meinen, Sr., Men's Swimming & Diving (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte)
McKenna Aleksivich, Sr., Women's Soccer (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield)

Cheryl Ramsdell-Anderson Female Athlete of the Year Award: Awarded annually to the female athlete whose athletic achievement has brought success to her respective team and favorable recognition to herself and to Penn State Behrend.
Paige Allen, Sr., Women's Cross Country/Track & Field (Butler, PA/Butler)

James Frye Male Athlete of the Year Award: Awarded annually to the male athlete whose athletic achievement has brought success to his respective team and favorable recognition to himself and to Penn State Behrend.
Nick Kost, Sr., Men's Swimming & Diving (Ashburn, VA/Stone Bridge)
Mitchell Obenrader, Sr., Men's Track & Field (Fryburg, PA/North Clarion)

John Zahniser Scholar Athlete Award: Awarded annually to the male and female student-athletes who have best combined academic and athletic achievements. To be eligible a student must have attained at least a fifth semester standing, must have competed as a varsity athlete during the current academic year, and must have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.40.
Chelsea Czerwinski, Sr., Women's Tennis (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst)
Luke Patten, Sr., Men's Track & Field (West Middlesex, PA/West Middlesex)

Faculty Athletic Council Service Award: Awarded annually to the student-athlete that is most dedicated to service at Penn State Behrend.
Paige Allen, Sr., Women's Cross Country/Track & Field (Butler, PA/Butler)

The Behrend Spirit Award: Awarded annually to the person that is the most dedicated to showing spirit at Penn State Behrend.
Andre Mosley, Penn State Behrend Lion Mascot