NEWARK, NJ | The Rutgers University-Newark athletics program celebrated another season with some program first achievements at the Golden Dome in Newark, NJ. The yearly event honors the student-athlete's achievements throughout the season with our top awards, Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, going to Paul and Eric Recchia of the baseball team and Madison Umlauf of softball. 

The evening began with a welcome from the voice of Raidervision, John Heffernan, followed by a recap of the seasons by Director of Athletics, Mark Griffin. 

Paul and Eric Recchia made frequent trips to the podium, but the biggest award came towards the end of the night when they were named Rutgers-Newark Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Madison Umlauf of softball, much like the Recchia twins, heard her name called often that evening and it all came to a point when she was awarded Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. 

The Massenburg award is given to the student-athlete who demonstrates athletic achievement, service in the community and scholastic achievement. This year Kelvin Marshall met all the criteria to win the award. 

Nominees for Male Rookie of the Year

Erick Cortes, Men's Soccer

Aleks Kolodziej, Men's Volleyball

Ayden Brown, Men's Basketball

Nominees for Female Rookie of the Year

Giulia Olear, Softball

Vielka Fernandez, Women's Soccer

Shayla Moody, Women's Volleyball

Nominees for Male Athlete of the Year

Levi Holton, Men's Basketball

Derek Au, Men's Volleyball

Timaul Williams, Track & Field

Eric Recchia, Baseball

Nominees for Female Athlete of the Year

Samiyah Horton, Women's Basketball

Keelin O'Brien, Softball

Zrreyah Moore, Track & Field

Leila Ettayebi, Women's Soccer

Highest GPA in the Business School

Eric Recchia, Baseball

Highest GPA in Criminal Justice

Nicholas Branco, Track & Field

Highest GPA in the School of Arts & Sciences

Paul Recchia, Baseball

Highest GPA in SPAA

Kelvin Marshall, Men's Basketball

Rutgers-Newark All-Academic Team

Eric Recchia (4.0) & Paul Recchia (4.0) – Baseball

Kelvin Marshall (4.0) – Men's Basketball

Emily Leiras (3.58)– Women's Basketball

Jason Alves (3.96) – Men's Soccer

Izzy Deltoro (3.94) – Women's Soccer

Madison Umlauf (3.96)– Softball

Aidan Apito (2.97 GPA) – Men's Volleyball

Varronika Siryon (3.83) – Women's Volleyball 

Nicholas Branco (3.86) – Men's Track & Field

Chandelle Lawrence (3.69) – Women's Track & Field

2024 Chi Alpha Sigma Inaugural Class

Adam Abushanab, Track & Field

Jaielyn Alston, Women's Basketball

Jason Alves, Men's Soccer

Chino Anyanwu, Men's Basketball

Connor Baksh, Baseball

Nicholas Branco, Track & Field

Ethan Calcano, Baseball

Elianna Cedeno, Softball

Haxel Climes, Men's Soccer

Madison DiGiorgio, Softball

Reid Duffus, Baseball

Robert Gonzalez, Baseball

Riley Haggerty, Women's Soccer

Marissa Houseknecht, Softball

Tamia Howell, Women's Soccer

Julia Iglesia, Women's Soccer

Chandelle Lawrence, Track & Field

Kelvin Marshall, Men's Basketball

Katherine McLaughlin, Women's Soccer

Dario Morales, Baseball

Eric Recchia, Baseball

Paul Recchia, Baseball

Faith Remias, Track & Field

Varronika Siryon, Women's Volleyball

Vince Taylor, Baseball

Madison Umlauf, Softball

Karla Valencia, Women's Soccer

For the latest news, updates, and information on Rutgers-Newark sports, visit rutgersnewarkathletics.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Scarlet Raiders news by following Rutgers-Newark Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.