ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University student-athletes were honored for their academic excellence on Tuesday (April 19) night, as 290 student-athletes received Br. David Delahanty Awards at the Convocation Hall located within the St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center.
The Delahanty Award recognizes student-athletes who maintained a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.25 or higher as of December 31, 2021. In total, 61 percent (290 of 475) of the student-athlete population received the award and that group totaled a cumulative GPA of 3.63.
"Lewis University Athletics strives for a balance of academic and athletic excellence," Lewis University Director of Athletics
Dr. John Planek said. "The accomplishments of our student-athletes in the classroom recognized tonight with Delahanty Awards signifies that excellence."
The Lewis women's cross country/track and field team had the most Delahanty Award winners with 36 recipients, which accounts for 12.5 percent of the 290 award winners. Lewis' women's golf team had all eight of its members earn Delahanty Awards for the highest percentage of any Flyer squad.
Two student-athletes that received special recognition were Abigail Gustafson and Jackson Mugg. Gustafson (women's soccer) and Mugg (men's swimming and diving) both took home the Senior Student-Athlete Award, given to the male and female senior student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade-point-average.
Gustafson is a double major in business administration and political science while Mugg is majoring in aviation flight management.
Br. David Delahanty, FSC, served as President of Lewis from June, 1982 until his untimely death in October, 1987. A personal advocate of physical fitness, Br. David encouraged Lewis students to achieve excellence not only in the academic sphere, but also in the athletic arena. Following his death, several members of the Lewis' athletic teams inquired if they could wear black arm bands to mourn the popular president. After much consultation, it was decided that Br. David would have preferred a tribute to athletes based on their academic achievements. The first ceremony took place in 1988.
