Celebration of Excellence Video

HANOVER, N.H - The Dartmouth College Department of Athletics honored 10 student-athletes this evening at the annual Celebration of Athletic Excellence, highlighted by the presentation of the Kenneth Archibald Prize to multi-sport athlete Glenn Randall (Collbran, Colo.).

Dartmouth’s highest athletic honor, the Kenneth Archibald Prize is presented annually to “the member of the graduating class who has been four years in attendance, who has been the best all-around athlete, regard also being had to moral worth and high standing in scholarship.” During his time at Dartmouth, Randall was a three-sport athlete, having excelled at both the Ivy and NCAA levels. He was the first Dartmouth skier in 41 years to claim an NCAA title in Nordic skiing in 2008. He was a three-time All-American in skiing and three time All-East selection, and played a significant role in the team’s 2007 national championship.

As a cross country runner he was second team All-Ivy and earned a trip to the NCAA championships as an individual. He won the Dartmouth Invitational and had a third-place finish at the Keatinge Invitational. As a four-year standout across three sports his mark on Dartmouth Athletics will long be felt.

The Class of 1976 Award for the outstanding female athlete of the year was presented to sophomore Brittney Smith (Fort Worth, Texas) of the women’s basketball team. Smith was named Ivy League Player of the Year and a unanimous choice for first team All-Ivy after earning  Ivy Rookie of the Year honors a season ago. In addition, she was a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association National Player of the Month Honorable Mention honoree twice. She is a threat at both ends of the court and played a key role in her team’s Ivy League Championship this year, which punched the Big Green’s ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Overall, Smith averaged 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game during the Big Green’s run to its 17th Ivy League title.

The Alfred E. Watson Trophy for the finest male athlete of the year went to baseball’s Nick Santomauro (North Caldwell, N.J.). Santomauro was the Blair Bat Winner as the league’s leading hitter in Ivy League contests with a whopping .473 batting average and was named the Ivy League Player of the Year. Overall, the right-fielder has posted a .377 average with eight home runs, 37 RBIs and 13 doubles while ranking among the league’s top 10 in eight separate offensive categories. Santomauro has been on the All-Ivy first team each of his three seasons at Dartmouth, and was a unanimous selection for the second straight year.

Senior Becky Poskin (Leawood, Kan.) of the women’s soccer team was the recipient of the Agnes B. Kurtz Award, presented to the “woman who best combines proficiency in athletics with dedication to the furthering of women’s athletics.” Poskin is a tremendous example of the impact that one player can have on her team, her community and in sport. She is one of the co-founders of Athletes United, which gives kids in the Upper Valley a chance to meet student-athletes and better themselves on and off the field. On the playing field, Poskin started every game this year and led the team in shots while scoring three game-winning goals. 

The Timothy Wright Ellis Award for the man who best shows the “extracurricular and scholastic drive, spirit, loyalty and amiability which made Tim such a well-known member of the community” went to men’s lacrosse senior midfielder John Mattimore (Binghamton, N.Y.). The award, which is voted on by team captains, was given to Mattimore as a player that had a palpable impact on his team well beyond what he was able to accomplish on the field.

Poskin and her soccer teammate, junior Myra Sack (Wynnewood, Pa.) received the Class of 1950 Award for the “student-athlete who has demonstrated the most extraordinary commitment to community service.” As mentioned earlier the two have teamed up to be the founders of Athletes United. The duo and their newfound organization have given Dartmouth student-athletes the opportunity to interact with and give back to the communities of the Upper Valley in ways previously unavailable. The mission of Athletes United is to unite children of the Upper Valley with Dartmouth student-athletes through a free, organized and fun sports league. Through sport, Athletes United provides youngsters with a positive extracurricular activity that builds confidence, friendships and mentor relationships, while developing their athletic skill.

The Class of 1948 Scholar-Athlete Award given “to one male and one female of the junior class, who have combined outstanding performance in athletics and significant achievement in academics” was presented to women’s lacrosse midfielder Colleen Olsen (Avon, Conn.), a comparative literature major with a 3.81 gpa and men’s soccer junior Derek Stenquist (Hudson, Mass.), who has posted a 3.64 gpa in biology.

The Charles Quincy Terrell Prize, given by the physical education department to the student who has made the most progress in his or her time with the program, went to junior Hathairat Sawaengsri.

The Kenyon Jones Award was presented to senior Emily Koepsell, who competes for the Dartmouth Endurance Racing Club Team and grew the team from two competitors to 20 total during her four years. She also organized a team race across the state of New Hampshire.