May 11, 2006
Washington, D.C. - Three annual awards will be presented to Georgetown University student-athletes in honor of their achievements while on the Hilltop. These student-athletes have not only demonstrated academic and athletic prowess, but also have contributed to various community outreach initiatives.
The Robert A. Duffey Scholar-Athlete Award, presented annually to the Georgetown student-athlete who best embodies academic and athletic excellence, was established in 1955 in honor of Duffy, a member of Georgetown's football and basketball teams in the 1940s who died in combat while serving in World War II. This year's recipient is senior football player Michael Ononibaku (Amherst, Mass./Amherst).
Ononibaku, a defensive end, was a three time All-Patriot League selection and was named a first team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. He has the second most sacks in Georgetown history (29), sixth most tackles (212), and was named to the 2005 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
Taking the Thomas Graham Award, established in 1949 by the Graham Family for the graduating senior who has demonstrated throughout his or her college career concern for others, academic achievement, sportsmanship and dedication to the university, is swimmer Corinne Rhodes (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West).
Rhodes, a biology major, was a member of two record-setting relays squads (400 free, 200 medley) and holds four top-10 all-time marks at Georgetown.
Finally, men's lacrosse defender Rob Lemos (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee) takes the School of Foreign Service's Stephanie Waterman Award, which goes to the outstanding SFS athlete of the graduating class. The award is in honor of Waterman, who was a captain of the varsity tennis team before dying in Senegal in 1985.
Lemos has been a key contributor for the Hoyas, who are ranked No. 5 in the country and carry an 11-2 record into this weekend's NCAA Tournament game at home against Navy (3:30 p.m. face-off). The senior has one of the most active student-athletes on campus, visiting the Georgetown University Hospital Pediatrics and participating in other community-related events.
These outstanding student-athletes will receive their awards during their respective Tropaia ceremony, the award ceremonies for each respective school, while the Duffey award is traditionally given at the Hoya Unlimited Recognition dinner held September 30.
