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Two �鶹ӳ�� Physical Education majors were recognized for their outstanding achievements by receiving the prestigious Jay B. Nash Outstanding Major Award at the 86th Annual Conference of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (NYSAHPERD).

Seniors Grace Hollenbeck and Andrew Marean were among only 12 college students statewide to receive this honor, which commends undergraduate students for their scholarship, leadership, service, and professionalism. 

Hollenbeck and Marean were part of a group of �鶹ӳ�� students and faculty who attended and presided at the annual conference, held Nov. 19–21 at the Turning Stone Convention Center in Verona, New York. The New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance is the governing professional organization for the Physical Education and Sport Studies programs at �鶹ӳ��.

This year, �鶹ӳ�� students focused on leadership development through the Follow the Leader Program, a key component of NYSAHPERD’s Future Professionals Program in which students were mentored by physical education professionals from universities across the state. In addition to attending a wide range of professional development sessions, students presided over conference sessions and served as voting members in the Future Professionals business meeting.

Faculty members Dr. Paula Scraba and Dr. Daekyun Oh, co-advisers of SBU’s Physical Activity Club (PAC), attended the conference along with members of the PAC leadership team.

The six participating students included four who are also involved with Division I sports at �鶹ӳ��:

• Grace Hollenbeck, senior Physical Education major (lacrosse)
• Hannah Walker, senior Physical Education major (soccer)
• Natalie Lamar, junior Physical Education major (rugby)
• William “Billy” Dundon, senior Physical Education major (women’s softball manager)
• Ian Kennedy, senior Physical Education major
• Andrew Marean, senior Physical Education major

The �鶹ӳ�� group also had the opportunity to reconnect with alumna and former lacrosse player Marlee Solomon, who is a New York state physical education teacher and coach. 

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�鶹ӳ�� the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, �鶹ӳ�� is a community committed to transforming the lives of its students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a commitment to academic excellence and lifelong civic engagement. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, �鶹ӳ�� was ranked #8 for value and #19 overall by U.S. News and World Report (2025).