Boston University

04/24/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/24/2026 23:56

Top Student-Athletes and Coaches Honored at 2026 Scarlet & White Ceremony

Top Student-Athletes and Coaches Honored at 2026 Scarlet & White Ceremony

End-of-year banquet recognizes student achievements on and off the field

Boston University athletic honorees pose for a group photo during BU Athletics annual Scarlet & White Honors banquet, April 21. Photo by Dan Koerner/BU Athletics.

Varsity Sports

Top Student-Athletes and Coaches Honored at 2026 Scarlet & White Ceremony

End-of-year banquet recognizes student achievements on and off the field

April 24, 2026
Twitter Facebook

As Boston University's 2025-26 athletics season reaches its finish line, the athletics department honored the University's top student-athletes and community members at its annual Scarlet & White Honors. The ceremony, held April 21 in the Metcalf Ballroom at the George Sherman Union, recognized the year's top performers and leaders, plus special moments throughout this past season.

Paul Lewis Student-Athlete Service Award

Given to a senior student-athlete who has demonstrated commitment to serving BU, the athletics department, and the larger Boston community over the course of his or her time at BU

Alex Aravides (Sargent'26), women's rowing

Alex Aravides (Sargent'26) (left) with Malcolm Doldron, director of women's rowing. Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics.

Aravides is the third member of the women's rowing team to win this award in the past five years. As an executive board member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), she organized and recruited athletes to participate in community service and helped develop peer mentoring programs. Additionally, Aravides served as president of Terriers Together-an annual fundraiser that raised nearly $675,000 this past October in support of BU Athletics, club sports, and spirit squads. She was also an executive board member for Morgan's Message, a nonprofit that looks to strengthen student-athlete mental health.

John B. Simpson Award

Given to male and female seniors who have demonstrated "enthusiasm and leadership"

Otto Landrum (SHA'26), men's basketball

Otto Landrum (SHA'26) with Joe Jones, men's basketball head coach. Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics.

Although Landrum missed his entire senior season due to injury, his energy radiates in any room he is in, whether that's supporting his teammates during practice, in the weight room, or on the bench during games. Landrum is a strong supporter of BU Athletics as a whole; he's often seen cheering on other Terrier teams. He is a member of the SAAC's Executive Board and the Bloom Family Leadership Academy (BFLA).

Ellie Roan (CAS'26), women's track and field

Ellie Roan (CAS'26) with Grant Cartwright, director of track and field and cross country. Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics.

Roan is a two-time team captain who helped the Terriers win back-to-back Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Championships. Individually, she won the weight throw at three consecutive conference indoor championships-becoming just the third Patriot League athlete to accomplish the feat-with a personal-best throw of 21.14 meters. She also took silver in the shot put in 2026, recording a personal best of 15.7 meters.

E. Ray Speare Award

Given to the top senior male scholar-athlete

Tony Ponomarev (CAS'26), men's swimming and diving

Tony Ponomarev (CAS'26) with James Sica, swimming and diving head coach. Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics.

Ponomarev, a computer science and mathematics major, carries a 3.73 cumulative GPA. He recorded top-eight finishes in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke and the 200 individual medley, finishing as BU's top point scorer at the 2026 Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championships and earning All-Conference honors. Ponomarev graduates with a top-five program time in all three events, including the school record in the 200 backstroke at 1:43.33.

Gretchen Schuyler Award

Given to the top senior female scholar-athlete

Peace Omonzane (CAS'26), women's track and field

Peace Omonzane (CAS'26) with Drew Marrochello, BU Athletics director. Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics.

A psychology major, Omonzane holds a 3.84 cumulative GPA and was named 2026 Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year after setting meet records in the long jump and triple jump at the championships. She is a three-time Patriot League All-Academic Team honoree and two-time US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic athlete.

Woman of the Year

Given to the female student-athlete who best exemplifies a commitment to service, leadership, athletics, and academics during her collegiate career

Peace Omonzane, women's track and field

Peace Omonzane (CAS'26) with Sara Macey, assistant coach, track and field (left), and Grant Cartwright, director of track and field and cross country. Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics.

Omonzane is not only a two-time recipient of BU Athletics' Gretchen Schuyler Award, she also just earned her second and Woman of the Year award after making Patriot League history by becoming the first athlete to earn three Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Meet honors, sweeping long jump and triple jump gold for the third consecutive season. In addition, she is the first woman to sweep all four horizontal jump gold medals at the Patriot League championships in a single academic year since 2012. Off the track, Omonzane serves on the executive board of the Student-Athletes of Color organization.

Mildred Barnes Award

Given to the top female athlete of the year

Kasey Ricard (Sargent'26), softball

Kasey Ricard (Sargent'26) with Ashley Waters, softball head coach. Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics.

As she prepares to close out her college career, BU softball's Ricard leads the country in pitcher wins this season with 27. She recently became both the BU and Patriot League leader in career victories at 101. She also owns a nation-leading 12 shutouts this season and holds the Patriot League record with 41 career shutouts. Currently eighth nationally with 191 strikeouts, Ricard is a three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region First Team and two-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Year honoree. In addition, she has broken the conference record for Pitcher of the Week awards with 19 and is the first pitcher in Patriot League history to win the honor over four consecutive seasons.

Mickey Cochrane Award

Given to the top male athlete of the year

Timothy Shannehan (Questrom'28), men's lacrosse

Timothy Shannehan (Questrom'28) with Ryan Polley, men's lacrosse head coach. Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics.

As a sophomore, Shannehan leads the nation in points per game with 5.33 while owning a team-high 64 points and 31 assists alongside the second-most goals at 33. He is a 2026 Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-American and became the first player in the country to record 30-plus goals and 30-plus assists this season.

Harry Agganis Terrier Pride Award

Given to the student-athlete or coach who bleeds scarlet and white while exemplifying the characteristics that define "Terrier Pride": leadership, determination, citizenship, humility, and teamwork

Brooke Deppiesse (Questrom'26), softball

Brooke Deppiesse (Questrom'26) with Melissa Gilliam, BU president. Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics.

Serving as cocaptain for the second consecutive season, Deppiesse bats leadoff for the Terriers and currently ranks 43rd nationally in hits with 62 and 48th in runs scored with 49, hitting .388 on the season. She is a three-time NFCA All-Region First Team honoree and was named 2025 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year. A three-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection, Deppiesse also ranks fifth all-time at BU in both doubles (49) and hits (255).

Joseph P. Mercurio Campus Community Recognition Award

Given to an individual or group whose support has proven "invaluable and limitless"

Colin Riley, executive director of media relations

Colin Riley with Brian Kelley, associate athletic director. Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics.

Riley is retiring after 35 years as executive director of media relations and spokesperson at Boston University. Prior to arriving at BU, he worked at the US Postal Service and served on former BU President John Silber's campaign for governor of Massachusetts.

Bruce Lehane Coaching Award

Given to a coach who has embodied the holistic, values-based, caring approach and has coached at BU for a minimum of three years

Joe Jones, men's basketball

Otto Landrum (SHA'26) with Joe Jones, men's basketball head coach. Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics.

Jones, who just wrapped up his 15th season as head coach of the men's basketball team, owns the program record for wins with 251. This season, he led an injury-riddled team with just six healthy scholarship players to an appearance in the Patriot League championship game.

Team GPA Award

Given to the men's and women's programs with the top average GPA

Women's golf and men's tennis

Photos by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics

The women's golf team took home the Team GPA Award with a combined 3.74 GPA, leading all 24 BU programs. On the men's side, the tennis team won the award with a combined 3.54 GPA.

Student-Athlete Choice Awards

Male Unsung Hero

Marcus Guidry (CAS'27), men's track and field

Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics

As a sophomore, Guidry ran in the 800 meters at the Patriot League Outdoor Track and Field Championships, finishing with a personal best time of 1:53.15. He clocked a time of 2:02.41 in the 800 meters at the Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Championships and helped BU to a 3:21.46 finish in the 4×400 meters relay, with the Terriers taking sixth in the event.

Female Unsung Hero

Ellie Roan (CAS'26), women's track and field

Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics

Roan, a double winner at this year's Scarlet & White Honors, earned 2026 Academic All-Patriot League accolades, all while working as an account executive with BU's PRLab and as a field marketing intern at Allied Global Marketing.

Male Breakout Athlete

Thomas Cowan (CAS'28), men's track and field

Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics

A sophomore, Cowan broke his own school record in the 800 meters at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational on February 13 with a time of 1:46.83. As a freshman, he ran on the gold medal-winning 4×800 meters relay at the Patriot League Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where BU finished in 7:29.61. He capped the outdoor season by earning First-Team All-Patriot League honors for the 4×800 meters.

Female Rookie of the Year

Irys Kline (CAS'29), softball

Graphic courtesy of BU Athletics/X

In 46 games thus far in her first season as a Terrier, Kline is hitting .323 with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs, and 27 runs batted in. She's walked an astounding, team-high 35 times while striking out just 18 times. Kline was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week on February 23 after hitting .375 with six RBIs, including a walk-off grand slam against Jacksonville on February 20.

Male Rookie of the Year

Chance Gladden (CAS'29), men's basketball

Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics

As a freshman, Gladden became the first Terrier since 2013 to earn both All-Conference and All-Rookie Team honors in the same season. He finished third in scoring on the team with 14.4 points per game, while adding 4.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. His 150 assists on the season ranked 92nd nationally and 12th among all freshmen. Gladden also helped the Terriers reach their first Patriot League title game since 2020.

Win of the Year

Field hockey beats fourth-ranked Boston College 1-0

Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics

On September 14, Delfi Coulo (COM'29) scored the lone goal with 2:01 to play, and Sophie Ortyl (COM'27) recorded a 10-save shutout in goal as the Terriers took down the No. 4 Eagles for the program's first top-five win since 2007. The win propelled BU to winning the Patriot League title later in the season.

Highlight of the Year

Chance Gladden's game-winning shot in Patriot League semifinal

Graphic courtesy of BU Athletics/X

Down one point to top-seeded Navy in the Patriot League men's basketball semifinal on March 8, Gladden drilled a 40-foot, three-point shot at the buzzer to lift the Terriers to the Patriot League final-a game they would lose to Lehigh 74-60 on March 11.

Moment of the Year

Men's basketball achieves two major milestones in one night

Photo by Eliza Nuestro/BU Athletics

In a 78-63 home victory over Holy Cross on February 25, Michael McNair (CAS'27) set a new school record for three-pointers made in a season, and head coach Joe Jones became the program's all-time winningest coach.

Explore Related Topics:

  • Share this story

Share

Top Student-Athletes and Coaches Honored at 2026 Scarlet & White Ceremony

Copy URL: Copy

Latest from BU Today

Boston University published this content on April 24, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 25, 2026 at 05:57 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]