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Patriot Profile: Midori Galligan

Katarina Benson — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 14:05:18 +0000

Patriot Profile: Midori Galligan Katarina Benson Mon, 06/02/2025 - 10:05

Back in 2023 on the day before she moved into her residence hall at �鶹��Ƶ, Midori Galligan received a bit of advice from her dad as she embarked on her college journey. “He kind of gave the normal talk of ‘You need to do new things, meet new people, and just say yes.’”

In her two years on campus, Galligan has taken that guidance to incredible heights. In the process, she’s discovered new passions while pursuing the degree that prompted her to come to George �鶹��Ƶ.

Midori Galligan. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Rowing on a Whim: A former soccer player, Galligan decided to focus on academics when she came to George �鶹��Ƶ. But during an activities fair on campus, a George �鶹��Ƶ rower encouraged her to try out for the squad. “I was like, you know what? I’m just going to try it. I was looking for things to do, trying to meet new people.”

Despite having no prior awareness of the sport, Galligan cleared tryouts and embarked on a journey that’s still going strong three years later. “The program takes in a lot of novices, and they will teach you how to row. It ended up being the best decision I feel like I’ve made so far.”

Keep to the Beat: Galligan is also an active member of Noteworthy, George �鶹��Ƶ’s a cappella group. Like with rowing, she joined on a whim. “I decided [to try out] 30 minutes before the audition.” She got in, and by her third year the group named her music director, which had her selecting the music and leading rehearsals. Her favorite song to perform is “Somebody That I Used to Know.” “I have a solo in this one! Plus the group has enjoyed learning this one, and it was our concert finisher, so energy was always high!” 

She’s Got Rhythm: Galligan has found some surprising similarities between her two passions. “Rowing is a very rhythmic sport. In a boat of people, you have to be moving together. Constantly being on a beat has helped me pick up rowing technique.”

Honors College student Midori Galligan was recently recognized as one of this year's Stearns Scholar Athletes. Photo provided

The teamwork and collaboration she has experienced come with their own rewards. “It’s a really cool feeling, having a collective goal, working hard for it, wearing a uniform of the school, and going out and competing or performing. I take a lot of pride in it.”

Best Laid Plans: While Galligan, who is also an Honors College student, seemingly left the social part of her life as a Patriot to chance, her academic path shows strong intention. “I knew I wanted to be a physical therapist,” she says, “and a big part of preparing for PT school is experience.” She cites the university’s proximity to Washington, D.C., and its rich pool of internship opportunities as major factors in her decision to come to George �鶹��Ƶ. “The kinesiology curriculum has set aside credits and time for you to get internships as well. I thought I would be really set up to create a strong PT application.”

Advice for New Patriots: In her journey of “saying yes,” Galligan says she’s discovered something far more important. “I think the point of going to school and having all the opportunities is just to kind of get out of your comfort zone and see what’s there. You learn something about yourself and what you want…it helps you figure out who you can be.”

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Quinn-Irons leads George �鶹��Ƶ’s charge into the baseball postseason

Katarina Benson — Mon, 19 May 2025 19:12:06 +0000

Quinn-Irons leads George �鶹��Ƶ’s charge into the baseball postseason Katarina Benson Mon, 05/19/2025 - 15:12

A subtle shift in mindset has turned James Quinn-Irons into a force at the plate—and it has made all the difference in �鶹��Ƶ’s baseball postseason run.

Rather than fixating on results, the junior center fielder has embraced a process-driven approach, focusing on what he can control in each at-bat. This mindset has allowed him to explode offensively, leading the Patriots in nearly every major offensive category, propelling the team into the Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball Tournament at Capital One Park in Tysons, Virginia, which begins today.

Quinn-Irons at bat. Photo by George �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

“I don’t care as much about the results of the at-bat,” Quinn-Irons said. “I used to get wrapped up in stats, but now it’s more about the process—whether I’ve been patient, worked the count, and done the little things. You can’t always control getting a hit or driving someone in, but you can control your approach. It’s just a mindset.”

It’s working.

The computer science major in the College of Engineering and Computing played and started in all 55 regular-season games this spring, leading the Patriots with a .410 batting average, 14 home runs, 78 runs batted in (RBIs), 89 hits, 22 doubles, a .724 slugging percentage, and a 0.515 on base percentage. He also ranks second on the team with 28 stolen bases in 34 attempts. In the A-10 standings, he ranks second in batting average, on base percentage, RBIs, and hits, and leads the conference in doubles and OPS (on base + slugging percentage) with 1.239.

At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Quinn-Irons has played his way into professional prospects, with his name expected to be called during next month’s Major League Baseball (MLB) draft.

Accolades are following, too. He recently was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award, bestowed annually to the nation’s top amateur baseball player. He is the first player in George �鶹��Ƶ history to earn the honor and just the third from the A-10 to be named a semifinalist. Previous winners included former MLB stars Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, and Buster Posey.

Quinn-Irons is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award. Photo by George �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

Not too bad for a player whose lone scholarship offer came from George �鶹��Ƶ out of South Lakes High School in Reston, Virginia.

Patriots Head Coach and former MLB pitcher Shawn Camp lauded Quinn-Irons for his leadership on and off the field, and for his ability to inspire others around him.

“His leadership is contagious,” Camp said. “He shows up every day with the same attitude. He is one of the most coachable players I’ve ever had, and is always working to improve.”

Last season, Quinn-Irons batted .302 with 13 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases. His tireless dedication to his craft has elevated every part of his game this spring.

A recent highlight came on May 15, when he blasted a walk-off, three-run homer, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to seal a thrilling 8-6 win over Fordham, keeping George �鶹��Ƶ’s A-10 regular season title and top tournament seed hopes alive.

“I’m just playing ball,” Quinn-Irons said.

With numbers like his—and a postseason still ahead—the game is clearly playing back.

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Recapping women’s and men’s basketball teams’ historic seasons

Katarina Benson — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 16:49:18 +0000

Recapping women’s and men’s basketball teams’ historic seasons Katarina Benson Mon, 03/24/2025 - 12:49

Although their seasons came to an end over the weekend, both the �鶹��Ƶ men’s and women’s basketball teams made history this season.

The women's team traveled to Louisiana for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Photo by George �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

The women’s team earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth by winning the Atlantic 10 tournament, capped an amazing season with a tough first-round loss to Florida State.

Paula Suarez scored a career-high 25 points, including five three-pointers. Kennedy Harris had 12 points and five assists.

After an initial surge by Florida State, the Patriots found their rhythm in the second quarter, matching the Seminoles 19-19 in the frame. Suárez caught fire from deep, keeping the Patriots within striking distance. But as the game wore on, Florida State's size and depth proved difficult to counter

“The outcome of this game does not define who they are,” Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis told the Associated Press. “They have put a legacy in place at �鶹��Ƶ…that can never be taken away.”

The team ends its historic season with a 27-6 record.

The men's NIT game against Bradley. Photo by Art Pittman/George �鶹��Ƶ Athletics.

The men’s team, led by George �鶹��Ƶ alum and A-10 Coach of the Year Tony Skinn, BA Communication ‘06, set a new school record this season with 15 wins in the A-10. They matched the best overall win total (27) in school history. The Patriots also set a new program best for home wins (18) and swept their home A-10 slate (9-0) for the first time.

The men’s team scored a decisive 86-69 victory against Sanford in the first round of the NIT on Wednesday, March 19, at EagleBank Arena.

On Saturday, they trailed Bradley by nine (37-28) at the break and by as many as 18 (55-37) in the second half. They closed the gap to three (65-62) with 3:47 left, but Bradley pushed it back to eight (71-63) with 1:31 left and hung on.

"I'm thankful for our seniors," Skinn said. "This was a phenomenal season—27 wins in a season is not normal, and I'm grateful to these guys for it."

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George �鶹��Ƶ sends three to NCAA Wrestling Championship

Katarina Benson — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:18:06 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ sends three to NCAA Wrestling Championship Katarina Benson Thu, 03/20/2025 - 14:18

Three members of �鶹��Ƶ men's wrestling team will be competing at the NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championship, held March 20-22 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

The student athletes headed to the championship.

The Patriots DJ McGee, Kaden Cassidy, and Malachi DuVall earned bids to compete. McGee and DuVall are returning to the championship, having competed last year as well. McGee heads to the tournament as the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Champion, while DuVall and Cassidy earned third place finishes.

McGee is slotted as the No. 17 seed, while DuVall is 21, and first-time NCAA qualifier Cassidy goes into the tournament in the No. 27 slot. The junior battled his way through wrestle-backs with four straight wins to finish third in the conference.

The three qualifiers were a major reason George �鶹��Ƶ finished the season with a 12-6 record, its best finish in the MAC (6-2). This is the team’s third consecutive season with double-digit wins. After back-to-back 11-win seasons, the Patriots won 12 this season. It is the most wins in a season since the 2007-08 season when they finished with a 13-5 record.

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George �鶹��Ƶ Women's Indoor Track and Field crowned as 2025 A-10 champions

Katarina Benson — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 18:47:44 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ Women's Indoor Track and Field crowned as 2025 A-10 champions Katarina Benson Mon, 03/03/2025 - 13:47

�鶹��Ƶ has been crowned the Atlantic 10 Women's Indoor Track and Field Champions, claiming the title over VCU at the Virginia Beach Sports Center. The men's team placed second in the championship behind Rhode Island.

The Patriots clinched the championship in dramatic fashion, securing three additional medals on the final day of competition. Senior Abby Weening captured gold in the high jump, delivering a pivotal performance that helped George �鶹��Ƶ maintain its lead over VCU. She was also named the Most Outstanding Field Performer, recognizing her stellar meet, which included two gold medals in the pentathlon and high jump. Junior Olamide Enajekpo earned bronze in the shot put, while sophomore Susan Adenitan placed third in the 200m race.

Women's Indoor Track and Field A-10 Championship team. Photo by George �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

With the championship hanging in the balance, the 4x400m relay became the deciding event. Holding a slim 2.5-point advantage over VCU, the Patriots needed to outpace the Rams to secure the title. The relay team—Chairely Bido, Simone Hamlar, Helena Santacana, and Ay'rianna Moore—delivered in dominant fashion, sealing the long-awaited victory for George �鶹��Ƶ.

"Overall, an outstanding weekend of competition for both genders but, especially for our women. It was just a tremendous effort spread across all event groups," said Head Coach Andrew Gerard. “It really is not an exaggeration to say that we continue to have the best combined men's and women's program in the conference and that is 100% credit to the team of athletes we have assembled and the awesome staff that helps get them onto the line, circle and runway."

This victory marks a historic achievement for George �鶹��Ƶ, as the Patriots have claimed their first A-10 Indoor Championship since 2014.

The men's team placed second, only behind Rhode Island who have won the Atlantic 10 Championship for the fifth consecutive year.

The men’s 60m hurdles were swept by the Patriots. Freshman Davian Burke won bronze, junior Albert Asare placed silver, and graduate student Joshua Sutton won the gold. Senior Paul McClain earned the gold in the 500m race, and a gold was also won in the 4x400m relays with a young team of �鶹��Ƶ Samuels, Lance Koontz, Max Karen, and Jordan Tuck. Sophomore Abdurrazzaq Hassan got the bronze in the heptathlon.

Head Coach Andrew Gerard and his staff were honored as the Coaching Staff of the Year.

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George �鶹��Ƶ recognizes 78 scholar-athletes for academic achievements

Katarina Benson — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:22:32 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ recognizes 78 scholar-athletes for academic achievements Katarina Benson Wed, 02/26/2025 - 14:22

A record-breaking 78 Peter N. Stearns Provost Scholar Athletes were honored in a ceremony on Feb. 17 for their outstanding academic achievements.

photo provided

In its 17th year, the award recognizes the student-athletes who have earned at least 38 credit hours at George �鶹��Ƶ and have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or better. George �鶹��Ƶ's Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Marvin Lewis congratulated this year's recipients at the ceremony.

"I truly appreciate the Provost's Office for recognizing the dedication and hard work of our student-athletes, who excel both in the classroom and in their sport," said Lewis. "This group truly stands out, embodying the highest academic and athletic achievement standards. As Provost Scholars, they are developing valuable skills and discipline that will serve them for years to come, setting them apart as leaders among their peers."

The previous record for Provost Scholar Athletes was 68. In the 2023-24 season, 19 teams were represented, along with cheer and dance. In 2021-22, George �鶹��Ƶ had 11 teams with a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher, including three teams with a GPA of 3.50 or higher.

This year, 43 student-athletes were honored for the first time. Of the 22 who have received the award before, 11 have been named to the list at least three times, and two recipients—Max Karen (Men's Track & Field) and Josh Walker (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country)—have been recognized four times.

First-time Honorees

Brant Ertel (Baseball)
Shaun O'Keefe (Baseball)
Page Greenburg (Women's Basketball)
Lauren Bailey (Co-ed Cheerleading)
Caitlin Cardin (Co-ed Cheerleading)
Makenna Diza (Co-ed Cheerleading)
Alyssa Pettijohn (Co-ed Cheerleading)
Sarah Clark (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country)
Luke Brown (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country)
Stephanie Dundas (Women's Track & Field)
Amalia Florou Dimitriadou (Women's Track & Field)
Caleb Hymans (Men's Track & Field)
Victoria Bates (Women's Lacrosse)
Madelyn Holloway (Women's Lacrosse)
Kara Becker (Women's Rowing)
Dabria Dawkins (Women's Rowing)
Sarah Galligan (Women's Rowing)
June Johnson (Women's Rowing)
Elene Meurmishvili (Women's Rowing)
Isabelle Puentes (Women's Rowing)
Jazmine Vasquez (Women's Rowing)
Julie Bike (Women's Soccer)
Mia Casciani (Women's Soccer)
Marie Franjicic (Women's Soccer)
Amelia Martin (Women's Soccer)
Kiyomi McCausland (Women's Soccer)
Aliyah Morgan (Women's Soccer)
Carly Passaro (Women's Soccer)
Madyson Taylor (Women's Soccer)
Anton Siren (Men's Soccer)
Asparuh Slavov (Men's Soccer)
Haleigh Dellow (Softball)
Kaleigh Friend (Softball)
Maya McGowan (Softball)
Harlowe Nigh (Softball)
Kylie Wilkerson (Softball)
Alayna Brooker (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Kristen Ivey (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Emma McDonald (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Clare Smith (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Casey Tingen (Women's Swimming & Diving)
William Arends (Men's Tennis)
Robert Evangelista (Men's Volleyball)

Second-time Honorees

Megan Baird (Women's Track & Field)
Kaitlyn Bestick (Women's Lacrosse)
Evan Blanchard (Baseball)
Selamawit Caldart (Women's Soccer)
Pilar Cerritos Gatto (Women's Rowing)
Jack Chapman (Men's Swimming & Diving)
Sydney Dacus (Women's Soccer)
Lauren Distad (Women's Lacrosse)
Rachel Eberly (Women's Soccer)
Ryan Edmonds (Baseball)
Peyton Farley (Women's Lacrosse)
Alexandra Hooks (Women's Soccer)
Kamryn Inman (Softball)
Alexander Lombardo (Men's Track & Field)
Sierra Matheson (Women's Track & Field)
Noah McGrath (Men's Soccer)
Ella Oare (Women's Track & Field)
Milan Pierre-Jerome (Women's Soccer)
Jordan Tallman (Softball)
Brooke Volpi (Women's Soccer)
Allyson Yeary (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Georgi Zahariev (Men's Volleyball)

Three-time Honorees

Jordan Anderson (Softball)
Madeline Baldwin (Women's Rowing)
Grayson Clark (Men's Track & Field)
Ewelina Gacek (Women's Volleyball)
Shannon Judge (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Olyvia Kennedy (Women's Volleyball)
Ashton King (Men's Track & Field)
Abigail Murtaugh (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Alexandra Tyler (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Anna Whelan (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Arslan Yaqubi (Men's Track & Field)

Four-time Honorees

Maximilian Karen (Men's Track & Field)
Joshua Walker (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country)

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From South Sudan to Virginia, Eliuda delivers for George �鶹��Ƶ

Colleen Rich — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 18:48:23 +0000

From South Sudan to Virginia, Eliuda delivers for George �鶹��Ƶ Colleen Rich Tue, 01/07/2025 - 13:48

Growing up in Juba, South Sudan, James Eliuda knew nothing about America and never thought about picking up all his things and leaving his hometown.

This past season, James Eliuda has solidified himself as an integral piece to the best season George �鶹��Ƶ’s soccer program has had since joining the A-10 conference. Photo by Art Pittman/�鶹��Ƶ Athletics

"I was just playing soccer, having fun, living with family … everything happened so fast," he said.

In South Sudan, Eliuda lived with his mother and eight siblings and proved at an early age to be leaps and bounds ahead of his hometown's competition. Most soccer players in South Sudan have few opportunities to grow and showcase their talents and skills. Eliuda is the exception to this rule.

Playing at Future Stars Academy in Juba and graduating from Juba Diocesan Secondary School at just 15 years old, Eliuda was afforded the opportunity to train with South Sudan in the under 15 and under 17 competitions.

After impressing the head coach, he and a few others were invited to train with South Sudan’s first division team, and Eliuda was soon training with a professional team in Kenya.

After three months of valuable training, as well as plans to travel to Dubai that fell through, Eliuda decided to make the drastic move to the United States to continue his soccer journey at DME Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Although grateful and excited for with the opportunity to play high-level soccer in the United States, Eliuda had to adjust to being a student-athlete and living in an new environment, thousands of miles away from his family.

Future Stars Academy in Juba, South Sudan. Photo provided

"Everything was different: the weather—in my country it is always hot—and I was tired when I came here. We used to write on blackboards back home, but when I went to DME, they gave me a computer [that] took me almost one month to learn," he said.

This is where �鶹��Ƶ men’s soccer head coach Rich Costanzo saw Eliuda on the pitch and knew he was the right fit to bring to George �鶹��Ƶ.

"You could see how much quality he had, but how much more potential he has to give. I could tell he was a good player," said Costanzo. “Everything I heard about the type of person he was, I knew he'd be someone we'd want to work with and someone who'd be receptive to becoming a better player."

"No one talked to me about how I played and how they wanted me to play for their team, so when he said that to me, I was like 'this guy believes in me,' so if I go there, I'm going to believe in myself even more that I'm a good player," said Eliuda.

As a freshman, his dreams were put on hold when Eliuda was ruled ineligible by the NCAA for much of the Patriots’ season in fall 2023. He already had a year of eligibility stripped due to his two-year absence from traditional schooling before DME Academy, bringing his NCAA eligibility years down to three.

"We had to do waivers and petitions, and he is still entering college at 18 like everyone else. It took all year," said Costanzo. "Every time I'd ask him [how he was doing] he'd say to just trust in God, and we're going to get there."

After a hard-fought battle with the NCAA, Eliuda was permitted to play the remaining five games of the season and also granted all four years of eligibility.

"We cried when we got approved. It was a real blessing, for him, for us, for everything," said Costanzo.

Eliuda’s time finally came in October 2023 against the University of Dayton. Since coming off the bench in the middle of the first half of that game, he has started every game. He scored his very first goal for George �鶹��Ƶ in the next game against Radford, which the Patriots won 7-0.

This past season, Eliuda has solidified himself as an integral piece to the best season George �鶹��Ƶ’s soccer program has had since joining the A-10 conference. He scored two goals and tied for second in the club in assists this season, helping the Patriots win their first-ever A-10 regular season championship with 13 wins. He was also named Second Team All-Conference for the midfield position.

"I never thought of the personal accolades," said Eliuda. "Our goal is to win."

Although he is a proven and dedicated athlete, Eliuda is a student first and foremost. His phenomenal academic track record can be traced all the way back to his formative years in South Sudan. He received the 2023-24 A-10 Commissioner Honor Roll distinction for his academic performance in his first year at George �鶹��Ƶ. He plans to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sport management.

Outside of class and on the pitch, Eliuda can almost always be found at the George �鶹��Ƶ Field House working out, getting treatment, and being a social butterfly.

"The first thing you notice when you speak to James is his smile, he's always talking and smiling," said George �鶹��Ƶ basketball player Chase Tucker.

Although George �鶹��Ƶ has embraced Eliuda as one of their own, his heart will always be with his family in Sudan, who he hasn't seen since he came to the United States. "It's so hard because the time difference,” he said, “I'm sleeping when they're waking up."

Despite his homesickness, Costanzo and the George �鶹��Ƶ faculty have helped Eliuda navigate life in Virginia and feel at home.

"There's a lot I can say about [Costanzo] … not playing all last season, that was the toughest moment, and I give credit to him the most … he's taken [me in] like a son,” Eliuda said, expressing his gratitude.

"We use the term Kaizen—we try to get better a little bit every day, and [Eliuda] embodies that," said Costanzo. "At his core, he's a winner, whatever he does he's going to be great."

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First-year setter Tuana Ozarpaci is learning fast about the U.S. and Division I volleyball

Sarah Holland — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 19:52:52 +0000

First-year setter Tuana Ozarpaci is learning fast about the U.S. and Division I volleyball Sarah Holland Thu, 08/29/2024 - 15:52

The heavier volleyball used in NCAA Division-I play and the different feel from its international counterpart isn’t the only change to which �鶹��Ƶ’s Tuana Ozarpaci is quickly acclimating herself.

Photo by Rafael Suanes/�鶹��Ƶ Athletics

Living in a foreign land, far away from home for the first time, the 18-year-old first-year setter from Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye, is taking a crash course, learning volumes both on the court and off as she settles in at her new home-away-from-home.

“It’s a whole new change, but it’s a good change,” said Ozarpaci, an economics and sports management major. “I just want to focus on my studies, volleyball, and my personal growth.”

Attending a university far from friends and family can have its challenges, but Ozarpaci is adapting well to her new environment and her new volleyball family.

In early spring 2023, Ozarpaci announced her intention to play for George �鶹��Ƶ, becoming coach Megan Shifflett Bachman’s first commit for the incoming class of 2024. Ozarpaci chose George �鶹��Ƶ over University of Texas, DePaul, and Loyola Marymount, citing the close relationship she had quickly developed with Shifflett Backman and current Patriots players via Zoom and her desire to find a new home preferably on the East Coast.

Ozarpaci had initially drawn the university’s attention with her impressive performance on the Turkish club team Galatasaray Sports Club, where she played in 414 sets across 133 matches and led her team with 1,000+ assists each season as the starting setter for the past three consecutive seasons.

Shifflett Bachman was on maternity leave when she heard of Ozarpaci’s decision to come to George �鶹��Ƶ. “She was just one of those athletes who really stood out,” Shifflett Bachman said. “What she could do with the ball was impressive and immediately caught our attention.”

The number of international student-athletes playing Division I women’s volleyball has slowly risen in recent years, but they still comprise just under 6% of all Division I players, according to the latest NCAA statistics.

But Ozarpaci could play a key role for a George �鶹��Ƶ team that looks to improve last year’s 9-21 record. Setters are the team’s quarterbacks, meaning they usually touch the ball on every play to set up teammates. Having a keen on-court awareness, knowing her teammates and accurately placing the ball are skills that are imperative for that position.

Ozarpaci will get her opportunity this fall, with the Patriots returning just one setter from last year’s team.

“Being a freshman—especially as an international student—is always going to be hard, no matter what,” Ozarpaci said. “But the coaches are making me feel safe and welcome while pushing me to improve and learn how to do things better.”

She had visited the United States with her parents and older sister before enrolling at George �鶹��Ƶ, but the family had never been to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area before arriving in Fairfax on Aug. 1. Now, she is ready to brave this chapter on her own.

A huge basketball fan, Ozarpaci already plans on being a regular at EagleBank Arena this winter, at least when she’s not too busy with classes or sampling American culinary delights, such as Chick-fil-A and Dunkin, both on the Fairfax Campus. Ozarpaci has become a big fan of both.

“I’m loving it here, it’s beautiful, and I feel like I’m going to grow a lot,” Ozarpaci said.

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George �鶹��Ƶ athletes post successful NCAA Academic Progress Rate scores

Colleen Rich — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 19:21:22 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ athletes post successful NCAA Academic Progress Rate scores Colleen Rich Wed, 06/12/2024 - 15:21

�鶹��Ƶ student-athletes continued to post impressive scores in the Academic Progress Rate (APR) release by the NCAA. Four programs produced perfect multi-year NCAA APR scores of 1,000 while a total of 11 teams had a perfect APR for the 2022-23 academic year.

Photo by Art Pittman/Athletics

The APR score is a rolling four-year average of each team and its athletes' progress toward graduation. Teams that score below 930 are subject to penalties, which can include ineligibility for postseason competition.

The highlights of results for George �鶹��Ƶ student-athletes include:

The Division I single-year APR score for the George �鶹��Ƶ Athletics Department was 989, which scored above the 985 needed to meet the NCAA academic unit benchmark.

Men's and women's cross country programs and the men's and women's tennis all scored a perfect multi-year score of 1,000.

Twelve teams (men's cross country, men's golf, men's soccer, men's tennis, men's track and field, women's cross country, women's rowing, women's lacrosse, softball, women's swimming and diving, women's tennis, and women's volleyball) scored at or above the NCAA Division I average multi-year APR score of 984.

"We are very proud of the impressive scores George �鶹��Ƶ Athletics boasted in the latest Academic Progress Report (APR) released by the NCAA," said Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Marvin Lewis.

"This is a testament the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of our student-athletes, coaches, and the academic services team led by Deputy Athletics Director Nena Rogers. The collective commitment to academic success can be celebrated by all of the �鶹��Ƶ community."

Implemented in 2003 as part of an ambitious academic reform effort in Division I, the APR holds institutions accountable for the academic progress of their student-athletes through a team-based metric that accounts for the eligibility and retention of each student-athlete for each academic term.

The scores provide a real-time look at a program's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention, and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance. This year, the APR score was a multi-year average of the 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 academic years.

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Distad embodies excellence on and off the field

Colleen Rich — Mon, 06 May 2024 14:46:15 +0000

Distad embodies excellence on and off the field Colleen Rich Mon, 05/06/2024 - 10:46

�鶹��Ƶ lacrosse midfielder and biology major Lauren Distad is the 2024 Aimee Willard Commemorative Award recipient. This award is given annually to a student-athlete who embodies Willard's legacy and who mirrors the standards of quality set by Willard in her two-sport career: intensity, consistency of purpose, achievement, and teamwork.

Lacrosse player Lauren Distad with Athletic Director Marvin Lewis. Photo by Athletics

Distad's path to winning the Aimee Willard Award started 1,100 miles away from George �鶹��Ƶ in Roseville, Minnesota, where she grew up. "I come from a very diverse area in Minnesota," said Distad. "I saw a lot of people that weren't given equitable care and opportunities that I was given. So, in high school, I started volunteering and doing stuff because I wanted to close that gap. I started a food drive during COVID, and that kind of kick-started me with community service stuff.”

A student-athlete’s coach must nominate them for the award. "Lauren has been a consistent contributor to our program, her school, and her community,” said George �鶹��Ƶ women’s lacrosse head coach Kara Mupo. “She continuously upholds the highest standards through everything she does and leaves a positive and lasting impact on people in all facets of her life."

When she chose to come to George �鶹��Ƶ, Distad says lacrosse was the leading factor, but it's not the reason she's stayed. "Lacrosse brought me here […] but I stay because of the people that I've met here and the consistency within academics and athletics. It's a great environment, great community."

Distad plays an active role in making George �鶹��Ƶ and the surrounding Fairfax community a great place to be. In her limited free time over the past three years, Distad has served as a member of the Student Athletics Advisory Committee, as a George �鶹��Ƶ Ambassador, a �鶹��Ƶ Chooses Kindness Ambassador, and she is heavily involved in Morgan's Message, a nonprofit that “strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics.”

Distad is also the founder of the One Love club on campus, a group that raises awareness about relationship violence by hosting events, workshops, and fundraisers. She also has excelled in the classroom; she was twice named a Athletics Provost Scholar and has been on the Dean's List for every semester she's attended George �鶹��Ƶ. Distad also works two on-campus jobs in Athletics.

In March 2024, she received an OrthoVirginia Student Achiever Award, which recognizes George �鶹��Ƶ student-athletes that excel in all areas—academics, athletics, and service to the community.

Off campus, Distad has volunteered at the Lloyd Moss Free Clinic as a medical scribe and has worked with FACETS at the Wedgewood Community Center, helping with afterschool enrichment. She also spent summer 2023 as a volunteer in the birth center and breast health care center at Regions Hospital in Minnesota. She is on a pre-med track and is set to take the MCAT this fall with the hopes to specialize in pediatrics or as a fertility specialist, but that's not the only reason she picked her volunteer work.

"I just like to see people happy,” Distad said. “I know it sounds super simple, but everyone deserves equitable care and to be happy and to be cared for and seen."

On the field, Distad has played all over, but has become the team's draw specialist this year, tallying 87 draw controls, good for third most in the Atlantic 10. And while she's led the draw team to be top-25 in the country in draw control percentage, she humbly credits her teammates and coaches as the reason for their success: “I couldn't do it without my draw circle. We work really well as a team. There's a lot that goes into it and it's very skilled and people don't really notice that. […] And our circle game was really good last year, but [assistant coach Riley Ewing] enhanced our on-draw calls. I'm very fortunate to have a good team that supports me and who has my back.”

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