By: Michael L. Damon
mdamon@jjay.cuny.edu
(212) 237-8322
FLUSHING, N.Y.— Four John Jay City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) scholar-athlete honorable mentions and one All-American were amongst those celebrated on Thursday evening as CUNYAC held its annual Michael Steuerman / CUNYAC scholar-athlete awards dinner held at the Student Union building on the campus of Queens College.
Women's swimming team member
Mollie DeMeio, softball team member
Kaylee Fry, men's soccer player
Ratko Rakocevic and men's tennis player
Stephen Walz were John Jay's four honorable mentions, while men's basketball player Jamar Harry was honored for his All-American status as a men's basketball player this season.
Maintaining a 3.668 GPA,
Mollie DeMeio is a Political Science major. Prior to joining the women's swimming team in 2011, Mollie had minimal experience in the pool, but has since improved in leaps and bounds to become a key factor to the team. She improved her 50 yard freestyle time by more than 12 seconds in 2012-13 compared to 2011-12. A five time Dean's List student, Mollie received the Billie Kotlowitz Incentive Award in 2012 for embodying the mission of John Jay's Interdisciplinary Studies program. Mollie has also volunteered at the Women's Center, and with her teammates, has volunteered with the Special Olympics.
A two-year member of the softball program, Fry has maintained a cumulative 3.330 GPA at John Jay. Upon transferring from Raritan Valley Community College, Fry batted .310 with nine doubles, three homeruns, 27 runs batted in and had 49 total bases in 2012. In 2013, she had another great season, batting .429, with five doubles, five homeruns, 24 runs batted in and a .688 slugging percentage. A Forensic Science major, with a minor in Psychology, Kaylee has made the Dean's List twice. In the community, Kaylee has been active with her teammates, volunteering with Special Olympics and a team walk in a fight for the cure for Alzheimer's Disease. She is also a team representative in the John Jay SAAC Committee.
Ratko sports a 3.818 GPA. The two-year team member, was a star recruit and key ingredient in the resurgence of the John Jay's men's soccer program that got off to a 4-1 start in 2010, as well as a third place regular season CUNYAC finish in 2012, its highest since 2007. A Criminology major, Ratko served as student representative member of the Middle States Working Group Committee, and interned at the United Nations for the Permanent Missions of Montenegro in 2012. Ratko also played a role in the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, delivering food and supplies to people in the Rockaways, climbing as high as twenty-two stories.
A four-year member of the Bloodhounds and sporting a 3.616 GPA, Stephen is a Criminal Justice major. A team captain, He amassed 32 singles wins and 25 doubles wins in his career. He has made the Dean's List five times and is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society. In the community, Stephen teaches tennis to people with down syndrome at Clifton Racquet Club in his hometown of Clifton, N.J.
A three year player on the men's basketball team, Harry, who was named CUNYAC men's basketball Player of the Year, was honored after being named a National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) third team All-American.
