CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Holy Cross baseball student-athlete Declan Cronin and Colgate track & field student-athlete Regine Cooper are the Patriot League’s recipients of the 2018-19 Outstanding Leadership and Character Award. The male and female student-athlete honorees are determined by the Senior Woman Administrators (SWA) from each of the League’s member institutions.
 
The Patriot League established the Outstanding Leadership and Character Award to recognize and honor those individuals who demonstrate excellence in leadership and service while participating in Patriot League athletics. One male and one female have been recognized since the award’s inaugural season in 2011-12.
 
Cronin and Cooper are the first student-athletes from their respective institutions to claim the Patriot League’s Outstanding Leadership and Character Award. For a complete list of the previous Patriot League Award for Outstanding Leadership and Character CLICK HERE.

Provided the minimum conduct standards are met, any Patriot League student-athlete and/or team is eligible for the award. The definition of leadership and character for the purposes of this award includes but is not limited to any of the following ideals: demonstrated Leadership on the "field" of competition and within the campus community; promotes a leadership vision for the betterment of one's team or teammates; mentorship of teammates; role model on campus; active participation in on-campus and/or community service projects; perseverance in overcoming hardships; demonstration of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.
 
Declan Cronin
Holy Cross Baseball
Cronin excelled on and off the field during his senior season. The First Team All-Patriot League honoree registered a 5-1 record, and 2.70 ERA in seven League starts and earned a spot on the League’s all-Tournament team for the second consecutive season. He was selected in the 36th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago White Sox after compiling 156 career strikeouts to rank 10th in program history.
 
He also claimed a spot on the Academic All-Patriot League Team, after graduating Magna Cum Laude with a 3.81 GPA with a degree in history. The three-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit Honor Society), Phi Alpha Theta (National Historical Honor Society), Phi Sigma Tau (International Honor Society in Philosophy) and Delta Phi Alpha (German National Honor Society)
 
“(Declan Cronin) is a tireless worker, a selfless and caring teammate, and an individual who has led since the day he arrived in Worcester and wholeheartedly embodies a thriving College of Holy Cross student-athlete,” Head Coach Greg DiCenzo said. “The work ethic and determination, both in and out of the classroom setting, has not gone unnoticed by his peers within the Holy Cross community. An ever-present extension of the coaching staff, and a genuine inspiration to others, Declan is always willing to assist and mentor his teammates with each opportunity. His community service initiatives, coupled with his extracurricular activities, clearly demonstrate his willingness to be a man for others.”
 
Cronin took an active role with the Holy Cross baseball team’s community service initiatives, earning the team’s Robert T. Curran Leadership Award in 2019. The Montclair, N.J. native was a leader in the team’s partnerships with Team Impact, the Home Base Program, the UMass Memorial Cancer Walk and the Vs. Cancer Foundation. He also served as the Holy Cross SAAC Vice President, working with the Community Engagement Subcommittee. Cronin made his presence felt campus-wide, working as an Orientation Leader with the Holy Cross Gateways Program, where he led first-year orientation groups and facilitated events throughout the academic year. He was also a Student Leader for the Holy Cross Sophomore Retreat where he helped organize reflection talk and small group sessions.
 
“In order to succeed on a consistent basis, every team needs a player like Declan Cronin,” DiCenzo said. “Our baseball program is extremely privileged to have him on our roster...the College of the Holy Cross is truly blessed to have him in the graduating class of 2019!”
 
Regine Cooper
Colgate Women’s Track & Field
Cooper, a captain on the Colgate women’s track and field squad, has served as a leader and mentor to her teammates as well as a role model on campus in Hamilton, N.Y. The three-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll member has been a principal in campus groups such as Sisters of the Round Table, the Black Student Union and Raiders of Color Connect to help foster an environment of community and belonging. She has assisted first-year and sophomore students in her role as a community leader within the Residential Life office. Cooper has also worked with administrators across campus to hold information sessions regarding course selection, internship searches, and how to take advantage of and utilize other support systems available to Colgate students.
 
“Regine has been an outstanding leader for our track and field program both academically and athletically,” Director of Track and Field Amber Williams said. “It has been a pleasure to watch her grow as an individual and a leader for our team and the Colgate community over the last four years. She inspires everyone around her with her drive and instills hope for others to believe in themselves. I couldn’t be more proud of Regine for receiving this award and everything she has accomplished.”
 
A first-generation college student, Cooper has persevered through homelessness during parts of her childhood and the passing of her mother during her first year at Colgate to become an inspirational force. While excelling athletically and academically, Cooper also worked with Colgate’s entrepreneurial program “Thought Into Action” to create and receive funding for “Project Finish Line.” The program provides peer mentoring for first-generation students and those who come from single-parent households. The focus is on helping students cope and thrive through cultural discontinuities within higher education while taking advantage of resources available to them in college. The mentoring program currently has 45 participants receiving guidance to be proactive, both academically and professionally.
 
“Though Regine carried the title of captain on the track and field team, that’s not what she believes makes her a leader,” Colgate Assistant Athletics Director of Student-Athlete Academic Services Angela Marathakis said. “She aspires to teach teammates how to be a good teammate, both on and off the field that distinguishes her from everyone. Her self-propelled desire to lead by example motivates everyone around her to perform their best, both academically and athletically. Her commitment to honesty and genuineness to herself and others is why she stands out on campus. Throughout her entire Colgate career, Regine has stayed true to herself, her values and beliefs, and became a more vocal leader through her constructive conversations and enthusiasm between teammates.”
 
Other nominees for this honor included Rachel Bird (Lafayette field hockey), Bradley Buchter (Navy men’s swimming & diving), Trent Crossan (Lafayette football), Audrey Denkler (American women’s soccer), Philomena Fitzgerald (Holy Cross field hockey), Mia Gioia (Loyola Maryland women’s rowing), Gab Harchelroad (Navy women’s lacrosse), Johnny Kemps (Boston University men’s track & field), Jess Lewis (Army West Point women’s basketball), Ryan Malloy (Lehigh baseball), Sabrina Mertz (Lehigh women’s soccer), Luke Myers (Colgate men’s track & field), Harper Stewart (Bucknell women’s track & field), Samantha Wapner (Boston University women’s rowing).
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE 
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.