BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Bucknell softball’s Nicole Rivait, Colgate men’s track and field’s Johna Joseph Jr. and Lehigh field hockey’s Drew Pecora were named the recipients of the 2021-22 Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character. Rivait, Joseph Jr. and Pecora were selected by the administrators of the League’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Bucknell’s Rivait and Lehigh’s Pecora became the first Patriot League students to tie for the accolade. They are the seventh honorees from their respective institutions to receive the award of outstanding leadership and character. Colgate’s Joseph is the second Raider to win the award.
The Patriot League established the Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character to recognize and honor individuals who demonstrate excellence in leadership and service while participating in Patriot League athletics. One male and one female student-athlete have been recognized since the award's inception in 2011-12.
Provided the minimum conduct standards are met, any Patriot League student-athlete or team is eligible for the award. The definition of leadership and character for 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.
Nicole Rivait
Bucknell Softball
Nicole Rivait's on-field accomplishments speak for themselves. She's been among the top hitters in the Patriot League, posting a .310 career batting average while starting 136 of 137 games played as a catcher or infielder. Her 13 career home runs are ninth in Bison program history. Though what cannot be seen by glancing through her stats is the difference she has made in the Bucknell campus community.
She has been a member of Bucknell's Leadership Institute and their Summer LEAD Fellowship. Before the 2021-22 academic year, Rivait was also selected as one of Bucknell's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) members, a role where she was responsible for leading a host of initiatives within the athletics department.
But in the fall of 2021, some of Rivait's most lasting impact on the University was helping to found the Bucknell Athlete Ally Chapter. Athlete Ally is a nonprofit advocacy group that aims to create a community where LGBTQIA+ individuals feel supported and connected, while individuals who do not identify as part of the community can learn how to be allies and supporters of their LGBTQIA+ friends and teammates.
Through Rivait's leadership, Bucknell hosted its first "Pride Games" centered around Bison field hockey and volleyball matches in the fall. As part of the effort, teams wore designated shirts in support of LGBTQIA+ community members. She also created campus and local resource information cards and support items that were available to all of those who attended the matches.
She also worked with members of SAAC in collaboration with Athlete Ally and Fran's House (LGBTQIA+-friendly, gender-neutral housing) to organize a "transitional clothing drive" to create a transition closet for any student looking for free trans-inclusive, gender-affirming clothing.
"As an active member of our leadership programming, Nicole is a mentor to not only her younger teammates, but to her fellow student-athletes and captains as well," Bucknell Student-Athlete Development Assistant Eline Vermeulen said. "As a member of the Social Justice Committee, she was involved in our Black History month reading initiative, promotion of Athlete Ally games, and the collaboration between Bucknell University Fran's House and the Bucknell Athlete Ally Chapter. Her mentorship helped one of her younger teammates to become actively involved in becoming a leader in Athlete Ally next year."
Johna Joseph Jr.
Colgate Men’s Track and Field
Johna Joseph Jr., a multi-year captain on the Colgate men's track and field squad, established himself as a leader within the campus community early during his time in Hamilton, N.Y.
Described by athletics department administrators as "one of the best Colgate has to offer," the Cap-Haitien, Haiti native's impact has reached far beyond the track.
"As a captain of the track and field team and a community leader, Johna has dedicated his time at Colgate to walk the walk and support all those around him," said Meghan Kovac, Colgate's Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development. "From first-year students who don't know where to turn to teammates who need guidance and leadership on the team, he leads by example."
The reach of Joseph has been broad, as he has found ways to positively affect a variety of groups within the larger Colgate campus community.
He has been a leader within Raiders of Color Connect (ROCC). This organization exists to strengthen relationships between BIPOC student-athletes and to empower each other, amplify their voices and collaborate with student groups across campus.
During the summer of 2020, as discussions about systemic racism and oppression took center stage in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Joseph shared his perspective with Colgate Vice President and Director of Athletics Nicki Moore and other administrators, helping to begin a more extensive discussion within the department.
"He's brought other student-athletes of color along to create a specific place for them but has also worked hard to ensure that white student-athletes are having important conversations and learning along the way," Kovac said. "He was a great resource for me as I developed social justice programming, with him volunteering to help facilitate groups and give his perspective."
Joseph is also the founding President of Pre-Health Pathways at Colgate. The group was designed to strengthen the student network, enhance alumni-student engagement, streamline available pre-health resources on campus, and educate students on health disparities.
Through this organization, Joseph, who graduated with his degree in chemistry, has worked with other students to set up alumni presentations on health-related professions and develop and maintain a peer mentorship program that connects upperclassmen to create a support system among students with similar interests.
"Johna doesn't set limits, so he exceeds the expectations of others," Colgate director of track and field and cross country Harlis Meaders said. "A scholar, athlete, future physician, musician and comedian, his potential is endless, and I can't wait to see where his journey takes him."
Joseph concluded his undergraduate career in May, earning the Colgate Athletic Directors Leadership Award while receiving high praise from Moore.
"You will rarely encounter Johna without also receiving a warm greeting and a smile," Colgate Vice President and Director of Athletics Nicki Moore said. "His creativity and intellect are off the charts, and he has modeled the way of enthusiasm for other students in the face of setbacks, disappointments and change."
Drew Pecora
Lehigh Field Hockey
During her fifth season at Lehigh, Drew Pecora tallied 24 points on nine goals and six assists to help the Mountain Hawks' field hockey program to its best season since 1994 and first postseason appearance in a decade. Though the offense provided by the leading goal-scorer in program history only tells part of Pecora's story.
Pecora's first four years on campus were part of a gradual climb for the program. After making an impact as a first-year, she missed her sophomore season with an injury watching Lehigh finish 3-15. Upon her return in 2019, the trajectory for the program changed in part due to her play but also her leadership.
"Drew is a relational leader; she leads by developing strong relationships off the field so that she can have hard conversations when she needs to," Lehigh Head Coach Caitlin Dallmeyer said. "She is approachable, compassionate and always maintained a good perspective when things got tough. Drew spent a whole year with a knee injury, forcing her to involve herself in the team and lead differently. She had to find ways to insert herself into places that weren't natural for her without a stick in her hand. That injury year allowed her to grow tremendously in her voice as she realized her value far exceeded her playing ability."
In 2019, Pecora's return was noticeable. She broke Lehigh's single-season record with 14 goals and helped the Mountain Hawks more than double its previous season's win total going 7-11.
The significant improvement created excitement around the program for the following season, though that would be delayed as COVID-19 pushed the significantly reduced number of games to the spring. The season was marked with inconsistency and postponements, as Pecora was held without a goal in the team's five games. The lack of individual success did not phase the Marlton, N.J. native, as the team went 2-3 and just missed a spot in the postseason.
"Every time you see someone score a goal, that is an unrecorded assist from Drew Pecora," Dallmeyer said. "That was because she spent so much time teaching, leading and getting extra reps in with the other forwards. She was leading the pack and just not finishing the goals to get the glory, but she did not care one bit."
The team culture that Pecora helped foster during her time at Lehigh paid dividends in 2021 as the Mountain Hawks went 11-7, highlighted by a 3-2 overtime victory over archrival Lafayette to secure a winning record in League play and a postseason berth. Pecora scored Lehigh's first goal of the game in the eventual win against the Leopards.
As a teammate said, “Drew is an incredible leader because she holds others accountable but gives positive feedback and helpful criticism to push the competitive spirit of (the team), and she brought her best each day. She had a demanding presence on the field and helped create the strong culture of accountability, work ethic and friendship on this team.”
Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character Nominees
Other nominees for the 2021-22 Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character include, Noor Coenen (American field hockey), Stephanie Dolehide (Army West Point women’s tennis), Tarrin Earle (Bucknell football), Morgan Farrah (Colgate softball), Jimmy Hayburn (Loyola Maryland men’s swimming and diving), Ann Marie Jaworski (Boston University women’s soccer), Teddy Leggett (Lehigh men’s lacrosse), Ted Lepcio (Army West Point baseball), Fred Lu (Boston University men’s track and field), Sarah Mirr (Loyola Maryland women’s soccer), Reagan Roelofs (Navy women’s lacrosse), Oliver Smith (Navy men’s swimming and diving), Alix Talkow (Lafayette field hockey), Sebastian Varlea (Lafayette men’s soccer), Emily Ward (Richmond women’s golf) and Ahmad Wilson (Georgetown football).
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athlete 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.