BETHLEHEM, Pa. – American men’s swimmer Aldrich Elvambuena and field hockey goalkeeper Bryn Underwood received the 2023-24 Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character when the League office announced honors on Monday. Administrators of the League’s campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) voted to select Elvambuena and Underwood.
Elvambuena and Underwood are the second and third Eagles to receive the Leaguewide honor. American is the first institution to sweep the award since Lehigh accomplished the feat in consecutive academic years in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
The Patriot League established the Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character to recognize individuals who demonstrate excellence in leadership and service while participating in Patriot League athletics. One men’s and one women’s student-athlete have been recognized since the award’s inception in 2011-12, with ties for the women’s accolade twice in the last three years.
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.
Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character
Aldrich Elvambuena
American Men’s Swimming & Diving
Aldrich Elvambuena's contributions to American University swimming and diving and the Patriot League go far beyond his accomplishments in the pool.
Elvambuena, who has served on American University's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) since his freshman year, including two years as American and the Patriot League's SAAC President, has provided a voice for all League student-athletes during his career.
"(Aldrich) is a natural leader, can command the room and thinks thoughtfully," American University swimming and diving Head Coach Garland Bartlett said. "He was able to communicate between the coaching staff and team as a swim team captain and the athletic department and athletes as SAAC President. He also leads by example and is an excellent student-athlete. He has maintained a 3.5 GPA or higher every semester and has been one of the hardest workers on the team since his freshman year."
The Frisco, Texas native has organized numerous community service events for student-athletes at American for SAAC and the swimming and diving squad.
"He was able to effectively communicate to the student-athletes to get a lot of attendance at the events and always made a successful community service event," Bartlett said.
Elvambuena has been just as impactful as the Patriot League SAAC President, leading conversations among his League peers on issues surrounding mental health while playing an instrumental role in the planning and presentation of the 2023 Patriot League – Ivy League Mental Health Summit.
In consecutive years, he helped organize the Patriot League SAAC around a pair of Leaguewide campaigns. During the 2022-23 academic year, Elvambuena led efforts for the League's "Mental Health and Well-Being" campaign weekends, which saw specially designed t-shirts distributed to League student-athletes, coaches and staff. This year, he helped develop the "I Make My Voice Heard" campaign weekends, which empowered student-athletes to actively participate in their local communities and prompt essential conversations on their respective campuses with commemorative placards, bracelets and stickers.
“Aldrich has served admirably as the Patriot League SAAC chair and the League’s representative to the NCAA Division I SAAC,” said Patriot League Assistant Commissioner for Sport Management and Engagement Richard Zhu. “His thoughtful approach and humble demeanor were instrumental in leading the League’s student-athletes, coaches and staff in important conversations and campaigns around mental health and the importance of the student-athlete voice on campus, which have been commended by his Division I peers.”
Beyond his accomplishments through SAAC, Elvambuena has been a leader and role model for his teammates at American.
“Aldrich was never the most naturally fast swimmer in the pool but made up for it with his work ethic,” Bartlett said. "Whether he was happy with how he was swimming or not, he always motivated his teammates and treated them with the utmost respect. He has made the men's program better than when he arrived, with an incoming freshmen class of nine who are incredibly talented. The men's team is more mature and caring because of Aldrich."
Bryn Underwood
American Field Hockey
Bryn Underwood’s combination of athletic and academic accomplishments ranks her among the most decorated individuals in Patriot League field hockey history, but her impact on American University’s campus has garnered her equal praise.
“Bryn is exceptional in every aspect of life,” American University field hockey Head Coach Steve Jennings said. “Athletically, she is one of the best goalkeepers in the country…she has been an outstanding performer in the classroom with a team that earned the fourth highest GPA among all (NCAA Division I) field hockey programs… When I meet professors, deans, advisors and administrators who have had Bryn in a class, witnessed her sing the national anthem at various AU sporting events, seen her perform in the theater, have been on a committee or gotten to work with Bryn in some fashion, their faces all light up. They cannot wait to share wonderful things about Bryn to discuss the impact she has made upon them and across every dimension at our great institution.”
Her long list of athletic achievements rivals the best players in League history. Underwood has been a three-time All-League selection, two-time Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year and the 2020-21 League Rookie of the Year. She has guided the Eagles to two League titles, claiming 2022 League Championship MVP honors while helping AU to two appearances in the NCAA Field Hockey Championship Round of 16. Statistically, Underwood ranks among the active NCAA DI and Patriot League career leaders in goals-against average (1.41) and save percentage (0.795).
Underwood’s academic prowess stands out on a team that featured 24 student-athletes on the League’s Fall Academic Honor Roll, the most of any League squad. She earned 2023 Patriot League Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors in addition to becoming one of 12 field hockey student-athletes in League history to earn a spot on the Academic All-League Team three times. In May, the Sinking Spring, Pa. native earned her bachelor’s degree in business and entertainment with a specialization in music performance and a minor in theatre, completing her undergraduate career with a 3.95 cumulative GPA.
In addition to her athletic and academic success, she has remained involved in the American University community, earning the Stafford H. Cassell Award, presented annually to a student who exemplifies total, selfless dedication to American University, profound energy, reliability, intellectual curiosity, friendliness and helpfulness.
She has been active, serving as a campus tour guide, participating in clinics for young girls and being an active member of American and the Patriot League Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Underwood has performed in several of the University’s musical theatre productions and has been the Treasurer and Student Leader for American’s Cru. She has also worked as a Teaching Assistant for the Business and Entertainment program and Peer Consultant within AU’s Kogod Center of Professionalism and Communications.
“No one has a higher character than Bryn,” Jennings said. “She lives her values and is always there to help others. She is an ambassador all over campus for every group she belongs to--the business school, the theater, the field hockey program, SAAC, her faith-based group, etc. She is friendly to all, giving to all and uplifting to all. Simply put, Bryn is incredible!”
Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character Nominees
Other nominees for the 2023-24 Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character include, Miles Brewster (Boston University men’s basketball), Matt Cardano (Loyola Maryland men’s tennis), Taylor Cigna (Colgate volleyball), Anna Dechantsreiter (Boston University women’s rowing), Cassidy Garcia (Loyola Maryland women’s rowing), David Hurly (Lehigh men’s golf), Brian Matthews (Army West Point men’s track and field), Caroline McGann (Bucknell women’s swimming and diving), Molly O’Connor (Holy Cross women’s track and field), Grace Prince (Loyola Maryland women’s rowing), Ryelle Shuey (Lehigh women’s soccer) and Isabella Sullivan (Army West Point volleyball).
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth 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 who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.