BETHLEHEM, Pa. – BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Colgate women’s basketball’s Sophia Diehl, Holy Cross men’s basketball’s Caleb Kenney and Bucknell men’s soccer’s Jack Roberto captured the 2024-25 Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character when the League office announced honors on Monday.
Administrators of the Patriot League’s campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC) voted to select Diehl, Kenney and Roberto for the prestigious award.
Diehl is the fourth Raider and fourth women’s basketball student-athlete to receive the League’s Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character. Kenney is the third Crusader and second men’s basketball student-athlete, and Roberto is the ninth Bison and third men’s soccer student-athlete to be recognized for the accolade.
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 four years and a tie on the men’s side for the first time this year.
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
Sophia Diehl
Colgate Women’s Basketball
When you talk with anyone who has crossed paths with Sophia Diehl at Colgate, they will tell you she is a force of positivity, compassion and strength, working toward her one goal - leaving Colgate better than when she arrived.
That mindset has pushed Diehl as a leader in Hamilton, from serving her teammates as the captain of the women’s basketball team to representing the entire student body in front of Colgate’s most influential leaders. Diehl has shown, whether in a lab, at practice or in the community, that her impact comes from her dedication to helping others grow as people, not just as athletes or students.
“She’s always the first to say yes when there’s an opportunity to help,” said Colgate Associate Athletics Director Meghan Kovac. “Sophia’s ability to see both the big picture and the individual experience is what makes her leadership so meaningful. She doesn’t just want people to succeed — she wants them to feel seen and supported along the way.”
During her time at Colgate, Diehl served in multiple leadership roles. As a Career Ambassador, helping with career readiness with her team by assisting with resumes, cover letters and job searches. She spent time as a Presidential Ambassador, being hand-selected by Colgate’s President to represent the senior class in meetings with board of trustees members and university guests, serving as a voice for student needs and interests. As a team captain, she learned how to lead a team with empathy and passion, adapting her style to bring out the best in others while keeping joy at the heart of every practice.
On and off the court, Diehl has inspired a culture of compassion and commitment throughout campus. Her character shines through in her community involvement, particularly in her volunteer work at a local soup kitchen - a service effort she has often shared with teammates to encourage collective engagement in giving back.
Inside the classroom, Diehl has merged her journey with her academic pursuits. After her younger brother was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor before her senior year of high school, she found inspiration in the care he received, which led her to major in Neuroscience. She has since participated in research exploring Seasonal Affective Disorder, a topic close to her heart, as she has witnessed how Hamilton’s long winters can impact the mental well-being of students.
“She’s found beauty in understanding how the brain works - not just because it’s fascinating, but because she wants to use that knowledge to help others heal,” Kovac shared.
After graduation, Diehl will return to Maryland to complete the final prerequisites for nursing school. Her commitment to service, compassion for others, and steady resilience have shaped her undergraduate experience and will continue to guide her as she prepares for a career in health care.
“Her energy is contagious,” said Kovac. “She’s the epitome of what a healthy team culture looks like. She’s matured, grown and led by example in every space she’s entered. Sophia doesn’t just talk about character and leadership - she lives it.”
Caleb Kenney
Holy Cross Men’s Basketball
Caleb Kenney’s list of accomplishments during his four years at Holy Cross is as impressive as it is diverse, showcasing qualities of leadership and character that have set an example for his peers in Worcester, Mass., as well as throughout the Patriot League.
“Caleb embodies maturity, development, selflessness and compassion in a way that can be utilized as an example for what (Holy Cross) should hope our students’ model after four years,” Holy Cross men’s basketball head coach Dave Paulsen said.
Kenney has been a force on the court for the Crusaders. The springy 6-6 forward broke out during the 2023-24 season to earn Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors. He finished his career as a two-time All-Patriot League and All-Defensive Team selection, ranking 17th in League history in blocked shots (156) while also finishing with 1,078 points, 599 rebounds and 100 steals. Still, his statistics were only part of his massive on-court contribution.
“Caleb willingly sacrificed his individual accolades for the good of the team,” Paulsen said. “Despite playing with a cumbersome mask for the entirety of the season (after losing a tooth in the season-opener at Wisconsin), Caleb still averaged 11.6 ppg and pulled down 4.8 rpg. He leaves our program as one of the most versatile performers in the storied history of Holy Cross men’s basketball.”
His play helped Holy Cross win 13 regular-season games last season, its most since the 2018-19 season, despite being hard-hit by injuries to key players, particularly when the schedule moved to League play. Though his work remained important in helping to set the tone for a young team searching for its identity.
“Caleb was instrumental in helping begin a transformation within our men’s basketball program,” Paulsen said. “His leadership on and off the court has been essential to this progress.”
The Richmond, Va. native’s impact extended far from the court. Kenney was just as active and versatile in the community as he was on the court. He began serving as a volunteer for the
Big Brother, Big Sister program, mentoring eighth graders at the Nativity School of Worcester early in his collegiate career. He spent three years as a volunteer with
Working For Worcester, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing college students together to promote stronger community wellness by creating recreation infrastructure.
Kenney also started a food pantry at Worcester East Middle School, helping secure space to store food. He also used his platform to convince the Holy Cross athletics department to allow reduced ticket pricing for anyone donating targeted food items for the pantry, now in its second year. The two-year team captain and three-year SAAC representative also enlisted younger teammates to help with the food pantry at Worcester East Middle as a way to ensure the program’s success after his graduation.
During the lead-up to the 2024 election, Kenney was an Engaged Athlete Fellow, working with The Team on a year-long project aimed at encouraging civic participation. He hosted a national web event featuring Olympians, WNBA players and politicians. He also hosted voter registration campaigns at Holy Cross’ Luth Athletic Complex.
“Our program is unequivocally stronger in the hard-to-quantify but easy-to-recognize areas of work ethic, unselfishness, and team-first attitude,” Paulsen said. “It is also stronger in the quantifiable areas of team academic performance, community service and on-court victories. Caleb’s DNA is all over every area where our program has improved.”
Jack Roberto
Bucknell Men’s Soccer
If you spend any time around Bucknell Athletics, you will quickly hear Jack Roberto’s name spoken with admiration. Whether on the soccer pitch, in a classroom, or leading a campus-wide initiative, Roberto has become a cornerstone of the Bucknell experience - someone who leads not for the spotlight, but to create lasting, meaningful change for those around him.
Roberto’s impact begins with his leadership. As a senior on the men’s soccer team, he was a steady presence behind one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Bucknell men’s soccer history, helping guide the Bison from a preseason last-place projection to Patriot League champions.
However, his influence extended far beyond match day - he has served as a voice and advocate for all Bison student-athletes as President of the SAAC in 2024–25, after previously holding the role of Director of Initiatives. Under his leadership, SAAC expanded its reach, organizing Mental Health Week, youth engagement events like Kick-or-Treat, and a Black History Month reading program with local schools.
“Jack’s ability to connect with people and empower others is unmatched,” Bucknell Associate Athletics Director Eline Vermeulen said. “He’s the kind of leader who brings people together and makes sure everyone feels like they belong.”
Roberto has been a member of the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute since his sophomore year, progressing to the top-tier Legacy Leaders program - an honor reserved for just 12 student-athletes annually. Through intensive work focused on emotional intelligence, personal values and mental resilience, he has become a servant leader who lifts others while constantly challenging himself to grow.
Beyond athletics, Roberto has immersed himself in Bucknell’s academic and extracurricular life. He is an analyst for the Bison Finance Society and a member of three honor societies - Alpha Lambda Delta, Beta Alpha Psi, and Mortar Board. He is also one of just two student-athletes appointed to the University-wide Committee on Athletics, where he regularly collaborates with deans, faculty and department leadership to represent the student-athlete perspective.
“He constantly strives to bring the campus and community together and to make an impact,’ Vermeulen shared. “Jack’s work has allowed meaningful and long-lasting relationships to be formed within Bucknell’s campus, our athletics department and surrounding communities.”
Through every coaching change, lineup shift and academic challenge, Roberto has remained the program’s constant - a source of positivity, integrity and direction. He has led youth clinics, championed community service, and earned the respect of his peers not just for his skill on the field but for the way he carries himself off it.
For Roberto, success has never been about personal accolades - it has been about the legacy he leaves. One of deep connection, servant leadership and a standard of excellence that will continue to shape Bucknell long after he graduates.
“Jack is one of those students that you wish could lead your athletes for much longer than four years while simultaneously being so thankful for the time he was on campus,” said Vermeulen.
Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character Nominees
Other nominees for the 2024-25 Patriot League Award of Outstanding Leadership and Character include, Lindsey Bonavita (Loyola Maryland women’s rowing), Taylor Brown (Army West Point softball), Malcolm Chimezie (Boston University men’s basketball), Molly Connor (Holy Cross women’s track and field), Nina Gulbransen (Boston University women’s tennis), Katie Jackowski (Navy volleyball), Tatum Kelly (Navy women’s soccer), Jordy Luchies (Loyola Maryland men’s soccer), Isaac Morris (Army West Point men’s track and field/cross country), Josh Israel (Colgate men’s tennis), Dante Perri (Lehigh football), Madison Roukey (Bucknell softball) and Ella Stemmer (Lehigh women’s basketball).
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.