Photo Gallery

DETROIT -- Seniors Patrick Liederbach (Petoskey, MI/Petoskey) and Alainna Stefan (Dearborn, MI/Mercy) took home the prestigious President's Award as University and athletic staff, student-athletes, alumni and donors came together to celebrate a great year of Detroit athletics at the annual Titan Academic & Athletic Honors Luncheon on Thursday.

The event was held at Andiamo on the Detroit Riverfront.

“This is always a great day to recognize these superb student-athletes who work so hard in the classroom and in competition and truly represent what a Titan student-athlete is all about,” said Detroit's Director of Athletics Keri Gaither. “I would like to thank Andiamo for letting us host this wonderful event and making this a special day for all of those in attendance.”

The President's Award is given to UDM's most outstanding senior student-athletes, who demonstrate what it means to be a true Titan. A standout athlete that competes in both cross country and track and field, Liederbach became just the third Titan in school history to earn All-Horizon League four times in cross country. He was also a four-time team MVP as he led the Titans in all but two races during his time at Detroit. Most recently on the track, he set a meet and stadium record in the mile in 4:09.81, which was also the fastest outdoor mile time in Titan history. A member of SAAC, Liederbach was also a four-year member of the Athletic Director's honor roll, and has been selected to the Horizon League honor roll and All-Academic team in cross country and outdoor track.

Stefan will go down as one of the most decorated golfers in not only the young history of the Titans, but also in the Horizon League. She is already a two-time All-Horizon League performer who led Detroit to its first league title by winning medalist honors at the conference championship last year. In her career, she has won six events – including recently defending her title at the Detroit Titans Invitational. As a student-athlete, she is a four-time recipient of the Athletic Director's honor roll, a two-time member of the Horizon League Spring All-Academic team and was selected to the National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team as a junior.

The awards luncheon was emceed by Greg Russell. Sr. Beth Finster, SSJ, gave the invocation that was followed by opening remarks from Gaither.

The academic honors started with the unveiling of the Four Year Athletic Director's Honor Roll as 15 Titan seniors were lauded for their hard work in earning a 3.0 GPA every semester for all four years.

The women's golf team earned the Team Excellence Award for having the highest grade point average (3.453) for the past year. The Titan women also received the Horizon League “Raise Your Sights” award, which recognizes the highest men's and women's team GPAs for Horizon League sponsored sports. The UDM men's tennis team was the recipient of the men's side after posting a cumulative team GPA of 3.391.

The Titan Club Award for athletic and academic excellence went to senior track and field sprinter Lesley Hanna (Exuma, Bahamas/Coakley) and junior Emily Boissonneault (Brooklin, ON/Donald A. Wilson) from the women's lacrosse team. Hanna is a six-time All-Horizon League winner in indoor and outdoor track who garnered the Most Outstanding Running Performer at the 2011 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships Boissonneault earned National Lacrosse Conference Attack MVP honors as a freshman and followed that by becoming a first team All-NLC selection in 2010. She has started every game in now her third year on the Titans and has compiled totals of 157 goals and 19 assists for 176 points in her career.

The Fr. Norbert Huetter, S.J. accolade for attitude, dedication and leadership was awarded to junior men's soccer player Mike Chiandussi (Windsor, ON/St. Thomas of Villanova) and junior women's lacrosse captain Anna Eidem (Champlin, MN/Totino-Grace). Chiandussi is an active member of SAAC who was recognized as the team's Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore. As a junior, he helped lead a Titan defense that posted three shutouts. Another high-goal scorer for the women's lacrosse team, Eidem has taken on the role of captain for Detroit this season. She was a first team All-National Lacrosse Conference selection in 2010 after notching 55 goals, and also earned her way onto the NLC All-Academic honor roll.

The 2009-10 Newcomer of the Year award was won by sophomore Cesar Escobar Serrano (Merliot, El Salvador/Education) of the men's tennis team and sophomore women's basketball's standout Yar Shayok (Ottawa, ON/Hillcrest). Both of those recipients starred for the Titans right from their very first appearance, earning second team All-Horizon League accolades during the 2009-10 campaign.

Additionally, the Dad Butler Award, given for determination in recovering from an athletic injury, went to senior women's golfer Marni Achterhoff (Muskegon, MI/Mona Shores) and men's lacrosse redshirt freshman Wes Steen (Columbus, OH/Olentangy Liberty). The Larry Bleach Award for excellence in strength and conditioning was given to senior men's golfer Britt Pronk (London, ON/St. Thomas Aquinas) and softball junior Renee Zaccagni (Macomb, MI/Dakota).

The Horizon League Sportsmanship Award was presented to freshman basketball standout and Horizon League Newcomer of the Year Ray McCallum. The Titan Spirit Award went to Titan senior student Matt Duffy for his constant support of Titan athletics.

Four-Year Ad Honor Roll
Kevin Wozniak - Men's Track & Field/Cross Country
Marni Achterhoff – Women'Golf
Ryan Ayala – Men's Track & Field/Cross Country
Jeff Clarridge – Men's Golf
Brad Coon – Men's Fencing
Kristie Ferrans – Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Brian Greenhoe – Men's Track & Field/Cross Country
Patrick Liederbach – Men's Track & Field/Cross Country
Kirstin Mooney - Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Britt Pronk – Men's Golf
Kevin Smalley – Men's Track & Field/Cross Country
Alainna Stefan – Women's Golf
Alycsa Valentine – Women's Lacrosse
Archana Wadhawan – Women's Soccer
Erin Weldon – Women's Tennis