Previous Kavanagh Eagle Scholar-Athlete Award winners

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The five finalists for the 2023 Kavanagh Eagle Scholar-Athlete Award have been selected, as announced Wednesday by the FGCU Department of Athletics. The winner will be announced at the department end-of-year celebration, The NESTIES, on Monday, May 1.

The Kavanagh Eagle Scholar-Athlete Award is the highest honor FGCU bestows upon a graduating senior student-athlete(s) and recognizes the ability of the winner(s) to combine athletic and academic successes (minimum 3.20 grade-point-average) with leadership and community service, as well as demonstrated leadership within their peer group.
 
The 2023 finalists: volleyball's Dana Axner (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS), baseball's Alejandro Figueredo (Sucre, Venezuela/West Oaks HS/Seminole State), Magnus Johnson (Naples, Fla./Homeschool/UCF) of men's tennis, women's soccer's Leah Scarpelli (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial/Penn State), and volleyball's Erin Shomaker (Granville, Ohio/Granville HS).
 
From 2003-09, the scholar-athlete award was given to the male and female student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA. The award is now presented to at least one senior who shows a combination of excellence within his or her playing venue, in the classroom and as a role model for others. The 2022 Kavanagh Eagle Scholar-Athlete Award (renamed in honor of Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh) was presented to Cortney Van Liew (volleyball and beach volleyball).
 
"This is the 21st year of presenting our highest honor, and we are again blessed with tremendous individuals who comprise our senior class. It is always extremely challenging to narrow the nominees down to the five finalists – even more so to then select the winner or winners," said Kavanagh. "These five wonderful Eagles have certainly distinguished themselves in so many ways and are truly worthy of this award which befits what everyone who dons the Green & Blue daily work to represent."
 
For more information, and to view former award recipients, visit FGCUAthletics.com/Awards. Below are more details on each of the five finalists.
 
Dana Axner – Volleyball – Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS
 
The fifth-year graduate senior libero was recently named one of the 10 members of the FGCU Hall of Fame Class of 2023 – one of only 10 former Eagle Scholar-Athletes to ever earn this highest overall honor for a FGCU student. Axner completed her undergraduate degree in secondary mathematics education with a 3.9 GPA, and currently possesses a 4.0 as she is seeking her master's degree in educational technology.
 
A three-time Captain, Axner was also a three-time ASUN All-Academic Team honoree, a 2022 selection to the Academic All-District Team, and was FGCU's 2021 ASUN Fall Winner for Life.
 
On the court, Axner sparked her team to three ASUN Championships and NCAA Tournament berths, where the Eagles twice advanced to the second round. Individually, she was a two-time ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, five-time All-Conference selection, and finished as the ASUN's all-time leader in career digs. She also garnered ASUN All-Tournament team honors three times.
 
Axner was a four-year member of the Eagles Council student-athlete advisory committee, and served as their vice president the past two years.  Overall, In the community she has volunteered over 150 hours, including as a tutor for Mathnasium of Estero, with the fSTop Foundation for wildlife preservation, as a mentor for international student-athletes, and for Hurricane Ian and Beach Clean Ups. Axner served on the Athletics Title IX Committee, and was a valued member of the E.A.G.L.E.S Leadership Institute 2021-22 cohort.
 
Head Volleyball Coach Matt Botsford on Axner:
 
"Dana is an exemplary student-athlete that very early on understood how to balance the rigors of academia and athletics.  She is a serious student that possesses an internal drive that has always pushed her toward success.  Luckily for me and our program, that same level of commitment carried over to the athletic arena.  Dana finished her career here as the most decorated player in our history along with being one of the best in her position, nationally.  Dana is a gifted, well-rounded individual that thrives when being challenged.  Her devotion to FGCU, to her teammates, and to our community can never be overstated.  Her combination of personality, professionalism, and strong work ethic, has helped propel our program to new heights and she continues to make a positive impact on all of those who she comes in contact with."
 
Alejandro Figueredo – Baseball – Sucre, Venezuela/West Oaks HS/Seminole State
 
A senior infielder, Figueredo is one of the most decorated student-athletes in FGCU baseball history. In the classroom, he carries a 3.62 cumulative GPA majoring in integrated studies with a minor in computer science, and has been on the Dean's List nearly every semester.
 
A co-winner of the 2021-22 Eagles Club Most Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year, Figueredo led the ASUN in 2022 with a .392 batting average, and recorded a team-best 1.135 OPS and a .659 slugging percentage. Figueredo's junior-season performance earned him Collegiate Baseball News Third-Team All-American honors, All-Southeast Region Second Team accolades, as well as a spot on the All-ASUN First Team.
 
The only unanimous selection to the ASUN Preseason First Team, Figueredo was also chosen to repeat as an All American by D1Baseball.com. Figueredo is among the team leaders of the nationally-ranked Eagles power lineup with his .373 batting average with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs. For his Green & Blue career, he is hitting .350 with 31 homers and 136 RBI.  Figueredo also helped his team to an ASUN South Division title as a sophomore.
 
In the community, Figueredo has volunteered with the NubAbility Clinics, Everglades clean up, Naples Therapeutic Riding Center, Crew Land & Water Trust, and Hurricane Ian relief efforts. He has also served on the Athletics Diversity & Inclusion Committee. He was also a valued member of the E.A.G.L.E.S Leadership Institute 2022-23 cohort.
 
Head Baseball Coach Dave Tollett on Figueredo:
 
"Our preseason All-American is the guy who is the master of time management, and nothing on his daily or weekly agenda gets slighted. I have been so amazed about how he juggles so much and is so successful in all phases of his life. Figgy is a true student of the game, and he has a work ethic that is second to none."
 
Magnus Johnson – Men's tennis – Naples, Fla./Homeschool/UCF
 
A redshirt junior majoring in management with a concentration in sports management, Johnson carries a 3.95 cumulative GPA and has been named to the Dean's and President's Lists throughout his FGCU tenure. He was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete selection the past two seasons, and has also twice earned ASUN All-Academic Team honors.
 
A co-winner of the 2021-22 Eagles Club Most Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year, Johnson recently became the first to ever earn ASUN Player of the Year honors three times.  He was also the ASUN Freshman of the Year in 2021.  On the court, he is 18-3 in singles dual matches this season, and 26-9 overall leading the Eagles to a defense of their ASUN regular-season crown, the ASUN Tournament title and a berth in the upcoming NCAA Championships. 
 
Over his three-year career in the Green & Blue, Johnson has won 99 total matches, including 56 singles and 43 in doubles. As a sophomore, he also became just the second Eagle to qualify for the NCAA Singles Championships.
 
In the community he has volunteered over 250 hours, including with Special Olympics Florida, the Naples Therapeutic Riding Center, and New Hope Ministries. He has also served on the Athletics Health & Wellness Committee. He was a valued member of the E.A.G.L.E.S Leadership Institute 2021-22 cohort.
 
Head Men's Tennis Coach C.J. Weber on Johnson:
 
"Magnus is simply a sensational young man! He goes after what he wants, commits to it, and doesn't get distracted. Magnus is one of the most principled young men I've ever coached, and he will never do anything to compromise the standards he's set for himself. It is for this foundational reason that he is successful in everything he does. I admire his commitment to his tennis, his academics, and his family; but even more, I admire his character and integrity, and I can always trust that he will do the right thing. It's been a pleasure coaching him for three years! His legacy here at FGCU will live on forever, and I can't wait to see what is in store for him!"
 
Leah Scarpelli – Women's soccer – Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial/Penn State
 
A redshirt junior midfielder, Scarpelli graduated in December with a BA in integrated studies carrying a cumulative 3.95 GPA.  She was named a Second Team Academic All American.
 
Scarpelli was a highly decorated member of the Eagles during her tenure at FGCU. She was named a 2022 All-American on the pitch after helping the Eagles to the program's seventh ASUN Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. The ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, All South Region and First Team honoree in 2022, she helped anchor the Green & Blue's defense, shutting down some of the nation's best players all season long. She also contributed on the offensive end with five goals and a team-leading six assists in 2022, and an ESPN Top Play of the Day on a highlight goal from midfield.
 
During her four-year collegiate career, Scarpelli appeared in 47 matches and scored six career goals, while registering 12 assists for 24 total points. She also produced four game-winning goals, all of which came during the 2022 season.
 
In the community, Scarpelli has volunteered with the Animal Refuge Center and Beach Clean Ups. Leah recently signed a professional contract to play with Sporting Club de Portugal.
 
Head Women's Soccer Coach Jim Blankenship on Scarpelli:
 
"It's exciting to see Leah up for a prestigious award as scholar-athlete. She truly has exceptional as being recognized as an All-American in both. Her drive and commitment to be outstanding is just the start of Leah as she gave everything to FGCU and women's soccer program."
 
Erin Shomaker – Volleyball – Granville, Ohio/Granville HS
 
The senior outside hitter is majoring in health science, and carries a cumulative 3.85 GPA. Shomaker was a two-time ASUN All-Academic selection, and was named to the Academic All-District Team in 2022.
 
Shomaker was a two-time ASUN Player of the Year, earned ASUN Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors in 2021, was a two-time Honorable Mention All-American and was ASUN Freshman of the Year. On the court in 2022, she led both the Eagles and the ASUN in total kills with 424. She also moved into third all-time in career kills at FGCU with 1,312 -- just the fifth Eagle to ever reach the 1,000 career kills milestone.
 
Shomaker was named ASUN Player of the Week seven times, tying former teammate Cortney VanLiew with the most career weekly conference awards in program history. Her 3.66 kills per set mark also placed fourth in the conference and ranked top 100 nationally.
 
In the community she has volunteered with the fSTop Foundation for wildlife preservation, San Carlos Park Elementary, the Utica Sertoma Ice Cream Festival, and Beach Clean Ups.
 
Head Volleyball Coach Matt Botsford on Shomaker:
 
"Erin will graduate as one of the most prolific players in ASUN history, and has secured her place in the record books here at FGCU.  A two-time conference player of the year, Freshman of the Year, and an AVCA All-American, she was part of 3 conference championships, 2 NCAA tournament appearances, and four straight trips to the ASUN tournament Championship game.  Hard to call someone with those kinds of accolades a "fly under the radar" player, but because of Erin's calm demeanor and composure she often did the heavy lifting unnoticed.  Those personality traits also served her well when it came to being a leader.  Always subtle in approach and sure to chose her words wisely, Erin understood how to use her voice for the greater good."
  
E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow! 
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness. 
 
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 98 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 15-plus seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just 11-plus seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 48 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. In 2022, the men's golf team became the first program to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. Nine FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including women's basketball (No. 20 in 2021-22 and No. 22 in 2022-23), baseball (No. 15 in 2023), beach volleyball (No. 20 in 2022), and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as five of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green & Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.67 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2022 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 27 consecutive semesters. The past seven semesters (Fall 2019 – Fall 2022) saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher cumulative team GPA. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
---FGCUATHLETICS.COM---