Track Runs AwayWith Senior HonorsHonorees at the Senior Athlete Banquet, April 29, 2008 (L-R): Class <strong>of</strong> 1915: Tim Kaijala, men’s track & field; Association <strong>of</strong> Alumnae Fathers’ Award: Jesse Carlin, women’strack & field; George H. Frazier Award: Austin McDaniel, men’s track & field; Norman J. Goldring Award (female): Carolyn Auwaerter, women’s track & field; Norman J. GoldringAward (male): Mike Hall, men’s track & field.The Athletic Department once again handed out its major senior awards atthe third annual Senior Student-Athlete Banquet, which took place April 29at The Inn at <strong>Penn</strong>. In a unique situation this year, all five awards were wonby members <strong>of</strong> the men’s and women’s track & field programs – Tim Kaijalabecame the 15th member <strong>of</strong> the men’s track team to receive the Class <strong>of</strong> 1915Award, while Jesse Carlin was the recipient <strong>of</strong> the Association <strong>of</strong> AlumnaeFathers’ Award. Austin McDaniel received the Frazier Award, which is giveneach year to a graduating student-athlete (male or female) with the highest GPAwho competed on one <strong>of</strong> the following teams: basketball, crew, track, soccer,baseball or football. The Goldring Awards, given each year to one graduatingmale and female student-athlete with the highest GPA who earned a varsity letterin his/her senior year, were won by Mike Hall and Carolyn Auwaerter.In addition to the awards being handed out, <strong>Penn</strong> presented Jennifer StrawleyC’98 (pictured opposite page, bottom) as a guest speaker to the seniors. Also,for the third year in a row, Tony Kornheiser, <strong>of</strong> ESPN’s Pardon the Interruptionand The Washington Post, entertained all with a Q&A session. For Kornheiser,the night was more than just another speaking engagement—he also took partin the event as the father <strong>of</strong> an outgoing student-athlete, as his son Michael (picturedwith Tony, right) finished his career with the men’s golf program this year.
Tim Kaijala Class <strong>of</strong> 1915 Awardpresented to an outstanding male senior student-athlete who best exemplifiesthe spirit and tradition <strong>of</strong> <strong>Penn</strong> <strong>Athletics</strong>The <strong>Penn</strong> men’s track program considers itself one <strong>of</strong> the pre-eminentmiddle-distance programs in the country, and has the credentials to back itup. So when someone breaks a record in that group, it tends to be a big deal.In the outdoor records, Tim Kaijala already holds two school marks—one inthe individual 1,000, and another in the distance medley relay. He also holdsthe fourth-fastest time in <strong>Penn</strong> history in the indoor 800, and the seventh-besttime in the outdoor 800. A two-time NCAA Regionals qualifier, Tim has wonfour individual Heptagonal championships and been on three Heps relay titleteams. As a junior, he won the IC4A crown in the indoor 800 (the IC4A isthe men’s Eastern championships). An Academic All-Ivy selection earlier thisyear, Tim is involved with the New Spirit <strong>of</strong> <strong>Penn</strong> Gospel Choir, the NationalStudent Partnerships, <strong>Penn</strong>velopes, the Undergraduate Economics Society,and the College Republicans. He is also active as a volunteer at Grace CovenantChurch. Tim is the 21st track & field athlete to receive the Class <strong>of</strong> 1915Award.Jesse Carlin Fathers’ Awardpresented to an outstanding female senior for her contribution to women’sathletics at <strong>Penn</strong>This year, <strong>Penn</strong> <strong>Athletics</strong> inducted its sixth class into the Hall <strong>of</strong> Fame. Do notbe surprised to see this woman in a future class—probably sooner rather thanlater. With the outdoor championship season still to go, Jesse already holdsfive individual school records and seven others as part <strong>of</strong> relay teams. Earlierthis year, she held the top time in the nation in the indoor 800 for a fewweeks, and at the NCAA Indoor Championships she earned All-America honorsin the 800 and with the distance medley relay. Jesse was also an NCAAqualifier in three different events last year as a junior. In Heptagonal (IvyLeague) competition, Jesse has won the indoor 800 each <strong>of</strong> the last two years;at the ECAC level, she is a four-time individual champion and also won withthe distance medley relay earlier this year. A Dean’s List student, Jesse hasalready been accepted into the Pharmacology Ph.D. graduate program here at<strong>Penn</strong>, but she also hopes to continue her running career by turning pro andjoining the Nike Farm Team in Oregon. Jesse is a two-time Academic All-Ivy,a Scholar All-American from the track coaches’ association, and a member <strong>of</strong>the Friars Senior Honor Society (where she was honored with the Elizabeth R.Burdick Award as that program’s outstanding female athlete in 2005).Austin McDaniel George H. Frazier Awardpresented to a graduating male letterwinner with the highest GPAA four-year member <strong>of</strong> the men’s track and field program at <strong>Penn</strong>, Austinis part <strong>of</strong> the Quakers’ distance corps. Most prominently, he competed andhelped <strong>Penn</strong> win the team championship in the 20K <strong>Penn</strong> Relays DistanceClassic each <strong>of</strong> the last two years. His personal bests on the track include a15:36.80 clocking for 5,000 meters earlier this spring, and 32:33.80 for 10,000meters at the 2007 <strong>Penn</strong> Quad.Carolyn Auwaerter Goldring Awardpresented to a graduating female letterwinner with the highest GPACarolyn has battled injuries throughout her senior year, but already brings astandout resume to the table in lettering each <strong>of</strong> her first three years on campus.Individually, she entered the 2007-08 academic year eighth on <strong>Penn</strong>’sall-time list in the 400 hurdles; in the relays area, she was a leg on the secondfastestindoor 4x800 team in program history and the fifth-fastest outdoor4x800 quartet. In 2006, Carolyn earned second-team All-Ivy as part <strong>of</strong> theQuakers’ indoor 4x800 relay, and All-East honors with the outdoor 4x800relay at the ECAC Championships.Mike Hall Goldring Awardpresented to a graduating student-athlete with the highest GPA on the basketball,crew, track, soccer, baseball or football teamsPart <strong>of</strong> <strong>Penn</strong>’s multi-event punch during the past four years, Mike was the2005 Heptagonal (Ivy League) champion in the indoor heptathlon, and runner-upat the 2006 IC4A (Eastern) Championships in the decathlon. Earlier thisseason, Mike finished fourth at Heps in the heptathlon. A two-time AcademicAll-Ivy nominee, Mike was a 2005 Junior National All-America in the decathlon.He holds the second-best score in school history in the indoor heptathlon(5,352 points), and his best score in the decathlon is 6,776 points. Mike isplanning to attend medical school next fall.On opposite page: band seniors Elaine Simeon, Barry Huang, ConnyWong; rower and SAAC president Ben Nace; squash seniors PierreCravens, Spencer Kurn, Craig Thorpe-Clark (head coach), Lee Rosen;Athletic Director Steve Bilsky. This page, from top: rowing seniorsRoman Shor, Ben Nace, Mikhail Gasiorowski; field hockey seniors ValCloud (head coach), Meghan Rose, Nicole Black, Andrea Rockey, KelseyNickles, Kara Bolger; s<strong>of</strong>tball seniors Melissa Finley (assistant coach),Christina Khosravi, Annie Kinsey, Jen Strawley (former student-athlete,banquet speaker); volleyball senior Meredith Laning and Kerry Carr(head coach).
Change language