Seven Guilderland High School seniors comprise the 2020 class of Guilderland Lettermen Foundation award winners. The Guilderland Lettermen Foundation, now in its 23^rd year, annually recognizes multi-sport student athletes, who are also active in the community.

“2020 has been a challenging year for these student athletes, many of whom had their high school athletic careers shortened by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Lettermen Foundation President Mark Williams, a 1982 Guilderland High School graduate. “In spite of the challenges, we are so pleased to be able to continue our tradition of recognizing these exceptional student-athletes.”

Award winners for 2020 include Sean O’Brien (cross country, indoor and outdoor track), Christopher Ardito (football, lacrosse), John Parsons (cross country, outdoor track), Daniel Spanbauer (cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field), and Grace Hines (field hockey, lacrosse, unified bowling).

The 2020 Hal McCarthy Award winner, which goes to the person whose application receives the most points in evaluation by the Board of Directors, is Caitlin Mooney (field hockey, cross-country skiing, lacrosse). The Hal McCarthy Award is named in memory of the long-time Guilderland teacher, coach and superintendent.

The 2020 Mark Burlingame Dutchmen Spirit award winner is Maria Dean (tennis, softball, unified basketball and bowling). The prestigious Burlingame award, presented in partnership with Troy Miller and Christopher McCabe of CM Fox Real Estate, is named for former Lettermen board member and Guilderland High School three-sport star athlete Mark Burlingame. The Award recognizes a student-athlete who has demonstrated the highest qualities of Dutchmen spirit and sportsmanship.

Each awardee receives a certificate of recognition and a financial award to assist them with their college education. In 23 years, the Lettermen Foundation has awarded nearly $110,000 to deserving student athletes.

Award winners were publicly recognized during Guilderland’s virtual athletic awards night.

The Lettermen Foundation’s annual fundraiser, the Guilderland Classic golf outing, has been cancelled for 2020 due to the pandemic. Next year’s date is already set – Friday, August 6, 2021 at Orchard Creek Golf Club.

(pictured top row, l-r, Sean O’Brien, Christopher Ardito, Caitlin Mooney, Grace Hines, bottom row, l-r, Maria Dean, John Parsons, Daniel Spanbauer)

Last night at the GHS Senior Athletic Awards, GLF Director’s Mark Williams and Gregory Barcomb were proud to present this year’s Lettermen Foundation awards.

Pictured below are the winners (from left to right): front row- Amanda Rice and **Hayley Kmack.  Back row- Director Greg Barcomb, Eric Motler, Andrew Hines, *George Marinopolous, Nicole Fyvie, Claire Thompson and Director Mark Williams.

*Mr. Marinopolous was this year’s Hal McCarthy Award winner, given to the most outstanding applicant.
** Ms. Kmack was the winner of the 2^nd Annual Mark R. Burlingame (Burls) Dutchmen Spirit Award.

The Mark Burlingame Dutchmen Spirit Award, unlike the Lettermen Foundation Award, is selected by the high school coaching staff for a student athlete who, like Burls, demonstrated the highest qualities of Dutchmen spirit and sportsmanship.

The Guilderland Lettermen Foundation is also proud to help the high school by funding the “12 Season” Award winner banners. This new distinction is for graduating senior athletes who participated in a sport all 12 seasons of their high school career (i.e., Fall, Winter, Spring seasons for all 4 years). Congrats to this year’s recipients, the banners will look great hanging in the gymnasium!

Congratulations to the 2016 GLF Award Winners

The continuing support and generosity from our community has helped the Guilderland Lettermen Foundation (GLF) to grow and help support our Student-Athletes.  In 2016, six $1,000 awards were presented to the following Guilderland High School, multi-sport, student-athletes who maintained an above average academic standing and exemplified outstanding leadership with character and honor:

2016 GLF Award Winners, from left to right: Sara Mae Fuller, Cameron Long*, Alexandra Coppinger, Isabella Sericolo, and Jared Capuano (William Wang: absent)

Back Row: Directors John Heath, Greg Barcomb, Thomas Passineau, and Mark Williams

*Hal McCarthy Award Winner