The Guilderland Lettermen Foundation, now in its 24th year, is proud to present its class of 2021 Lettermen Award winners – seven recently graduated Guilderland High School seniors who have earned this prestigious recognition as outstanding multi-sport, community-minded student athletes.
“The pandemic has turned the senior season upside down for all high school student-athletes,” said Lettermen Foundation President Mark Williams, a 1982 Guilderland High School graduate. “Despite that, the pool of applicants we saw this year was one of the strongest we’ve ever seen. Outstanding athletes, with excellent academic achievement and community service to match, our winners are exceptional representatives of their class, Guilderland Schools, and their families. We are pleased to honor them.”
Award winners for 2021 include Molly DiCaprio (soccer, indoor and outdoor track and field), Grace McFerran (cross-country, basketball, indoor and outdoor track and field), Hannah Risko (lacrosse, field hockey), Sophia Sericolo (field hockey, lacrosse) and Ava Thomson (field hockey, indoor and outdoor track and field).
The 2021 Hal McCarthy Award winner, which goes to the person whose application receives the most points in evaluation by the Board of Directors, is Pratul Amineni (cross country, swimming, tennis, indoor track and field). The Hal McCarthy Award is named in memory of the long-time Guilderland teacher, coach and superintendent.
The 2021 Mark Burlingame Dutchmen Spirit award winner is Caroline Burns (cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field). 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’s 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 24 years, the Lettermen Foundation has awarded more than $125,000 to deserving Guilderland student athletes.
Award winners were recognized during Guilderland’s virtual athletic awards night, will be featured individually on the Lettermen Foundation’s social media platforms and website (www.guilderlandclassic.com), and will be honored at the Lettermen Foundation’s annual fundraiser, the Guilderland Classic golf outing, August 6, 2021 at Orchard Creek Golf Club.
For more information about the Guilderland Lettermen Foundation, please visit our website or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/guilderlandclassic and Twitter (@LettermenFDN).
Photo caption: (l-r) top row – Pratul Amineni, Caroline Burns, Sophia Sericolo, Grace McFerran. Bottom row – Molly DiCaprio, Hannah Risko, Ava Thomson. Photo credit to Mike Koff/Altamont Enterprise.