Men's Basketball 5/28/2026 2:28:00 PM

Cougars' Standout Student-Athletes Celebrated at 2025-2026 Medgar Evers Athletics Banquet

The Medgar Evers College Department of Athletics held its annual athletic awards banquet Thursday evening, May 21, at the AB-1 Dining Hall on campus. The event was a raging success, attended by over 85 student-athletes, coaches, and administrators, as the department celebrated its tremendous achievements over the past calendar year. Following the conclusion of the festivities, Director of Athletics Chetara Murphy, who spoke glowingly about the success of the night.

"Our annual student-athlete awards banquet serves as an evening of celebration, as we honor the diligent efforts of our student-athletes throughout the calendar year," Murphy said. "It was wonderful to be able to have all of our student-athletes bind together and soak up the night. I am proud of all of our honorees this evening, and I look forward to seeing our department strive to greater heights during the 2026-2027 athletic year."

The event was attended by Medgar Evers President Dr. Patricia Ramsey, as well as well as the Senior Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management, Jesse Kane. Things got underway around 7:00pm, but prior to the start, the entire Dining Hall watched men's outdoor track and field star Reco Griffith compete at the NCAA Division III championships. Griffith was competing in a 200-Meter Dash preliminary heat at the time.

Murphy welcomed and addressed all attendees. Some positive sentiments by Kane and Ramsey followed, before Medgar Evers SAAC President Maritza Argueta took the podium and saluted her fellow student-athletes. The room then indulged in dinner.

Following dinner, the presentation of the awards begun. In total, 33 team awards were given out. The Charles Romain award, which is presented to one student-athlete who exhibited consistent and dedicated volunteerism to the Department of Athletics (awardees must have at least a 2.7 overall GPA), went to Danajah Lawrence. The Fitzgerald Semper College Service Award, presented to a student-athlete that has demonstrated dependable and dedicated service to the college and its surrounding community (awardees must have at least a 3.0 overall GPA) went to Argueta

The Dr. Dean Derrick Griffith award was given to Dr. Waleek Boone and Transition Academy.

Women's Cross Country earned Scholar Team of the Year praise with a 3.0 cumulative GPA

A plethora of student-athletes were recognized for earning a CUNYAC All Star award or earning a spot on the CUNYAC Sportsmanship team in their respective sports. 10 student-athletes and one team earned Medgar Evers major awards. 16 athletic and academic seniors were saluted, and four student-athletes were recognized for being set to graduate

For a complete list of all the evening's award winners, see below:

2025 Women's Cross Country Awards

Most Valuable Runner – Brianna Lindo
Most Improved Runner – Kenia Irish-Bramble
Sportsmanship Honoree – Nana Samake

2025 Men's Soccer Awards

Most Valuable Player – Mariko Diarisso
Most Improved Player – Aljae Douglas
Sportsmanship Honoree – Akeel Russell

2025 Women's Volleyball Awards

Most Valuable Player – Jennifer Metra
Most Improved Player – Sariyah Brumaire
Sportsmanship Honoree – Shanya Aitcheson

2025 Men's Cross Country Awards

Most Valuable Runner – Joshua Felix
Most Improved Runner – David Chisolm
Sportsmanship Honoree – Matthew Fleming

2025-2026 Women's Basketball Awards

Most Valuable Player – Moutiatou Djibring
Most Improved Player – Jada Lambert
Sportsmanship Honoree – Jennifer Metra

2025-2026 Men's Basketball Awards

Most Valuable Player – Michael Perez
Most Improved Player – Boubacar Mbaye
Sportsmanship Honoree – Joash Beaton

2025-2026 Women's Indoor Track & Field Awards

Most Valuable Performer – Brianna Lindo
Most Improved Performer – Jada Lambert
Sportsmanship Honoree – Sarah Vallon

2025-2026 Men's Indoor Track & Field Awards

Most Valuable Performer – Reco Griffith
Most Improved Performer – Omari Hinds
Sportsmanship Honoree – David Awaye

2026 Men's Volleyball Awards

Most Valuable Player – Shabbir Ahmed
Most Improved Player – Chrisnel Nicolas
Sportsmanship Honoree – Ahmed Toure

2026 Women's Outdoor Track & Field Awards

Most Valuable Performer – Brianna Lindo
Most Improved Performer – Danajah Lawrence
Sportsmanship Honoree – Moutiatou Djibring

2026 Men's Outdoor Track & Field Awards

Most Valuable Performer – Reco Griffith
Most Improved Performer – Pharell Fowler
Sportsmanship Honoree – Ahmed Toure

Charles Romain Award (Presented to one student-athlete who has exhibited consistent and dedicated volunteerism to the Department of Athletics. The awardee must have at least a 2.7 overall GPA)

Recipient – Danajah Lawrence of women's soccer, women's volleyball, and women's indoor and outdoor track & field

Fitzgerald Semper College Service Award (Presented to a student-athletes that has demonstrated dependable and dedicated service to the college and its surrounding community. The awardee must have at least a 3.0 overall GPA)

Recipient – Maritza Argueta of women's cross country, women's volleyball, and indoor and outdoor track & field

Dr. Dean Derrick Griffith Award (Given either to a faculty/staff member, or an entire department that exhibits great service to the Athletic Department)

Recipient – Dr. Waleek Boone & Transition Academy

MEC First Year Scholastic Awards

Female Recipient – Moutiatou Djibring of women's basketball, indoor and outdoor track & field
Male Recipient – Pharell Fowler of men's cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field

Athletic Scholars of the Year

Female Recipient – Brianna Lindo of women's cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field
Male Recipient – Ahmed Toure of men's basketball, men's volleyball, indoor and outdoor track & field

Scholar Team of the Year

Women's Cross Country (3.0 GPA)

CUNYAC All Stars and Sportsmanship Awards

Fall

Duranya Gayle - Women's Cross Country – a CUNYAC All-Conference Team Honoree
Brianna Lindo - Women's Cross Country – CUNYAC All-Conference Team and Sportsmanship Team Honoree
Kenia Irish-Bramble - Women's Cross Country - CUNYAC All-Conference Team Honoree
Nana Samake - Women's Cross Country – CUNYAC All-Conference Team Honoree
Joshua Felix - Men's Cross Country – CUNYAC Sportsmanship Team Honoree
Aljae Douglas - Men's Soccer – CUNYAC Sportsmanship Team Honoree
Maritza Agueta - Women's Volleyball – CUNYAC Sportsmanship Team Honoree

Winter

Jennifer Metra - Women's Basketball – CUNYAC Sportsmanship Award Recipient
Joash Beaton - Men's Basketball – CUNYAC Sportsmanship Team Honoree
Hugh Reid - Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC Coach of the Year for BOTH programs
Reco Griffith - Men's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC Track Athlete of the Year & All-Conference Team Honoree
Omari Hinds - Men's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year & All-Conference Team Honoree
Pharell Fowler - Men's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC Rookie of the Year & All-Conference Team Honoree
Ahmed Toure - Men's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC Sportsmanship Award Winner & All-Conference Team Honoree
David Awaye - Men's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC All-Conference Team Honoree
Jahiem Johnson - Men's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC All-Conference Team Honoree
Leshaun Miller - Men's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC All-Conference Team Honoree
Chrisnel Nicolas - Men's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC All-Conference Team Honoree
Michael Ortega - Men's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC All-Conference Team Honoree
Brianna Lindo - Women's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC Track Athlete of the Year, Field Athlete of the Year, and All-Conference Team Honoree
Sarah Vallon - Women's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC Sportsmanship Award Recipient
Kenia Irish-Bramble - Women's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC All-Conference Team Honoree
Jada Lambert - Women's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC All-Conference Team Honoree
Danjah Lawrence - Women's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC All-Conference Team Honoree
Nana Samake - Women's Indoor Track & Field – CUNYAC All-Conference Team Honoree

Spring

Ahmed Toure - Men's Volleyball – CUNYAC Sportsmanship Team Honoree
Hugh Reid - Men's Outdoor Track & Field – CUNYAC Coach of the Year
Reco Griffith - Men's Outdoor Track & Field – CUNYAC Field Athlete of the Year & All-Conference Honoree
Omari Hinds - Men's Outdoor Track & Field – CUNYAC Field Athlete of the Year & All-Conference Honoree
Pharell Fowler - Men's Outdoor Track & Field – CUNYAC Rookie of the Year & All-Conference Honoree
Ahmed Toure - Men's Outdoor Track & Field - All-Conference Honoree & Sportsmanship Award Recipient
David Awaye - Men's Outdoor Track & Field – All-Conference Honoree
Jahiem Johnson - Men's Outdoor Track & Field – All-Conference Honoree
LeShaun Miller - Men's Outdoor Track & Field – All-Conference Honoree
Brianna Lindo - Women's Outdoor Track & Field – CUNYAC Track Athlete of the Year, Field Athlete of the Year, Rookie of the Year, & an All-Conference Honoree
Rinnah Brown - Women's Outdoor Track & Field – All-Conference Honoree
Kenia Irish-Bramble - Women's Outdoor Track & Field – All-Conference Honoree
Jada Lambert - Women's Outdoor Track & Field – All-Conference Honoree
Danajah Lawrence - Women's Outdoor Track & Field – All-Conference Honoree
Nana Samake - Women's Outdoor Track & Field – All-Conference Honoree
Thenica Thompson - Women's Outdoor Track & Field – All-Conference Honoree

Medgar Evers Major Award Recipients

2025-2026 Female Rookie of the Year – Brianna Lindo
2025-2026 Male Rookie of the Year – Pharell Fowler
2025-2026 Female Athlete of the Year – Brianna Lindo
2025-2026 Male Athlete of the Year – Reco Griffith
2025-2026 Team of the Year – Men's Track & Field

Academic and Athletic Seniors

Joash Beaton - Men's Basketball, Indoor T&F
Nicholas Bocharov - Men's Basketball
Zachary Bussey - Men's Cross country, basketball, IT&F, OT&F
Aliyah Chapman – Women's Volleyball
Alexis Davis – Women's Basketball
Chris Edosomwan – Men's Soccer
Toshel Goffe – Women's Cross Country
Belco Guendeba – Men's Soccer
Bryanna Merger – Women's Volleyball, Basketball
Jennifer Metra Women's Volleyball, Basketball, WIT&F, WOT&F
Michael Perez – Men's Basketball
Boubacar Mbaye – Men's Basketball
Chrisnel Nicolas - Men's cross country, volleyball, Indoor T&F
Nana Samake - Women's cross country, basketball, WIT&F, OT&F
Taye Simon – Men's Soccer
Ahmed Toure - Men's Basketball, Volleyball, IT&F, OT&F

Graduates/Set to Graduate

Joash Beaton – Men's Basketball, Indoor T&F
Belco Guendeba – Men's Soccer
Fatou Karamoko – Women's Soccer
Ahmed Toure – Men's Basketball, Volleyball, MT&F, OT&F

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