Tomas Gajdusek Earns ECC Excellence in Community and Character Award

Courtesy of East Coast Conference Media Relations

OLD WESTBURY, NY - University of the District of Columbia men's tennis player Tomas Gajdusek (Prague, Czech Republic) and Queens College women's soccer and track and field student-athlete Katherine Colon (West Babylon, N.Y.) received the East Coast Conference Excellence in Community and Character Award at the ECC Awards Dinner on May 23.

The most prestigious award presented of the night, Excellence in Community and Character Award recipients are student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through positive actions and behaviors that are consistent with the NCAA Division II attributes of learning, service, passion, sportsmanship, balance and resourcefulness.

"This award is not just for the best student, best athlete, the best sportsman or woman," said ECC Commissioner Dr. Robert Dranoff.  "This is an award for all around excellence. With many strong nominees, the choices were difficult but we have selected two very deserving student-athletes."

Gajdusek has taken on the task of motivator and leader of the UDC Men's Tennis program.  He has been instrumental in raising the bar and helping to transform the team from a 2-11 program, to one that competes on the national landscape, most recently earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament.  He has been named an ECC Player of the Year as well as a Men's Tennis Scholar Athlete of the year as he boast a 3.92 GPA in Business Administration.  However, what is most inspirational, is the time and effort he puts in to help others.  Tomas tutors, mentors and advises his fellow student-athletes. In one specific case he helped an academically at-risk student-athlete study and made sure she was going to class to help her achieve over a 3.0 GPA.  Additionally he leads campus tours for incoming student-athletes to help them get acclimated to the institution.

Colon is the epitome of the student-athlete.  Not only is she a multi-sport athlete, but she also serves as the Queens College SAAC President and is mathematics major with a minor in Spanish.  She has been involved in all athletic department events, helping to run the MidKnight Madness, which brought in over 600 attendees and over 12 performances, and headed up Take A Kid to a Game Day, where over 125 children attended a Saturday basketball doubleheader and carnival.  Colon also makes giving back to the community a priority.  She participated in two Midnight Runs, delivering food and clothes to the homeless in Manhattan, and planned and chaired the Relay for Life which raised over $12,000 in just five months.  She is a selfless motivator that has dedicated her time to her sports, her institution and the community that surrounds it.