Lisa JohansenOn April 13, the APER department hosted its annual Athletic Awards Banquet.
The banquet has served as the perfect way to end each team’s season for many years. Athletes entered the Orchard Meadow dining hall to find it stunningly decorated and ready to honor them.
Crew member Shannon Van Meir, a sophomore, said, “It was exactly what I needed, it just makes you feel so wonderful about yourself at a really hard time in the semester. And they have really good food.”
Each year, awards are given out to the athletes that have stood out among the rest. Awards are given for highest GPA, participation, athletic achievement, scholarships, leadership and community service.
Among these awards, a few stand out as the most meaningful. The Trefethen Award is given to the athlete with the highest cumulative GPA over four years.
This award went to Megan Miller, who has held a 3.85 GPA and participated in both swimming and volleyball.
The Alumnae Achievement Award was given to Meredith May. She was on the crew team at Mills and is now a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. She won many awards for journalism, including recognition for her four-piece set titled “Operation Lionheart.” May continues to row at the Lake Merritt Rowing Club.
The banquet also recognized the many achievements of Themy Adachi who was inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame this year and named “Woman of the Year.” She has been a part of the APER staff for 22 years.
Although the ceremony is for all athletes, the focus is mainly on the seniors. After putting in years of dedication to their teams, the APER staff does its best to honor their hard work.
The ceremony also provides some closure for the seniors, a beautiful way to finish their college athletic careers.
“I think it means a lot more for the seniors. It’s a great closing for the teams and the athletic experience at Mills,” said senior volleyball player Nikki Fitzgibbon.
No one left the ceremony empty-handed; the APER staff gives an award for every athlete’s participation. The 51 first year athletes received a Winged M pin, which can be traced back through Mills’ athletic history to 1918. Second year athletes received a key chain, third years a blanket, and the six fourth year athletes received framed photos of their time at Mills.
