NEWTON, Mass. – Lasell University Athletics honored its 61 senior student-athletes Monday night for their success and accomplishments this year in a Virtual Senior Awards Banquet on the school's athletic website and social media accounts.

Lasell President Michael B. Alexander issued a video welcome to the virtual event, and congratulated the 61 graduating seniors, including 55 who achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average during the 2019 Fall Semester. Director of Athletics Kristy Walter presented the prestigious Men's and Women's Athletics Torchbearer Awards, and Faculty Athletic Representative Janice Savitz presented the Male and Female Scholar-Athlete Awards.

Senior field hockey player Mindy Esposito (Sunderland, Mass./Frontier Regional) was a two-time honoree, receiving both the Women's Torchbearer and Women's Scholar-Athletes Awards. Senior baseball player Joe Sullivan (Sandwich. Mass./Sandwich) was presented with the Men's Torchbearer Awards, and senior track & field athlete Alex Desharnais (Kingston, Mass./Silver Lake Regional) received the Men's Scholar-Athlete Award.

The Torchbearer Awards are presented to student-athletes in their final season of eligibility who have excelled on the playing field and in the classroom, while making a positive impact on the Lasell Community. The recipients of this award are individuals who exemplify leadership, team spirit, ability and character.

President Michael B. Alexander Welcome Video ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kagv_7aiizA

Women's Scholar-Athlete Video ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK9--S6P4ek

Men's Scholar-Athlete Video ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCGTJOjv7Ww

Women's Torchbearer Award Video ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-rX50k2PvI

Men's Torchbearer Award Video ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geQqOaD1Nn4

All 61 of the Laser seniors will be honored in a video to be released on Tuesday, May 12, on the website and social media platforms. 

Mindy Esposito … (Sr., Sunderland, Mass./Frontier Regional)… Mindy started on defense in all 80 games during her career, helping the team to a 52-28 combined record and three consecutive Great Northeast Athletic Conference championship games. She was often charged with guarding the opponent's top scorer, helped the Lasers to 22 shutout victories. Mindy was named Great Northeast Athletic Conference First Team All-Star the past two years, and was the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. Mindy also received several regional and national awards from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, including New England East Region All-Star and a National Scholar of Distinction.

As a student, Mindy will receive her Early Childhood Education Licensure this year after serving Student Teaching stints at Lincoln Elliot Elementary in Newton, Henry Grew Elementary in Hyde Park, and The Cabot School in Newton. She is on track to earn her Master's Degree in 2021 from Lasell in Moderate to Severe Disabilities. Mindy was a Teaching Assistant at Lasell and served as President of an organization named Tomorrow's Teachers. Mindy graduates summa cum laude from Lasell this week with a degree in Early Childhood Education.

In the community, she participated every year in Alternative Spring Break program, and was selected to participate in the Antigua Shoulder to Shoulder Teaching Service Learning project. 

Joe Sullivan… (Senior, Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich). Joe was a standout on the field, in the classroom and in the community. A catcher and co-captain, Joe posted a career batting average of .342, going 50-for-146 at the plate with nine doubles, four home runs and 35 runs batted in. He hit all four home runs in 2019, one shy of school record, with 29 RBI's, fifth-most in a season for Lasell. He was primed for a big season this spring, batting .389 with two doubles and four RBI's in the first five games of 2020. Joe was a Second Team All-Conference selection in 2019, and was nominated this spring for the Academic All-America Team.

During the past few summers, Joe has played for the prestigious Cape Cod Summer Baseball League (2017 and 2019) and Futures Collegiate Baseball League (2019). He has led the Laser baseball team in volunteering for several Community Service Projects. A Sport Management major and a member of the Lasell Sports Management Association, Joe was a four-year member of the Lasell Athletics Event Staff and this year was a major contributor for the Lasell Athletics Social Media Team. 

Alex Desharnais… (Senior, Kingston,  Mass./Silver Lake Regional). Alex was in Lasell's Legal Studies Honors Program, studying legal research and writing as well as the civil and criminal court processes. A four-year veteran in the throwing events, Alex's athletic career highlights include placing 12th in the javelin and 13th in both the shot put and discus at the 2018 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships; and placing 11th in the shot put and 18th in the discus at the 2019 Outdoor GNAC Championships. Alex posted a career-best mark of 25.52 meters in the javelin in 2017, and career highs of 9.89 meters in the shot put and 23.75 meters in the discus in 2019.

Alex was on the Dean's list for six of his seven semesters at Lasell, and was on the Mock Trial team his junior year. He also interned at a Boston personal injury law firm his junior year. Alex graduated from Lasell last December with a degree in Legal Studies and Minors in Law and Business & Political Science.

Congratulations to the Class of 2019-2020!

-- 30 --