Seniors Honored at End of the Year Reception

Newton, MA- Lasell Athletics celebrated the outstanding careers and accomplishments of the Class of 2026 during its annual Senior-Athlete Awards Reception. Lasell President Eric Turner, Presidential Spouse Wanda Whitmore, and Associate Vice President for Athletics Jamie Marcoux joined family, friends, coaches, and staff to honor the department's graduating student-athletes and recognize another successful year for Lasell Athletics.

While the evening celebrated numerous academic and athletic achievements, the highlight of the reception was the presentation of Lasell Athletics' major department awards, recognizing excellence in academics, competition, leadership, and service.

The Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards are presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete who have achieved the highest cumulative grade point average throughout their academic careers while remaining dedicated members of their respective varsity programs. This year's Male Scholar Athlete of the Year is Thomas Flannagan of the baseball team. A Data Analytics major, Flannagan graduated with an outstanding 3.989 cumulative GPA. Women's volleyball standout Madeline Caro earned Female Scholar Athlete of the Year honors after posting a remarkable 3.991 cumulative GPA throughout her collegiate career, graduating with a degree in Psychology.

The Torchbearer Award recognizes student-athletes who have excelled in competition and in the classroom while making a lasting impact on their teams and the Lasell community. Recipients must have competed for at least three years, maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and consistently demonstrated leadership, sportsmanship, service, and character.

Matthew Williams earned one of this year's Torchbearer Awards after making a tremendous impact on Lasell University baseball and the campus community throughout his four years. A four-year member of both the baseball program and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Williams served as SAAC President during the 2025-26 academic year, leading initiatives that enhanced the student-athlete experience and organized numerous events throughout the year. Williams also partnered with Lasell Athletics and NOSOLO to raise more than $1,000 for mental health and suicide awareness initiatives while serving as an NDUR Game Changer Ambassador, helping promote mental health awareness among collegiate student-athletes. He earned the Lasell Commitment to Service Award and the Lasell Marketing Book Award, was a two-year member of Chi Alpha Sigma, received Dean's List honors throughout his collegiate career, and served on Lasell's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee from 2022-24.

Joining Williams as a Torchbearer recipient was softball standout Abigail Fortin. A four-year leader within the softball program, Fortin helped guide the Lasers back to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference playoffs while balancing numerous commitments away from the field. Beyond softball, Fortin served on SAAC's executive board, earned Dean's List recognition all four years, and dedicated her time to community service through the ABCD program, helping run events at Fenway Park. Her leadership, service, and commitment to representing Lasell with excellence made her a deserving recipient of the Torchbearer Award.

This year's Female Athlete of the Year honor was especially unique, as Lasell Athletics recognized Co-Female Athletes of the Year for the first time since 2019.

Morgan Bogli concluded one of the greatest careers in Lasell women's volleyball history by becoming the program's first-ever American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region and All-American selection. One of the most efficient pin hitters in program history, Bogli helped lead the Lasers to the highest national ranking in school history while playing a key role in one of the most successful eras the program has ever seen.

Joining Bogli as Co-Female Athlete of the Year was Laura Johnson, who capped off one of the most dominant seasons in NCAA Division III women's basketball. Johnson led the nation in rebounds per game and finished second nationally in total rebounds while earning First Team All-GNAC, Fourth Team NEWBA All-Region honors, and an invitation to the NEWBA Senior All-Star Game. She also became just the second player in program history to surpass 1,000 career rebounds, cementing her place among the greatest players in Lasell women's basketball history.

The evening concluded with the presentation of the Male Athlete of the Year Award to Jasper Schultz of the men's volleyball team. Schultz delivered a remarkable senior season, leading one of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference's most dynamic offenses while helping guide the Lasers to another GNAC Championship appearance. He earned GNAC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference honors before adding American Volleyball Coaches Association First Team All-Region and Second Team All-American recognition. Schultz became just the second All-American in program history and concluded his career as one of the most decorated student-athletes in Lasell men's volleyball history.