In presenting the Nellie Pratt Elliot Award to Kate and Laura O'Neill, Yale's twin-sister cross-country and track standouts, Beckett noted that it was "an unprecedented move," since it was the first time a male or female had ever shared a Class Day Athletic Award.
The award honors the senior woman (or, in this case, women) whose excellence in the field of athletics and in her life at Yale best represents the ideals of sportsmanship and Yale tradition. It is awarded in memory of Nellie Pratt Elliot, who was an assistant director of undergraduate admissions at Yale for 46 years.
"As difficult as it is to tell the twins apart, it is equally difficult to separate their athletic achievements," noted Beckett.
"As history majors with a 3.6 and 3.7 grade point average, they have rewritten the Yale Track & Field and Cross-Country record books," added Beckett. "They share an amazing 18 All-Ivy honors, 11 All-American awards, six Yale records. And, on the strength of their combined performances in the last two years, Yale has finished in the top 25 in the nation at the NCAA Championships."
Chris Leanza
William Neely Mallory Award
Chris Leanza, captain of men's basketball, received the William Mallory award, the most prestigious athletic award given to a senior male at Yale.
The award is presented to the senior man who on the field of play and in life at Yale best represents the highest ideals of American sportsmanship and Yale tradition and is named in honor of the Yale Class of 1924 athlete.
"As a four-year letter winner in basketball, Chris has helped in great measure to put Yale basketball back on the map," said Beckett of the economics major.
"He is only the 18th in Yale basketball history to score 1,000 points in a career. He captained the 2002-03 team, which posted a second consecutive winning season -- the first time this has happened in the last two decades. And he was most instrumental in assisting Yale to win its first Ivy Basketball Championship in 42 years and secure a record first post-season victory over Rutgers in the 2002 NIT."
Eric Wenzel
Amanda D. Walton Award
Football and lacrosse player Eric Wenzel, who was injured in a crash earlier this year that claimed the lives of four of his fellow students, received the Amanda D. Walton Award, which honors an "outstanding athlete who has excelled on the field of play and who has shown spirit and courage in transcending unforeseen challenges."
"Eric was an exceptional two-sport star during his career at Yale," said Beckett. "He was a four-year letter winner as an outstanding fullback on the football team and an All-American candidate as the goalie on the nationally-ranked lacrosse team. Eric survived the tragic accident of Jan. 17 and has worked tirelessly to recover fully from the injuries he sustained."
C O M M E N C E M E N T
2 0 0 3
Yale Celebrates 302nd Graduation
Baccalaureate Address
Honorary Degrees
Senior Class Day
Teaching Prizes
Scholastic Prizes
David Everett Chantler Prize
Roosevelt L. Thompson Prize
William H. McKim Prize
Athletic Department Awards
Robert E. Lewis Award for Intramural Sports
Wilbur Cross Medals
Reception with President Richard C. Levin
ROTC Commissioning
Other Undergraduate Awards and Honors
Graduate School Awards and Honors
Commencement Photo Gallery
Graduation: The Video
T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S
Yale Celebrates 302nd Graduation
Trip expands Yale ties to South Korea
Koplan elected as alumni fellow
YSN researcher to head state's VA Department
International festival returns June 12-28
Edelson named director of Yale Cancer Center
ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS
Alumnus donates first novel by an African-American slave
Reunion events to explore world's public health crises
British Art Center acquisitions honor its founding 25 years ago
'Behold, the Sea Itself' showcases center's collection of marine art
Graduate/Professional International Study Grants
YCIAS offers Summer Institutes for educators
Corrections
Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News
Bulletin Board|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines|Bulletin Staff
Public Affairs Home|News Releases|
E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page
