Athletics recognizes student-athletes, Dean Smith award recipients

University of Maine Athletics announced that two student-athletes have received the 2020 M Club Dean Smith award: Cassandra Mascarenhas, a junior captain on the field hockey team, and Mitch Fossier, a senior captain on the men’s ice hockey team. 

The M Club Dean Smith award is the most prestigious award presented annually to the top male and female student-athletes at UMaine. To be considered for this award, athletes are nominated by their coaches and must have demonstrated outstanding academic and athletic achievement, be of outstanding character and a contributor and leader within their community.

More information on the Dean Smith award recipients is online.  

On Feb. 10, UMaine Athletics honored 289 student-athletes for their success in the classroom at the 31st annual Scholar-Athlete Recognition Ceremony, held at Wells Conference Center. 

The honorees represent the highest number of scholar-athlete individual recognitions in the history of the scholar-athlete ceremony. This year, UMaine recognized 205 scholar-athletes, who earned a 3.0 or higher grade point average in the previous spring and fall semesters, and/or have maintained a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average. And 84 student-athletes were recognized as 2019 Rising Stars for earning a 3.0 or higher grade point average in their first semester. 

For the 16th consecutive year, the Black Bears honored more than one-half of the student-athletes at UMaine. More information on the ceremony is online.