Scholar-athlete from Warwick earns prestigious SUNY leadership award

CANTON — SUNY Canton junior Megan M. Mydosh of Warwick is the first woman to receive the Ronald LaValle Leadership Award, a SUNY system wide accolade.

Mydosh was chosen out of thousands of eligible SUNY student-athletes due to her numerous accomplishments in leadership, sportsmanship, as well as her role as an ambassador for the campus and SUNY.

Mydosh has been the captain of her cross-country team at SUNY Canton for three years. Her athletic achievements include a host of top-ten finishes, a first-place finish at Southern Vermont College in 2012 and numerous top 20 finishes in national competition for three consecutive years.

3.96 GPA
Mydosh was also the first in SUNY Canton Athletics history to earn the Eastern College Athletic Conference Player of the Week Honors.

"Megan is an extraordinary person in so many ways," said Women's Cross Country Coach Katie Kennedy. "She is an exceptional runner, student, volunteer, teammate, worker and leader. She is truly one of the most accomplished and well-rounded students in SUNY Canton history."

Aside from her role as an athletics leader, she works part time in the SUNY Canton Admissions and Public Relations offices and has maintained a 3.96 GPA.

Community service
Mydosh is also actively involved in volunteering in community events and fund raisers, including the Roos Hop to Help Day, the Special Olympics, the annual Lake-to-Lake Relay and the annual Nicole Fleury Run.

In May 2013 Mydosh received SUNY Canton's Outstanding Associate Graduate Award when she received her degree in business administration.

She is continuing her studies to earn a bachelor's degree in management and will be eligible to graduate early in December 2014.

Support from many quarters
"I owe a lot of my success to the support I have received from the entire campus - it's such a nice feeling to be welcomed to SUNY Canton by my coaches, teammates, faculty and staff," Mydosh said. "It really keeps me motivated to do the best I can and makes me want to encourage others as well."

Ronald LaValle was active in leadership development of student-athletes at Stony Brook University, and by extension, all of SUNY. LaValle placed great emphasis on mentoring and supporting all students, especially student-athletes. He was heralded as being an outstanding administrator and coach.

"This is one of the most prestigious awards ever won by a SUNY Canton student-athlete," said Athletic Director Randy B. Sieminski. "There were finalists for this award from NCAA Division I programs as well as Division III powerhouses. We're extremely proud of Megan and all of her accomplishments during her time here at SUNY Canton. It's been an honor to have her represent her team, her academic program, our athletic department and our school."