Patrick Cunningham (Oakdale, NY), a senior back on the Men's Soccer team, has been named the 2008 - 2009 East Coast Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Cunningham has amassed a 3.9 grade point average and will graduate with a degree in accounting. He was a staple on the Dowling defense for four year, having been a part of the 2006 National Championship team and the 2008 National Finalists team. Continually earning spots on the Dean's List and Athletic Director's Honor Roll,
Cunningham was also named to the 2008 Academic All-District First Team as well as the ECC All-Conference First Team. In the 2008 post-season, he was named to the Final Four All-Tournament Team and was the Teacher's Federal Credit Union Scholar-Athlete of the Month in December.
The Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award was awarded to Maria Sonnerborg, a forward on the C.W. Post Women's Soccer team.
The nominees for the East Coast Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award have been selected as SCholar-Athletes of the Year in their respective sports. A Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominees are voted upon and selected by the Faculty Athletic Representative from each ECC institution.