Rishi Charan Shankar Named 2023-24 DIIICA Chi Alpha Sigma Regional Student-Athlete of the Year - University of Mary Washington (2024)

SUWANEE, Ga.– In an announcement made today, University of Mary Washington graduate Rishi Charan Shankar was one of 20 student-athletes recognized as winners of the third annual Division III Commissioner's Association/Chi Alpha Sigma Regional Student-Athlete of the Year awards. Chi Alpha Sigma, a valued partner of the D3CA, is in its inaugural year as presenting sponsor of the regional awards.

Charan Shankar gained the award after a senior season that saw him earn C2C Male Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year distinction after guiding the Eagles to the C2C men's tennis championship. He picked up Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-America honors and advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals while teaming withPeter Leeseto break the school record for doubles wins (34) last year. The computer science major and cybersecurity minor graduated with a 3.95 GPA. For the second straight year, Charan Shankar was part of the C2C Doubles Team of the Year and ranked 11th nationally in doubles and 18th regionally in singles.

"Chi Alpha Sigma is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the DIIICA Student-Athlete of the Year awards," said Kellen Wells-Mangold, executive director of the National College Athlete Honor Society. "The mission of Chi Alpha Sigma aligns very well with that of the DIIICA, which makes this a natural partnership to celebrate some of the most outstanding student-athletes in college athletics for their excellence in competition, the classroom, and the community."

Each of the winners will advance to the national ballot for consideration for 2023-24 D3CA Men's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year and Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year.

Conferences were permitted to submit two nominations for each award if at least one of the nominations was an international student/ethnic minority. Graduating seniors were the only student-athletes eligible for this award.

Selection criteria for the awards included considerations based on academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership and a personal statement submitted by each nominee.

Voting was conducted by the commissioners within each of the ten regions, with the top male and female honoree recognized as finalists for the Awards Committee to select the Division III Commissioner's Association Men's Sport and Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year.

The two national winners will be announced next month.

Region I

Men's SportJack Mulligan, Massachusetts Maritime (Football) – MASCAC
Women's Sport Mackenzie Dore, Husson University (Softball) – NAC

Region II

Men's Sport Arjun Asokumar, University of Chicago (Tennis) – UAA
Women's SportHannah Kassaie, Case Western Reserve University (Tennis) – UAA

Region III

Men's Sport Artem Buzoverya, Hobart College (Ice Hockey) – Liberty
Women's Sport Madi Morton, Elmira College (Ice Hockey) – Empire 8

Region IV

Men's Sport Bruno Andino, Stevens Inst. of Technology (Soccer) – MAC Freedom
Women's Sport Laura Matthews, Stevens Inst. of Technology (Track & Field) – MAC Freedom

Region V

Men's Sport Vinny DeAngelo, Swarthmore College (Basketball) – Centennial
Women's Sport Chandler Eddleton, Marymount (Va.) Univ. (Basketball/Track & Field) – Atlantic East

Region VI

Men's Sport Rishi Charan Shankar, Univ. of Mary Washington (Tennis) – Coast-to-Coast
Women's Sport Meghan Reed, Salisbury University (Softball) – Coast-to-Coast

Region VII

Men's Sport Robert Coury, Carnegie Mellon University (Football) – PAC
Women's Sport Avery Campbell, Albion College (Soccer/Track & Field) – MIAA

Region VIII

Men's Sport Anthony Fitzgerald, Wheaton (Ill.) College (Swimming) – CCIW
Women's Sport Lexi Onsrud, Illinois Wesleyan University (Golf) – CCIW

Region IX

Men's Sport Max Cleveland, Simpson College (Track & Field) – ARC
Women's Sport Annessa Ihde, Bethel (Minn.) University (Track & Field) – MIAC

Region X

Men's Sport James Settles, Colorado College (Cross Country/Track & Field) – SCAC
Women's Sport Alexandra Turvey, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Swimming) – SCIAC

ABOUT DIIICA

The Division III Commissioners Association (DIIICA) officially became a stand-alone organization in January 1992. The focal point of the DIIICA is for the membership to learn together and share with each other. Division III commissioners are unique in what they do and need each other to grow.

In order to achieve this goal, the Association works closely with affiliated organizations such as the NCAA, NACDA, NADIIIAA, NACWAA, and the Division III Independents as well. The blending of those groups creates a national synergy that allows all memberships to work in concert to improve communications and ultimately, service student-athletes.

ABOUT CHI ALPHA SIGMA

Chi Alpha Sigma is the first, and only, nonprofit organization that was established to recognize four-year college student-athletes who excel both on and off the field of competition. Founded in 1996 by then DePauw University head football coach, Nick Mourouzis, Chi Alpha Sigma continues to provide outstanding student-athletes with an opportunity to become connected within a fraternal association that aligns their educational and athletic successes for a lifetime.

More than 200 of the 360-plus active Chi Alpha Sigma chapters nationwide are NCAA Division III institutions.