University of Rochester softball senior Savannah Nowak was named the recipient of UR's 2025 Sylvia Fabricant Award, as announced at the University of Rochester Department of Athletics and Recreation Awards Banquet on Monday, May 5.
 
A four-year letterwinner and starter and two-year team captain, Nowak has appeared in 138 games, making 116 starts over her Yellowjacket career, playing all over the field for UR, making starts at second, shortstop and in the outfield. For her career, Nowak has hit .285 with 78 hits, 65 runs scored and 29 RBI.
 
The Wyckoff, NJ native ranks in the top 10 in program history in double plays turned and has been one of the toughest batters to strike out in NCAA Division III this season, having struck out just once in 91 at-bats, and just seven times in 274 at-bats for her career.
 
Off the field, Nowak, a business analytics major, has been named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team three times and to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team twice for her work in the classroom. The senior has also been a member of Rochester's Varsity Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for two years, serving as the President for the 2024-25 academic year, and is also a member of the Fellowship for Christian Athletes, the Medallion Leadership Society and the Senior Giving Committee.
 
"Savannah has held herself to such a high standard when it comes to work ethic and 'doing the right thing," Head Softball Coach Abby Hurley-Martin said in her recommendation letter. "She has set the example for the softball team as early as her first year. Savannah always hustles and works her tail off day in and day out. She is very in control of her emotions despite the constant grind of being successful here at UR. She is the voice of reason and a model citizen for our team."
 
Established in 1976, the Sylvia Fabricant Award is presented annually to a female athlete for outstanding sportsmanship in the women's intercollegiate sports program.
 
Sylvia Fabricant served as the Coordinator of Women's Intercollegiate Sports from 1944-1976. She established teams in seven sports. She was inducted into the Athletics & Recreation Hall of Fame on September 25, 1992.