The University of Rochester Department of Athletics and Recreation held its annual awards banquet on Monday, May 4, 2026 in the Frederick Douglass Ball Room, with seven departmental awards being presented to six deserving individuals and one varsity athletic team.
 
Additionally at the ceremony, senior student-athletes who earned four varsity letters throughout their entire athletic careers at the University were given Spirit R blankets, honoring their commitment to Rochester athletics over the past four years.
 
The annual awards banquet serves as a celebration of all Rochester varsity student-athletes and their accomplishments both on and off the field of play. The evening festivities also includes a dinner provided by the support of the Friends of Rochester Athletics annual fund, season recaps of all 23 varsity teams and the presentations to the seniors and department award winners.
 
Rochester's seven department awards are the Louis Alexander Alumni Award, Merle Spurrier Award, John Vitone Sportsmanship Award, Sylvia Fabricant Sportsmanship Award, Peter DiPasquale Male Scholar-Athlete Award, Terrence Gurnett Female Scholar Athlete Award and the Peyton Family Team Academic Award.
 
These awards date back at Rochester to as far back as the 1950's, with the newest award, the Peyton Family Team Academic Award, starting just two years ago in 2024.
 
Rochester's award recipients for 2025-26 were:
Louis Alexander Alumni Award: Max McClung, men's swimming and diving
Merle Spurrier Award: Alyssa Gorny, lacrosse
John A. Vitone Sportsmanship Award: Corvin Oprea, men's basketball
Sylvia Fabricant Sportsmanship Award: Nora Chen, women's track and field
Peter DiPasquale Male Scholar-Athlete Award: Jackson Kane, football
Terrence L. Gurnett Female Scholar-Athlete Award: Alyssa Horng, women's cross country/track & field
Peyton Family Team Academic Award: Women's soccer
 
Click on each of the individual award links for a more in-depth story on the seven winners.