The Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) inter-collegiate athletics department hosted its annual Student Athletics Awards Banquet on April 21 at the West Campus in New Port Richey.
Each year, one female and one male PHSC student athlete who demonstrate excellence in the classroom, on the fields and courts, in leadership on campus, and with service in the community are selected by the PHSC coaching staff to receive the Dr. Debra J. Hay Outstanding Student Athlete Award. Hay was a former dean of student services and an advocate for student athletes who encouraged excellence. The 2016 Dr. Debra J. Hay Outstanding Student Athlete Award winners are:
- Female student-athlete winner Rachel Gardner, a sophomore from Gulf High School in New Port Richey. Gardner, a third baseman on the women’s softball team, holds a 3.78 grade point average. She is currently batting .298 this past season. Gardner’s community service has included collecting gifts for All Children’s Outpatient Hospital in New Port Richey and working a softball clinic for West Pasco Little League.
- Male student-athlete winner Michael Faul, a sophomore from Bullitt East High School in Mount Washington, Kentucky. Faul, a first baseman on the baseball team, has a 3.26 grade point average. Faul is currently batting .368 with 9 doubles and 28 RBIs. His community service has included volunteering at the Forest Lakes Park cleanup and assisting with the PHSC 5K race each of his two years at the college. He will graduate with his Associate in Arts degree in May.
