Distance runner Augusta Stockman ’23, left, and men’s volleyball All-American Gavin van Beveren ’23, right, head the list of student-athletes who were honored at the annual Brewer Awards Ceremony hosted by Vassar’s Department of Athletics and Physical Education on May 3 in the Chapel.
Stockman and van Beveren received the Matthew Vassar Outstanding Career Awards in recognition of their performances in Vassar Athletics Department–sponsored sports throughout their time at Vassar.
Stockman finished her collegiate career as one of the best runners in school history. She is a three-time NCAA Women’s Cross Country Qualifier and earned All-Liberty League First Team honors twice. In addition, she was named to the NCAA Mideast All-Region team in 2022 and ran the third fastest 6K all-time at the Paul Short Invitational last season. She also competed in track and field, winning multiple events in the mile and 1,500-meter run. “Being part of the cross country and track teams at Vassar has been deeply meaningful to me,” she said. “The relationships and lessons—in grit, teamwork, leadership, consistency, and more—from that experience are ones I hope to take with me through the rest of my life. I feel prepared to step up to challenges, handle complex situations, and stay true to myself. I was so caught up enjoying the ride, putting in the work to be the best runner and teammate I can be, that it was almost startling to have that journey recognized.”
Van Beveren was named a First Team All-American for three straight years. He shattered the program record in hitting percentage, finished second nationally in blocks per set, and helped lead Vassar to a program-record 26 straight victories and a trip to the NCAA Division III Final Four. He said he considered the award a tribute to the entire team. “My coach always makes it clear that individual awards are not solely a reflection of one individual’s talent, but rather are a recognition of an entire team’s ability,” he said. “Having received the Career Award this year, I couldn’t agree more with this sentiment. Though the team members and thus the team structure would change year to year, the premise of the game remains the same—in order for one person to succeed, they must depend on the success of their team at large. I am so grateful for the athletics committee to recognize me for this award, and it is one that I see as a reflection of four years of teamwide excellence.”—Larry Hertz