NEW YORK, N.Y. — Hunter College two sport student-athlete Conor Sullivan has been named the 2025 CUNY Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, earning one of the conference's highest honors in recognition of his academic excellence, athletic achievements, leadership, and community impact.
A double major in Clinical Psychology and Journalism with a 3.69 GPA, Sullivan's path to this award is as inspiring as it is impressive.
After a debilitating genetic hip injury left him unable to walk for months and forced him to leave Binghamton University, Sullivan transferred to Hunter with one goal: to become healthy enough to make the soccer team. Against doctors' orders, he tried out for the team just days after a surgical consultation, having not touched a soccer ball in nearly two years.
He not only made the roster but went on to become a two-year captain and lead the Hawks to their first CUNYAC Championship in 11 years. He anchored the defense throughout his three seasons, starting every match he was healthy for, and played a key role in their 2024 NCAA Tournament appearance.
Sullivan's contributions to Hunter athletics expanded beyond the pitch. Midway through his junior year, he joined both the indoor and outdoor track & field teams, earning back-to-back CUNYAC All-Star honors for his performances in middle distance and relay events. Over the course of his time at Hunter, he has earned All-Star recognition in all three sports.
The conference also honored three other student-athletes as Scholar Athlete of Year Honorable Mentions in Bethany Tomaneng, Jessica Fowler, and Nick Yao.
Tomaneng is a two-time CUNYAC Champion and All-Tournament team selection, and a three-time First Team All-Star for women's volleyball,This season, she led the conference with 694 assists while adding 225 digs, 36 aces, and 62 kills. The California native majored in psychology with a minor in political science, a posted a cumulative 3.909 GPA.
Fowler is the captain of the softball team this season, and collected her 100th career-hit earlier this spring. A Media Studies major Fowler boasts a 3.904 GPA. Fowler collected with 104 hits across her career, including seven home runs, four of which came this season, three triples, and 14 doubles, collecting 66 RBIs . In the field, Fowler has 248 puts outs with 219 assists, for a career fielding percentage of .929.
Yao is a libero on the men's volleyball team, boasting a 3.985 GPA and 155 credits earned. He is a Computer Science major with a minor in public health. Yao has collected 372 digs with 92 assists across his career.
Full List of Honorees for Hunter College
Conor Sullivan - Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Bethany Tomaneng - Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honorable Mention
Jessica Fowler - Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honorable Mention
Nick Yao - Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honorable Mention
Jayden Medina - NWCA Scholar-Athlete All-America
Botensky Bauzile - NWCA Scholar-Athlete All-America
Mikaelle Cesar - Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Year
Melvil Badier - Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Year
Alexa Charles - Women's Basketball Co-Player of the Year
John Garrett - Women's Basketball Coach of the Year
Jamie Risso - Women's Indoor Track & Field, Field Athlete of the Year
Marvin Hawkins - Women's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year
Solomon Kumi - Men's Indoor Track & Field, Field Athlete of the Year
Paige Witalec - Softball Player of the Year
Isabella Thumhart - Softball Rookie of the Year
Jamie Risso - Women's Outdoor Track & Field, Field Athlete of the Year
Mikaelle Cesar - Women's Outdoor Track & Field Rookie of the Year
Marvin Hawkins - Women's Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year
Brian Guillermo - Men's Outdoor Track & Field, Track Athlete of the Year
