Most students stop when they receive a couple of awards, including major distinctions from their school, but this dedicated Bearcat did no such thing. Maybe he doesn’t know how to stop. Or maybe it’s this huge, uncontrollable urge to win that keeps him going.

As a senior Bearcat, Steven Coniglio currently upholds a 3.844 GPA in undoubtedly one of the most rigorous majors in college; Actuarial Science. In his final semester, the Economics minor and Dean’s List student is preparing for a job in his field of study by logging additional hours of study in the hopes of aceing several actuary exams. Due to his work in the classroom and exceptional character, this senior is also a member of many local and national honor societies, including the Sigma Alpha Honor Society (for outstanding Baruch Bearcats). Though his academic coursework and championship-caliber play take a lot out of him, this three-time CUNYAC Scholar Athlete of the Month would have it no other way. In fact, the middle blocker would be the first to admit that his life without volleyball would not be the same. Before Steven joined Baruch’s program as a freshman in 2011, he was admittedly “an average student who was very shy and quiet.”

“I had little self confidence and was afraid of the ‘college life’ ahead of me,” said the college senior. Casting his fears aside, Steven realized he “didn’t want to be just an average student.” From then on, he worked hard to establish himself as a strong student and in his second semester worked even harder to establish himself as another weapon in Baruch’s volleyball arsenal.

Bearcats Head Coach, Danial Levent, was an assistant to the program when Coniglio joined the club in the spring of 2011 and even then noticed his potential to be star. “He was a raw player with athletic ability who was not yet ready to contribute but was put into a position where he had to,” said Levent.

Though Steven experienced growing pains in his quest to refine his skills, this senior Bearcat competed for and won a starting spot his freshman year and went on to have successful campaign averaging a .500 hitting percentage. He was also a member of the 2012 CUNYAC Championship and Division III Tournament Teams. His time on the court and his success increased throughout his sophomore season, as his play improved exponentially with his 2012 CUNYAC First Team All-Star and Team MVP accolades. Congilio also ranked third in the NCAA during the Men’s Volleyball Tournament. His most significant accomplishment would also come during this season as he was awarded the NCAA Elite 89 Award for his outstanding GPA. This momentum carried into his junior season, as he started off  the season by participating in the USA Division III National Volleyball Team. His team and coaches saw his budding leadership potential and named him a captain.

“As a captain during his junior year campaign, Steven was able to keep all his teammates together and have another successful year,” continued Levent.

During the 2013 season, Coniglio was named CUNYAC Player of the Year and ECAC MVP. This season defined the Bethpage native who went on to again lead his team to another conference title and NCAA’s Final Four trip where they lost in five sets to top seeded Springfield. The highlight of his 2013 mark would come when he received a 2013 AVCA Division III All-American. Coniglio also received the prestigious NCAA Elite 89 Award for the second consecutive year.

“All of Steven’s athletic success would not be able to be attained if he did not work just as hard off the court. Steven is an honors student and has not lost that title since he arrived at Baruch,” continued Coach Levent.

This sentiment of utter dominance continued well into Steven’s senior Bearcat season. In preseason polling, the middle blocker was voted a 2014 Volleyball All-American by “Off the Block”, a renowned volleyball resource.

This accomplished student-athlete closed out his collegiate career as a team co-captain, a 2014 CUNYAC First Team All-Star, and a CUNYAC Champion, after leading his team along with fellow seniors Jack McKee and Aviv Elias to its sixth straight title, additionally earning them a berth to the NCAA championships.

Though the list of Coniglio’s laurels are seemingly endless, his time at Baruch was well spent as he was also very active in the Bearcat community. A familiar face around campus, this scholar-athlete could be found tutoring his fellow student-athletes in everything from algebra to calculus. This 6’5” student-athlete is also a strong fixture in his community, where he coaches volleyball high at Saint Pius Gymnasium in Plainview, New York.  There he organizes practices and games with other teams and schools for his players on the basic fundamental and moral aspects of the game and life in general. With all of these accomplishments aside, Steven will most likely be remembered not as the shy guy who was afraid of failing in freshman year, but as the man and leader he morphed into during his time at Baruch.

“Despite his many talents and successes, Steven is extremely modest and a pleasure to work with and a great role model for his peers at Baruch,” added his Mathematics Lecturer Sarah Harney.

This award means a lot to Baruch’s dominant volleyball program, but it means the world to Coniglio, who stated “it would be the measuring stick of his hard work and ambitions”, almost all of which have manifested in true form during his time at Baruch.

“Steven has showed that he is not only an all-around player but an all-around human being. He has continuously showed that he can handle pressure, be a leader, a diplomat, a friend, and a teammate all at once” concluded Coach Levent.

Coniglio’s name will be etched into almost every CUNYAC and Baruch Athletic record book, including that of Male Scholar Athlete of the Year.