The City University of New York Athletic Conference annually recognizes its best and brightest student-athletes, who not only excel in athletics, but succeed in the classroom as well. Over the next few weeks, CUNYAC will recognize those who truly embody what it means to be a student-athlete. The award is presented by Hospital for Special Surgery, the official hospital of the CUNY Athletic Conference.
Eliza Kotowska, a member of the John Jay College Rifle team, owns an impressive 3.94 grade-point average, majoring in Criminology and Forensic Psychology. Kotowska has made the Dean's List every semester at John Jay, highlighted by four semesters with perfect 4.0 GPAs. In 2019, she was named a Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholastic All-American.
A member of the John Jay Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Kotowska volunteers with John Jay's Honors Program. She also interned at the New York City Department of Investigation alongside the Department of Corrections, New York Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2019.
A team captain, Kotowska is a four-year letter winner and standout performer for the nationally ranked Bloodhounds rifle program, helping the squad to four Mid Atlantic Rifle Conference (MAC Rifle) Championships and four Big Apple titles.
This year, Kotowska finished first or second in both gun disciplines (smallbore and air rifle) in every match. She improved her personal-best in both disciplines twice this season, topping out at 540 in smallbore and 576 in air rifle. In February, she was recognized as the MAC Rifle Smallbore Shooter of the Month. Kotowska and the Bloodhounds capped off the season by winning the MAC Rifle Smallbore Championship, the program's 15th championship, the most in school history.
"After committing four years to my sport, being honored as a Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honorable Mention demonstrates that all my passion and hard work has finally paid off," Kotowska said. "To me, being a Bloodhound means pursuing what I am passionate about, learning how I can use those interests to help others, and actually enjoying myself while doing it. My team, coach, internship supervisors, family, and friends have supported me through all my four years of college and as I get ready to graduate and leave the athletics program. I would like to thank everyone who has spent even a minute of their time supporting my goals and accomplishments. I know that no matter where I end up, I will always appreciate the people I met and the time I spent at John Jay College of Criminal Justice."
2019-20 CUNYAC/HSS Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honorable Mentions
HSS is ranked #1 in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report for the 10th straight year. No wonder the City University of New York Athletic Conference trust HSS as their official hospital. For more information, please visit www.HSS.edu. During this time of social distancing, HSS has developed resources to adjust to working from home, located on the new HSS Feel Better From Home website.