MOUNT VERNON – Seniors
Ella Becker and
Gavin Soukup were honored as Cornell's 2025 Paul Maaske Scholar-Athletes at the Homecoming C Club Breakfast Saturday inside the Thomas Commons.
The award, named after Cornell's winningest men's basketball coach Paul Maaske, recognizes the female and male student-athlete who achieved the highest cumulative grade point average through their academic junior year.
Becker, of Ankeny, Iowa, is a four-year starting libero on the 12-time defending Midwest Conference championship volleyball team and carries a 4.0 GPA. She's pursuing a double major in psychological sciences and kinesiology. Upon graduation, Becker plans to enter a PhD program in sports psychology.
A two-time all-MWC performer, Becker ranks fourth on Cornell's career list with more than 1,700 digs. She entered this season with a career .965 serve percentage, the second-highest clip by a Ram. Becker is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the 2024 recipient of the MWC Elite 20 Award.
Soukup, of Alburnett, Iowa, has played 35 career football games at wide receiver for the Rams and holds a 3.97 GPA. He is majoring in elementary education with an endorsement in social studies. Upon graduation, Soukup plans to stay in Linn County to teach fifth grade and coach.
The team's 2024 Offensive Player of the Year, Soukup eclipsed 1,000 career receiving yards earlier this fall and is approaching 100 career receptions. Soukup is a three-time academic all-MWC selection, two-time CSC Academic All-District performer and a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society.
During Saturday's ceremony, David Smigo was presented with the Bob Black Friend of Cornell Athletics Award. Named after Cornell's long-time men's basketball assistant coach and professor in the biology department, the award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated considerable support to Cornell athletics.
Smigo is general manager of Bon Appetit, the dining service on campus. He joined the Bon Appetit management company and Cornell operation in September 2016 as executive chef. Smigo accepted the position of general manager in July 2021.
"David is the hardest working human I've ever met and a culinary Mozart," said a former Cornell colleague. "He will go to any length to help his team, and always finds a way to say yes. His loyalty and commitment have no boundaries."
