Courtesy: DSPics.com Clockwise from top left: Medley, Fiske, Altchek, Stenmark, Golden, Mukundan, Kidder, Chu, Dawson, Hagamen

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—Ice hockey Olympian Julie Chu, record-breaking running back Clifton Dawson and NCAA fencing champion Tim Hagamen were honored as Harvard’s top senior athletes Wednesday night at the Harvard Varsity Club Senior Letterwinners Dinner at the Murr Center.

Dawson and Hagamen were the winners of the William J. Bingham Award, given annually to Harvard’s top male athlete, while Chu took home the Radcliffe Prize as the top female athlete. Nine awards were presented Wednesday—one day before the university's Commencement exercises in Harvard Yard—in front of a crowd of more than 600 student-athletes, coaches, parents and supporters of Harvard Athletics.

A two-time All-America selection, Dawson graduates as the Ivy League record-holder for career rushing yards (4,841), career rushing touchdowns (60), career touchdowns (66), career points (398) and career all-purpose yards (6,138). In his season he earned the Boston Globe Gold Helmet Award as the top Division I-AA player in New England. He joined former Bingham winner Dante Balestracci ’04 as the only players in the history of the Ivy League to be named to the All-Ivy first team four times and became one of four Division I-AA players in history who has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in a season four times.

Hagamen’s 2007 NCAA sabre title was the culmination of a standout career for the Crimson. He earned All-America recognition three times and led Harvard’s emergence as a national fencing power. Immediately before Hagamen joined the team, the Crimson had finished in last place in the Ivy League for nine straight seasons. As he graduates, Harvard has now won three Ivy championships in a row, three straight Intercollegiate Fencing Association team championships and was the winner of the 2006 NCAA national team championship.

Chu was the recipient of the Patty Kazmeier Award as the nation’s top collegiate women’s ice hockey player after leading the NCAA in scoring with 2.20 points per game. A three-time All-America honoree and two-time Olympic medalist, Chu graduates in third place on Harvard's career scoring chart with 88 goals and 196 assists for 284 points in 129 games. The 196 assists are a school record. Chu was the 2007 USA Hockey Women’s Player of the Year and the Ivy League Player of the Year, was selected unanimously to the All-Ivy and All-ECACHL first teams and made three all-academic teams.

Offensive lineman Jon Medley earned the John P. Reardon Award in recognition of scholarship, character, leadership and athletic ability. He has been a leader for Harvard on the football field and in the classroom. Medley, a chemistry/physics concentrator is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and has consistently been recognized as one of the best students in his classes, even large lecture courses.

Rower Katie Golden accepted the Harvard-Radcliffe Foundation for Women's Athletics Prize, presented to the female who best combines academic and athletic excellence. As team co-captain, Golden led the Radcliffe heavyweights to a berth in the NCAA Championships. The biology concentrator has meanwhile earned a reputation as a standout scholar and scientific researcher.

The Mary G. Paget Prize for outstanding contribution to women's athletics goes to softball captain Julia Kidder and tennis standout Preethi Mukundan. Kidder, an All-Ivy second baseman, captained her team for the second straight year in 2007 and led the Crimson to the Ivy League title and NCAA tournament. She has also been active in leading fundraising efforts for women’s athletics. Mukundan was a two-time All-Ivy selection and helped the Crimson win three Ivy women’s tennis titles.

Swimmer Brian Fiske won the Francis H. Burr Fund Prize, which is presented to the senior who best combines qualities of leadership, scholarship and athletic ability. As a co-captain, Fiske led the Crimson to a 7-2 record and second place at the Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming League Championships. A biochemical sciences concentrator, he has received two Harvard College grants to work at the Bauer Center for Genomics Research.

The Director’s Award was introduced this year to recognize the person who, through his or her pursuit of excellence and service to Harvard Athletics, has displayed exceptional leadership, personal character, integrity, and commitment to education through athletics. Men’s soccer captain Charles Altchek was the recipient of that honor as well as the Francis J. Toland Community Service Award. The two-time Ivy League Player of the Year and leader of the 2006 Ivy championship squad has been a leader on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and active in several service organizations.

All-New England lacrosse player Carle Stenmark accepted the John P. Fadden Award, given to a senior student-athlete (either intercollegiate or intramural) who has overcome physical adversity to make a contribution to his or her team. He rebounded from a serious knee injury to become a regular in the lineup his last two seasons. Stenmark helped the Crimson make the NCAA tournament during his junior season and, as a senior, ranked fourth on the team with 13 goals and 16 points.

Harvard University Athletics · 2006-07 Senior Awards

The William J. Bingham Award: Clifton Dawson (Scarborough, Ont.), Football and Tim Hagamen (New York, N.Y.), Fencing
First awarded in 1954, this award is given annually to that male member of the graduating class of Harvard College who, through integrity, courage, leadership, and ability on the athletic fields, has best served the high purpose of Harvard as exemplified by the late William J. Bingham '16, former Director of Athletics.

The Radcliffe Prize: Julie Chu (Fairfield, Conn.), Ice Hockey
This award was first established in 1975. It is awarded annually to that senior woman letterwinner who, through outstanding ability on the playing field and dedication to her sport or sports and qualities of leadership, best reflects the purposeful achievement of Radcliffe Alumnae in every field around the world.

The John G. Reardon Men's Award: Jon Medley (Olympia, Wash.), Football
Established in 1987, this award is named in honor of John P. Reardon, Jr., '60, Director of Athletics from 1977 to 1990. This prize is presented annually to the senior varsity male athlete who exemplifies the qualities of excellent scholarship, character, leadership, and athletic ability.

The Harvard-Radcliffe Foundation for Women's Athletics Prize: Katie Golden (Simsbury, Conn.), Heavyweight Crew
Established by the Harvard-Radcliffe Foundation for Women's Athletics, this prize has awarded annually since 1986 to the senior woman who best exemplifies the qualities of excellent scholarship, character, leadership and athletic ability.

The Francis H. Burr Fund Prize: Brian Fiske (Andover, Mass.), Swimming and Diving
First awarded in 1918, this award is a scholarship fund established in memory of Francis H. Burr 1909 by his friends. It is awarded to a senior who combines as nearly as possible, Burr's remarkable qualities of character, leadership, scholarship, and athletic ability.

The Mary G. Paget Prize: Julia Kidder (Belmont, Mass.), Softball and Preethi Mukundan (Folsom, Calif.), Tennis
The Mary G. Paget Prize is awarded annually by the presidents of Radcliffe and Harvard in honor of Mary Guest Paget's many years of service as Director of Sports, Dance and Recreation at Radcliffe College. The prize was first established in 1975 and is awarded each year to the senior student who has contributed the most to women's athletics.

The Francis J. Toland Community Service Award: Charles Altchek (Rye, N.Y.), Soccer
This award was created in honor of former Senior Associate Director of Athletics Fran Toland, who retired in 2000 after 41 years of service to Harvard Athletics. The award is presented to the senior athlete who has made the most outstanding contribution to Harvard and its neighboring communities.

The John P. Fadden Award: Carle Stenmark (Denver, Colo.), Lacrosse
This award was established in 1966 in honor of the late John P. Fadden's service as an athletic trainer and friend to Harvard athletes for many years. The award is given annually to a senior student (varsity, junior varsity or intramural) who has overcome physical adversity to make a contribution to his/her team.

The Director’s Award: Charles Altchek (Rye, N.Y.), Soccer

The award was introduced this year to recognize the person who, through his or her pursuit of excellence and service to Harvard Athletics, has displayed exceptional leadership, character, integrity and commitment to education through athletics.