BC Athletics Honors Excellence at Golden Eagles Awards Show

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — The annual Golden Eagles Awards Show was held on Friday, April 25 in Conte Forum, celebrating and recognizing the best of the best in the community, the classroom, and in competition in Boston College Athletics during the 2024-25 academic year.

The night was highlighted by the presentation of the Eagle of the Year Awards - Donovan Ezeiruaku from football and Julia Haggerty from volleyball. Presented annually to the most outstanding male and female student-athletes, the Eagle of the Year Awards are selected using the following criteria:

• Documented achievement in their respective sport
• National or conference accomplishments and recognition
• Leadership ability
• Involvement in helping others on their team or the program at large
• Involvement in community service
• Anticipated academic achievement
• Citizenship

After an outstanding 2024 season, Ezeiruaku became the 13th player in Boston College Football history to be named a consensus All-American, earning First Team honors by the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, and Sporting News. He was a Second Team All-American pick by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. The standout defensive end became BC's first All-American since the 2022 season and was the first Eagle to be a consensus All-American since 2013.

The 2024 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-ACC selection, Ezeiruaku led all of NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players in total sacks, finishing the regular season with a total of 16.5 sacks. His 1.38 sacks per game average was also tops in the FBS. His 16.5 sacks also tied for Boston College's single-season record, as he posted at least one sack in eight games and two or more in six games.

Ezeiruaku led Boston College with 80 tackles during the 2024 season, including a team-best 20.5 tackles for a loss, which also ranked second nationally in the FBS.

The Williamstown, New Jersey product was a national semifinalist for the Bednarik, Lombardi, and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards. Locally, he claimed the Bulger Lowe Award from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston and the Season Gold Helmet Award from the New England Football Writers.

Off the field, Ezeiruaku is active in the community. He has volunteered at the Allston/Brighton Food Pantry and with visits to the Boston Public Schools, while also playing an active role with the football program's partnership with Team Impact.

A two-time member of the All-ACC Academic Football team, Ezeiruaku earned his degree in management from BC's Carroll School of Management in December 2024.

Haggerty finished her Boston College Volleyball career as one of the top players in program history, re-writing the record books for both the NCAA and Boston College. The middle blocker led all of NCAA Division I during the 2024 regular season with 223 total blocks. Her 1.91 blocks per set average set a new NCAA single-season statistical record, within the 25-point scoring era. Her block total of 223 ranked her fourth all-time in the NCAA for a single-season.

She finished her stellar Boston College career with 547 total blocks - averaging 1.44 blocks per set over the last four seasons - while also tallying 500 career kills and a .383 career hitting percentage.

This past season, Haggerty became only the second player in BC Volleyball history to earn First Team All-Region honors by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Originally from Lafayette, California, Haggerty was also selected to the 2024 All-ACC Second Team.

During her four seasons, Boston College tallied 75 wins - including the 2022 National Invitational Volleyball Championship title. It is the winningest four-year span in Boston College volleyball history.

Outside of competition, Haggerty has participated in BC's annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day clinics, as well as several other community initiatives including working with the Campus School and Team Impact.

A seven-time Boston College Dean's List honoree, Haggerty is a three-time ACC Volleyball All-Academic team and three-time ACC Honor Roll selection. She will earn her degree in management, with concentrations in marketing and operations management from BC's Carroll School of Management.

2025 Golden Eagles Awards

ACC Top Six for Service
Each year, the ACC honors six student-athletes at each of its member institutions who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to community service and outreach programs
Winners: Ismael Zamor, Football; Michaela O'Connor, Lacrosse; Meghan Schouten, Softball; Kara Goulding, Women's Hockey; Juliette Hijdra, Field Hockey; Bryce Copeland-Del Toro, Men's Soccer

Richard "Moe" Maloney Award
Presented to the top student-athletes or team who have utilized their abilities in unselfish service to others, creating a community of caring action.
Winners: Ava McNeil, Women's Soccer and Alex McNabb, Men's Skiing

Devlin Saint Ignatius Cup
Presented to the Varsity team the accumulates the highest number of community outreach and service hours.
Winner: Sailing

Scholar-Athlete Achievement Award
Presented to the top male and female student-athlete from each class based on a combination of grade-point average, outreach, and athletic achievement.
Freshmen: Henry Krehbiel, Men's Skiing and Kaitlyn Cole, Women's Lacrosse
Sophomores: Brendan Peary, Sailing and Sierra Ross, Rowing
Juniors: Owen Pett, Men's Track and Field and Chloe Wilkinson, Rowing
Seniors: Max McQuide, Men's Track and Field and Kelly Scott, Women's Swimming
Graduate Students: Brian Xu, Men's Golf and Weibke Willebrandt, Women's Soccer

Outstanding Faculty Award
Honors a faculty member who is distinguished by a demonstrated commitment to teaching and to fostering intellectual and personal growth of Boston College students.
Winner: Monsignor Liam Bergin, Theology Department

Academic Advisors Award for Achievement
Presented to the male and female senior student athlete who best exemplify the spirit of hard work resulting in academic success and improved academic progress throughout their time at BC
Winners: Bryce Steele, Football and Katie Pyne, Women's Ice Hockey

Academic Advisors for Excellence
Presented annually to the male and female with the highest grade-point average of all student-athletes
Winners: Eero Helenius, Men's Track and Field and Ella Richards, Women's Soccer

ACC Scholar-Athlete Award
In 2007, the ACC established the Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards to recognize academic achievement and athletic accomplishment. Boston College's nominees for the award were recognized tonight
Winners: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Football and Rachel Clark, Women's Lacrosse

Ignite Award
Presented to the person(s) outside Boston College who has contributed most to the BC athletic community with great impact
Winner: Ernie Rozzi, Crazy Dough's Pizza

Outstanding Staff or Administrator Award
Honors an Athletics staff or administrator who is distinguished by a demonstrated commitment to promoting holistic development of Boston College student-athletes
Winner: Aaron Clark, Associate Director of Athletic Training

SAAC Award
Presented to the student athlete who has committed themselves to enhancing the mission of SAAC of being the student athletes' voice and vehicle for helping to improve student athlete welfare and experience at Boston College, in the ACC and at the National level. This student athlete has gone above and beyond to create and contribute to the success of SAAC initiatives student athlete representation and creating a positive student athlete community.
Winner: Keri Clougherty, Women's Hockey

Unsung Hero Award
Presented to the person who goes above and beyond to enhance Boston College Athletics and those around them
Winner: Elizabeth Kirk, Lacrosse

Rising Leader Award
Presented to the male and female underclassmen (freshman, sophomore, or junior) student-athlete that is selected as the outstanding leader, athlete, student, and citizen
Winners: Matthew Overveld, Men's Tennis and Paige Roby, Sailing

Rookie of the Year Award
Presented to the most athletically outstanding freshmen male and female student-athletes
Winners: Teddy Stiga, Men's Hockey and Lauren Glaser, Women's Hockey

Most Valuable Player Award
Presented to a male and female student-athlete, regardless of class year, who has demonstrated high-level performance, contributing to his or her team's success
Winners: Bode Flanigan, Men's Skiing and Charlotte Kramer, Field Hockey

BC Athletics Honors Excellence at Golden Eagles Awards Show

Players Mentioned

Rachel Clark

Keri Clougherty

Kaitlyn Cole

Bryce Copeland-Del Toro

Donovan Ezeiruaku

Bode Flanigan

Lauren Glaser

Kara Goulding

Julia Haggerty

Eero Helenius

Juliette Hijdra

Elizabeth Kirk

Charlotte Kramer

Henry Krehbiel

Alex McNabb

Ava McNeil

Max McQuide

Michaela O'Connor

Matthew Overvelde

Brendan Peary

Owen Pett

Katie Pyne

Ella Richards

Paige Roby

Sierra Ross

Meghan Schouten

Kelly Scott

Bryce Steele

Teddy Stiga

Chloe Wilkinson

Wiebke Willebrandt

Brian Xu

Ismael Zamor