WESTWOOD, Mass. - The NEWMAC is pleased to announce the six men's sport institutional nominees for the annual NEWMAC Student-Athlete of the Year Award. The Student-Athlete of the Year Award focuses on the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
A selection committee made up of Athletic Directors, Senior Woman Administrators, Athletic Communicators and Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designees will review all nominees on an annual basis and select the NEWMAC's honorees.
The conference office will announce the 2023-2024 NEWMAC Student-Athlete of the Year recipient(s) on Wednesday, July 10.
The recipients of the 2023-2024 awards will become the NEWMAC's nominees for the Division III Commissioners Association Student-Athlete of the Year award and the NCAA Woman of the Year award.
2023-2024 NEWMAC Student-Athlete of the Year Nominees - Men's Sport
Eric Bottern, Babson College
Eric Bottern graduated Summa Cum Laude from Babson College in 2024, with a major in Business Analytics. He was named to the Dean’s List every semester and was a three-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honoree. Additionally, Bottern was both a College Sports Communicator Academic All-District and a USTFCCCA All-Academic selection in 2023 and 2024. He was selected as a Babson Class of 2024 Dr. Norm Govoni Scholar-Athlete of the Class.
A men’s track & field student-athlete, Bottern was an All-American in the shot put in his senior season, finishing eighth at the NCAA Championship, and was the New England shotput champion in 2023 and 2024. The NEWMAC shotput champion, and discus all-conference honoree was named the 2024 NEWMAC Co-Field Athlete of the Year. He was the first Babson athlete to earn the accolade.
Off the field, Bottern was a member of the Babson Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for all four years of his collegiate career. He was also a member of the Babson Real Estate Club.
Max Gitlin, Clark University
Max Gitlin graduated from Clark University in 2024 and will attend Northeastern University for graduate school in the fall of 2024. He was named to the Dean’s List in the Spring of 2022 and 2024. Gitlin was awarded the Fred Herbert Trophy for outstanding contribution to the Clark University men’s athletic program in 2024.
A baseball student-athlete, Gitlin was a first team All-NEWMAC selection in 2023, and a second team selection in 2024. He was also an All-Region and All-Defensive selection in 2023. Gitlin was a member of the London Mets in the European Federation Cup in the Summer of 2022. He was awarded the Clark University Male Athlete of the Year in 2023.
Off the field, Gitlin interned with the Worcester District Attorney’s Office and was the President of the Clark Investment and Trading Society.
Tobe Obochi, MIT
Tobe Obochi is a 2024 graduate of MIT, where he earned a degree in Computer Science and Engineering, with minors in Economics and Mathematics. Obochi is a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-American and a three-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honoree. He won the MIT Howard W. Johnson Award in 2024, presented to the top male student-athlete.
A men’s swimming and diving student-athlete, Obochi has won two individual NCAA National Championships, taking the 50 Freestyle crown in 2024, and the 100 Freestyle in 2022. He was also a member of two relay champions, the 200 and 400 freestyles. He has amassed 14 All-American honors. Obochi has helped the Engineers to three straight NEWMAC titles (with one year missing due to COVID) and has been named the NEWMAC Swimmer of the Year three times.
Outside of the pool, Obochi was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, and The Standard, a program designed to holistically support the academic, personal, and professional success of MIT's undergraduate men of Color. He also served as an MIT tour guide.
Arsen Shtefan, Springfield College
Arsen Shtefan is a 2024 graduate of Springfield College, earning a degree in Sport Management, with a minor in Business Management. He was a three-time NEWMAC All-Academic team selection and a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American selection in 2023 for the sport of football.
Shtefan was a two-time All-ECAC selection, and a 2024 D3football.com All-Region first-team selection. The fullback helped the Pride to three NEWMAC regular season crowns, never losing a conference game in his career. He was awarded the 2023 New England Football Writers Association Gold Helmet Award, presented to the player who was deemed the most valuable player in Division III.
Off the field, Shtefan took part in various community service initiatives, including Bikes4Kids, Revitalisation of Springfield and Be the Match.
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Suppakorn Suppasuesanguan, Springfield College
Suppakorn Suppasuesanguan is a 2024 graduate of Springfield College, with a double major in Finance and Accounting. He graduated Summa Cum Laude and earned NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honors in 2023 and 2024, as well as College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors in 2023.
He also earned the Sigma Beta Delta Award, an international honor society that recognizes academic achievement and encourages scholarship among students in business, management, and administration.
As a men’s soccer student-athlete, Suppasuesanguan was a NEWMAC second team All-Conference selection in 2023 and was honored on the NEWMAC Sportsmanship team. He also represented Thailand on the National team in numerous Cups.
Off the field, Suppasuesanguan was a member of the Springfield Student-Athlete Leadership Team, and the Pride Leadership Program. |
Charles Norman, U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Charles Norman is a 2024 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, earning a degree in Cyber Systems, and graduating Summa Cum Laude. He was a Provost’s List recipient for each of his four years.
As a men’s tennis student-athlete, the co-captain earned All-NEWMAC honors as both a singles player and doubles team from 2021 through 2024.
In his senior year, Norman interned with the Transborder Directorate of the National Security
Council, where he assisted with monitoring the effects of legislation on the rate of migration into the U.S. via the Southern border and developed a strategy to communicate on a broad scale more effectively to potential refugees. |
About the NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime (Football) and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.