SAN FRANCISCO – Continuing its yearly tradition, the seventh installment of the ARTYs Awards united Academy of Art University student-athletes, coaches, and staff to celebrate accomplishments from the 2019-20 season. Held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the end-of-the-year YouTube presentation recognized Urban Knights from all 14 teams and featured honors for community service, academics, and athletic excellence.
 
Continuing a tradition started in 2016, members from the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee played a major role in the ceremony hosting and presenting awards throughout the premiere.

The show's first ARTY went to men's track & field for their extraordinary efforts in serving the community and giving back to San Francisco. The team averaged 24 hours per player for a total of more than 515 combined hours, earning them the highest total among all NCAA Division II men's track & field teams on Helper Helper, the NCAA's official volunteer management platform, and the Community Service Award.

The first individual awards presented were the ARTYs for the Highest Male and Female Student-Athlete Grade Point Averages from the past two semesters. Men's and women's cross country/track & field were represented in both as Nicolas Boffman was selected after offering a 3.81 GPA in the School of Communications & Media Technologies and Jasmine Becker earned the other honor after a 3.96 in the School of Fashion Design. The ARTY for Highest Team GPA went to women's tennis who collectively delivered a 3.35 GPA over the last two semesters.

"I would like to congratulate not only my team, but the rest of the teams on being able to achieve success during these times, especially when we transitioned from on site to online learning," said Baca. "I also want to thank all the professors from Academy of Art that make this possible. Since day one, we talked about what the team priorities were and we said that we wanted to make sure that we achieved the award of highest GPA in the athletic department. I'm so happy that we were able to get it. We combined for a 3.35 GPA, but I think next year our goal is going to be a 3.5. We're definitely going to defend that award and we are determined to keep that award with this team as long as I am the head coach of this program."

Introduced in 2015, two more awards were announced that focused on "servant leadership" or one's responsibility to serve as a positive role model for others in all aspects of life. The gender-specific honors were named after two individuals dedicated to this concept, inaugural Director of Athletics Dr. Jamie Williams and former Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator Meghan Bushnell. Each for their work in the community, dedication to their craft in the classroom, and inspirational athletic efforts, baseball's Matthew Sanchez was bestowed the Dr. Jamie Williams Male Servant Leadership Award and Tayler Bennett of women's basketball received the Meghan Bushnell Female Servant Leadership Award. Sanchez dedicated more than 23 community service hours while Bennett worked more than 22 community service hours.

"I am truly grateful and appreciative of being selected for the Meghan Bushnell Female Servant Leadership Award," said Bennett. "I am lucky to have made such a large impact on my team and within the ART U community after only attending the school for one year. I came into this year making it a goal for myself to set and be example for my teammates and for those who we recruited for the future. I wanted to be a leader for my team and my community in every aspect of my life, whether it was sports, school, community, family and friends, etc. I would also like to recognize my coach, Krystle Evans, who is the prime example of what a leader and servant is. She demonstrates and lives by her values every day and shows us how a strong woman in a leadership position should be. Without her, I would not have had the opportunity to be at this school and to be receiving this award, so I am very thankful and grateful for her and the opportunity she presented me with. Being a leader is all about the type of mental attitude you bring to any task. A positive attitude will invoke others to gravitate to and follow and will result in positive results. I aspire to continue being a leader long after my ART U career, throughout every aspect of my life."

The various Most Valuable Player honors were assigned by the respective head coaches and the men's side included Cannon Secrist (baseball), Charlie Messai (cross country), Julius Kreutzer (golf), Gilli Kristjansson (soccer), James Young (track & field), and Stefan Milivojevic (basketball). In addition to the All-PacWest Team honors, high statistical rankings, and impressive individual performances among the recipients, Milivojevic led the way by breaking five program records this past season.

"Being named team MVP is proof that I am on a right path and that all obstacles and challenges that we are facing can be solved by hard work, sacrifice, being a team leader, and a coachable player," said Milivojevic. "When I play, I demand a lot from myself and I strive to set an example to other teammates so they can follow. All of that leads to team success which is our common goal."

On the women's side, the respective head coaches selected Hasna Kaarour (cross country), Anahi Servin (golf), Tayler Bennett (basketball), Mariacristina Andrisani (tennis), Ombretta Picciolie Minkue Meye (track & field), Natalia Novak (track & field), Dominique Seva'aetasi (softball), Carly Evetts (volleyball), and Anissa Wilson (soccer). Amid a collection of student-athletes featuring multiple All-Americans, regional honorees, and statistical leaders, Wilson's seven goals in her first four matches propelled her to break five program records as well.

"Being the last year of my collegiate career, I wanted to do my absolute best," said Wilson. "This team has come so far in these last two years. When I got here, I wanted to make sure that I was able to leave a mark in this program. This team helped me break every record that was broken. Without my teammates, I wouldn't have been able to do the things I did. We grew stronger this year and, next year, they are going to be even better. They are a solid group of amazing student-athletes and I look forward to seeing how they do in the following years. I am so proud of this team and everything we accomplished. We did it together."

Full list of ARTYs winners below:
 

Community Service Award	Men's Track & Field
Best Individual GPA	Nicolas Boffman (MXC/MT&F) & Jasmine Becker (WXC/WT&F)
Best Team GPA	Women's Tennis
Dr. Jamie Williams Male Servant Leadership Award	Matthew Sanchez (BASE)
Meghan Bushnell Female Servant Leadership Award	Tayler Bennett (WBB)
Male Team MVPs	Cannon Secrist (BASE), Stefan Milivojevic (MBB), Charlie Messai (XC), Julius Kreutzer (MG), Gilli Kristjansson (SOC), James Young (T&F)
Female Team MVPs	Hasna Kaarour (XC), Anahi Servin (WG), Tayler Bennett (WBB), Anissa Wilson (SOC), Mariacristina Andrisani (WT), Ombretta Picciolie Minkue Meye (T&F), Natalia Novak (T&F), Dominique Seva'aetasi (SB), Carly Evetts (VB)