Student-Athletes Receive Awards for Excellence 

The Northampton Community College (NCC) Athletic Department recently honored a group of student-athletes with several awards for their prowess in and out of the classroom. 

The NCC Athletic Department announced Kailen Felty (women’s volleyball) and Luke Velekei (men's wrestling) as the recipients of the Outstanding Athlete Award. This award is presented annually by the Northampton Alumni Association to the athletes who have demonstrated excellent athletic ability. Nominees must have a minimum of a 2.30 overall GPA. 
 
Felty helped to lead the Spartans to the Region 19 Final Four. She was named First Team All-Region, First Team All-Conference and was a member of the Region 19 All-Academic Team. 
Felty guided the Spartans to a top 10 national ranking and a NJCAA tournament birth in 2023. 
 
Velekei was a member of the inaugural NCC men's wrestling team, which debuted in January 2025. He went on to win the NJCAA Gulf Atlantic District Championship at 184, earning All-Region Honors and a trip to the NJCAA National Championships. Velekei was named a NWCA Scholar All-American after qualifying for the National Tournament and achieving a minimum of a 3.25 GPA. 

Ethan Sakwa (men’s basketball), Mackenzie Davis (women’s volleyball and softball) and Leanna Angelone (women’s volleyball and basketball) are the recipients of the 2024-25 Charles H. Groman Award. The award is presented annually to student-athletes who have demonstrated courage, spirit and performance in athletics. Nominees must have a minimum of a 2.30 overall GPA. 
 
All three of the recipients played key roles within the athletic department during their time at Northampton, "These three student-athletes gave selflessly of their time to help us whenever we needed it," remarked Associate Director of Athletics, Adrian Yaguez. "I knew I could always count on them. All three were outstanding athletes, students and members of the college community." 
 
Molly Devers (women’s softball) and Zach Franges (men’s volleyball) have been named the recipients of the William F. Bearse Scholar-Athlete Award for 2024-25. This award is presented to the student-athletes who combine an outstanding cumulative grade point average with athletic success. Nominees should have completed at least 3 full-time semesters at Northampton. The award is named in the memory of long-time Northampton Athletic Director and Coach, Mr. Bill Bearse. 

Franges, with a GPA of 3.94, is a single season record holder for assists with 810 and a career record holder for assists with 1462. Devers, with a GPA of 3.99, is a Second Team All-Region selection who batted .453 with 7 doubles and 14 stolen bases.  
 
To see all award winners from previous years and more ifnormaiton on atheltics at NCC, visit https://www.nccspartans.com/