Albany, N.Y. � University at Albany Director of Athletics and Recreation Lee McElroy announced today that Emil Bove, Theresa Masse and Alissa Gibbs have been chosen to receive Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Merit Medals. The awards are presented annually to the school�s top senior male and female student-athletes who have shown excellence in the classroom and as competitive athletes during the academic year.

Bove, a captain on the men�s lacrosse team, posted a 4.00 cumulative grade point average in a dual major of public policy and economics. He recently received the University�s Outstanding Senior Award, and has also earned the Chancellor�s Award and Athletes Leadership Award. Bove, who has interned with the New York State Energy & Development Authority and with state senator Michael Nozzolio and state assemblyman Sam Hoyt, was the 2001-02 America East Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He was also voted to the Verizon Academic All-American national second-team.

Bove, a starting defenseman from Seneca Falls, N.Y., led the Great Danes to the 2003 America East Conference championship. Albany made its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance in any sport at the Division I level against Princeton. Bove, who was named to the America East all-tournament squad, has 40 ground balls on a defense that is allowing 9.33 goals per game.

Masse and Gibbs share the female award. Masse, who earned first-team All-America East honors as a lacrosse defender, has a 3.68 GPA in psychology with a dual minor in education and sociology. She ranks among the conference leaders in ground balls at 2.94 per game and finished seventh on the school�s all-time list with 179. A native of Liverpool, N.Y., Masse was the 2001-02 America East Scholar-Athlete in women�s lacrosse and a member of the IWLCA national academic team. She will pursue a master�s degree in elementary education.

Gibbs '03, from Ballston Lake, N.Y., has a 3.55 GPA in computer science with a minor in mathematics. She was named first-team All-America East Conference in volleyball as an outside hitter for the second straight year. Gibbs, who was fourth among the conference leaders with a 3.76 kill average, finished her career second in kills (1,376) and fourth in digs (992) on the school�s all-time lists. She received the 2001 America East Scholar-Athlete in women�s volleyball and is a two-time Verizon District I all-academic selection. She has worked in software development and data input and plans a career in web.

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