Bob McCloskey Insurance Awards MAAC Post-Graduate Scholarships
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ - Bob McCloskey Insurance, a corporate partner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), has awarded post-graduate scholarships to former Fairfield University women’s soccer player Ashley Small and former Manhattan College women’s tennis athlete Caitlin Bricketto.
As part of its agreement with the MAAC, Bob McCloskey Insurance provides post-graduate scholarships to two student-athletes from the league's member institutions. The intent of the scholarship is to promote and encourage academically and athletically accomplished student-athletes to continue their education by attending graduate school. As part of the selection process, the committee evaluates athletic and academic achievements, as well as campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership.
“Ashley and Caitlin are representative of the great student-athletes that MAAC has competing in the league, both in their sports and class work,” notes MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. “I am pleased that the league can provide them with financial support as they pursue their post-graduate studies and want to thank Bob McCloskey Insurance for their sponsorship of the scholarships.”
Small, was the first African-American women’s soccer student-athlete and team captain at Fairfield University. She served on the school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) all four years and maintained a 3.5 or higher GPA in seven out of eight semesters placing her on the Dean’s List from 2012 to 2015. On the field, Small graduated with 25 career goals which is tied for ninth on the Fairfield all-time list and netted 11 game winning tallies, the third best in program history. During a breakout junior year, she was named to the All-MAAC First team and the All-Tournament team, after scoring 13 goals including the game winner against Siena in the semifinals. In her last season, the co-captain was named the conference’s player of the week twice, tallying eight markers. She was also named to the All-MAAC Second Team this season. During her career, Small was a three time member of the MAAC Academic team and graduated with honors after registering a cumulative 3.68 GPA in accounting.
Bricketto was a four-year member of the Manhattan College women’s tennis team, serving as team captain during her senior season. In 2015, she received the Jasper Award, which goes to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative GPA. Bricketto was also the 2015 recipient of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Community Service Award. As president of the SAAC, she organized Manhattan’s first-ever student-athlete formal, which raised over $400 for Give Kids the World Foundation. She also coordinated the “Project Gameday” campaign in support of the Headstrong Foundation’s fight against cancer. Each team had a designated “Go Green” game where they wore green shoelaces and raised money for the cause. Among her other community service projects, Bricketto led the student-athlete Thanksgiving food drive and an ice cream social during finals week. In addition, Bricketto was the sole student-athlete representative on the nationwide search committee for Manhattan’s new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics during the 2013-14 academic year. She has also represented the College at the MAAC/NCAA conference in Orlando, Fla., as well as speaking to prospective students as an Open House ambassador. A 2015 Manhattan graduate with a degree in marketing, Bricketto is currently enrolled in the College’s MBA program. She is also the marketing graduate assistant for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
About Bob McCloskey Insurance
Bob McCloskey Insurance is a national leader in the intercollegiate sports insurance field, marketing and administrating accident plans for over 30 years. The company handles hundreds of clients throughout the country with all their sports insurance needs, including intercollegiate sports, uninsured and underinsured student athlete coverage, intramurals, summer camps and clinics, and special events coverage.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The MAAC, headquartered in Edison, N.J., consists of 11 member institutions: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University and Siena College. For more on the conference please visit, www.maacsports.com.