SASP Announces Annual Kinsman and Courage Award Winners

The Student-Athlete Success Program offers two annual awards each highly prestigious in their own ways, the Courage Award, and the Kinsman Award.

The Donald Kinsman Award is a longstanding award named after the original director of the Student Athlete Success Program (formerly known as the Counseling Program for Intercollegiate Athletes). It is given annually in recognition of holistic development with respect to academic achievement and/or improvement, athletic achievement and/or improvement, leadership, service, and evidence of character.

The Courage Award is given to a Husky who exemplifies courage in his or her own handling of personal challenge or adversity, or demonstrates courageous citizenship through support of his or her peers or community in a formidable situation.

This year, the Student Athlete Success Program celebrates 2021 Kinsman Award winners, Reese Guevarra and Omar Gebril and Courage Award winners, Randy Polonia and Olivia Sappington.

Reese Guevarra – 2021 Kinsman Award

Reese Guevarra is the all-around Husky.

A senior student-athlete from softball, Reese is nothing short of exceptional. Entering UConn with a pre-med focus, Reese explored various courses and found an interest in Psychology where she will soon earn a Bachelor's Degree (Research Track) and maintains a 3.971 major GPA.

Reese has continuously excelled throughout her UConn career earning 3 consecutive perfect 4.0 semesters since the Fall 2019. She has been repeatedly recognized for her academic prowess by the Division of Athletics, the University, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, and our affiliated athletic conferences. In the summer of 2020, Reese was able to pursue an executive internship opportunity she initiated through the Office of Student-Athlete Development's Husky Career Night.

Reese represented the Philippines in the Olympic Qualifier with the Women's National Softball Team in the Fall 2019 term where she studied for a portion of the semester remotely, while remaining highly engaged in each course, communicative with her instructors and peers, and earned a perfect 4.0 while navigating various challenges. Prior to the Olympic Qualifier opportunity, Reese additionally competed in the World Cup of Softball XII, the Canada Cup, and the Jr. Women's World Championship.

Reese has developed into an exceptional leader and represents her team as a member of the Leadership Council. She is arguably one of our hardest working student-athletes, and maintains a focus, resilience, and optimism through every change, challenge, obstacle, and opportunity thrown her way. In the 2021 season, Reese has been looked to help lead a young team around her and has stepped into the role well. She currently leads her team in batting average, hits, doubles, total bases, and recently helped her team break the single-season stolen base record previously set in 1996.

Reese has been actively involved in community outreach initiatives including in her role as a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee team representative, the Goal Line Project, Husky Star Kids, and Husky Reads as well as a teammate through Team IMPACT and additional team and Division-wide programming.

Reese is respected by all students and staff, and is a stellar representation of UConn and the Division of Athletics. Her passion, dedication, and personal standard of excellence are admirable. Her kindness and authenticity radiate across our UConn community and make us better every day. She exemplifies the role of a student-athlete and the SASP staff takes tremendous pride in awarding her the 2021 recipient of the Donald Kinsman Award.

Omar Gebril - 2021 Kinsman Award

Omar Gebril is a graduating senior student-athlete from Men's Track and Field. He has achieved remarkable success over his 4-year career, most recently in celebrating his acceptance into a graduate program in Mental Health Counseling with a focus on social justice. Omar has been a highly engaged student over his four year career. He will be graduating with a double major in Psychological Sciences and Arabic and Islamic Civilizations and has been recognized for his academic success by the Division of Athletics, University, and affiliated conferences.

Omar has been a tremendous advocate over his tenure. An executive board member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Omar has served as a co-chair for the Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee as well as on the Division of Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He has represented himself, his team, the Division, and the University in various speaking engagements throughout his tenure. In an effort to bring together his peers when social distancing has been critical, Omar committed to hosting an outdoor movie night, following all COVID-related protocol and working with the various University offices needed to host the outdoor event in the Fall term.

In the community, Omar has dedicated time to Husky Star Kids, Husky Reach, and various SAAC initiatives including SAAC'O'Lantern, Mental Health Awareness Week, and others.

Athletically, Omar began his career as a walk-on. He is primarily a 400-meter and 800-meter runner who has succeeded at the Conference and Regional level while continuing to improve throughout his career as he has PRed on multiple occasions. Most recently, Omar has been named as a team captain for the 2021 Outdoor Track and Field season.

Omar is an authentic, passionate leader, is an absolute model Husky, and the SASP staff is honored to name him a 2021 Donald Kinsman Award recipient.

Randy Polonia - 2021 Courage Award

To watch a student overcome hardships is inspirational. It is what we look for in every success story. It is what makes us finally exhale when challenge after challenge was the student's history. To be nominating Randy Polonia for an award in his 6^th year is an honor and celebration of his successes in the face of adversity.

Randy's career began with promise; he made 26 appearances and was the team's closer as a freshman… and then he got hurt. Tommy John surgery kept him out of his sophomore year followed by a LAT tear as a junior. Returning in his 4^th year, Randy struggled to find his groove and saw action in 12 games that season. Entering his 5^th year, Randy started to show his strength in different ways. In situations where he could have walked away, Randy stepped up. He focused on growth. Things were looking up. And then COVID hit the world and everything stopped.

Having an opportunity ahead for a sixth year, Randy was looking forward to a full season in a Husky uniform. Entering that sixth year, Randy was in a terrifying car accident. He was a passenger in a vehicle that was speeding and crashed into a tree. Randy had to climb through the broken rear windshield while the car was on fire. He didn't yet know he had a dislocated hip. A nearby resident helped pull him to safety. The car then exploded.

Second-degree burns started appearing on various parts of his body. The scars are still healing nearly a year later. Randy spent six days in the hospital, nearly a month in bed, several weeks rehabilitating, learning how to walk again with the assistance of a walker, and has not only returned to school, but is pitching this season. Tragically, the driver of the vehicle passed away from his injuries two weeks after the crash.

Randy has certainly shown mental strength. His physical strength and related efforts recently earned him a nomination to the National Strength and Conditioning Association's All-American squad.

Randy has stepped into a leadership role and shows his younger teammates pathways to success. He is very much a leader by example. While Randy faced hurdles throughout his undergraduate career, what has had the greatest impact is Randy's willingness to keep fighting, to overcome, to challenge, and to show up... with Courage.

Olivia Sappington - 2021 Courage Award

ACL tear. Knee surgery (#1). Infection. Knee surgery (#2). Complications. Knee surgery (#3). Near amputation.

And then she went to college.

Business Management major. National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Academic Team. ACL tear. Knee surgery (#4). Redshirt.

Complications. Knee surgery (#5). Digital Analytics minor. Two time team captain.

Olivia Sappington's story of perseverance is film-worthy. She's got the setbacks, the grit, the determination, the disappointment, and the rally cry to hook any sports fan, parent, coach, or young athlete into following the plot to see the hero celebrate at the end.

Olivia spent her first two years presented with defeat after defeat. At times she was broken; her spirit shattered behind closed doors and her frustration beyond capacity. She wanted to excel in the classroom. She wanted to lead her team on the field. She wanted to go to graduate school. With repeated surgeries, being hundreds of miles from home, and being uncertain of the next day, let alone the next years, she could have easily decided enough was enough. But… that's not "Sapp."

Sapp has demonstrated steadfast leadership in the face of tremendous adversity through her irrefutable conviction to improve, her classroom performance, and her connection with others. As she advanced in year 3, she started to find her stride… very much literally as her injuries healed, but also through her leadership, her role within her team, expectations of her coaches, and found tremendous confidence in her academic pathway. She gained trust in the process both athletically and academically, understood how she could contribute in all areas, and felt supported along the way. She was a captain; a role player.

In Sapp's fourth year, she was tested mentally and professionally in unprecedented ways. She was forced to explore her identity as a leader, and was challenged to lead differently. Olivia used this challenge to seek advice and education from various sources and has continuously grown in her leadership. When COVID hit and abruptly ended the season, Sapp continued to look ahead. She graduated. She was admitted to UConn's graduate program in Public Administration. She was ready for what was next.

It turns out, what was next was a nightmare. Just prior to the season, Olivia tore her ACL again. This is her fourth ACL tear and ended her season before it had a chance to begin. Rather than call it, Sapp decided to keep going. She recently had another ACL reconstruction (#6) and is on the road to recovery in a designated hitter role for the '22 season. She has previously led the team in homeruns and been recognized for her athletic and academic performances through the team's conferences, the NFCA, and the Division of Athletics.

Olivia is engaged in numerous outreach events, connecting with area elementary and middle schools, and has been a pillar of positivity for her Team IMPACT teammate. She extends her leadership mindset to her role as President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee where she spearheads events and opportunity for her peers. Olivia additionally serves on the Undergraduate Student Government and is on the Dean of Students Advisory Board.

Olivia brings perspective, a constant willingness to learn, and a competitive spirit to all she pursues. She is continuing her personal, scholastic, and professional growth while bringing her kind-hearted, funny, engaging, nature with her. In the face of obstacle after obstacle, Olivia has found fortitude and opportunity. It is an honor to recognize Olivia Sappington as a 2021 Courage Award recipient.

University of Connecticut Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Omar Gebril

Reese Guevarra

Randy Polonia

Olivia Sappington

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