KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown University basketball players Ryan Connolly (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) and Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) were honored Tuesday night as the 2017 KU Senior Scholar-Athletes of the Year at KU's annual All-Sports Banquet at O'Pake Fieldhouse.
 
The duo marks the first-ever basketball players to win KU's Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards.
 
Connolly is the men's program's all-time leader in 3-pointers, having made 229 for his career. He also holds the school-record with 77 3-pointers in a season, as well as for 3-point percentage in a game. He scored 1,181 points in his career.
 
A business administration major, Connolly holds a 3.64 GPA and is five-time Dean's List honoree. A four-year starter, Connolly is a two-time All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Second Team selection, and was also named to the 2016 Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Media Organization's Team of the Year.
 
He is also a four-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete, three-time D2ADA Academic Achievement Award winner, and was named to the 2014 Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Media Organization's Scholar-Athlete Team.
 
Watson ranks in the top-eight in women's program history in multiple categories, including rebounds, scoring, field goals, blocks and free throws. A three-year starter, she was a 2016 All-PSAC East Second Team selection and a member of the 2017 Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Media Organization's Team of the Year. A business administration major with a 3.78 GPA, Watson has made the Dean's List in each of her seven semesters.
 
Watson closes her career ranked sixth in program history with 1,308 points, and fourth in rebounding with 783. She is a three-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete, two-time D2ADA Academic Achievement Award Winner and a member of the 2015 Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Media Organization's Scholar-Athlete Team.


Male Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year
 

Year	Winner
2005	Greg Fulkerson, Swimming
2006	Michael Baldwin, Football
2007	Jeff Craig, Baseball
2008	Tom Cressman, Football
2009	Scott Thomas, Swimming
2010	Ben Loht, Track and Field
2011	Jared Haas, Football
2012	Josh Smith, Football
2013	Kori Meshaw, Track & Field
2014	Rushi Amin, Tennis
2015	Brandon Martinez, Baseball
2016	Chad Barton, Football
2017	Ryan Connolly (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area), Basketball

 
Female Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Year	Winner
2005	Erin Livingston, Field Hockey/Softball
2006	Colleen Healey, Field Hockey
2007	Sarah Brandon, Volleyball
2008	Stephanie Williams, Cross-Country/Track
2009	Kelley Healey, Field Hockey
2010	Rohini Das, Tennis
2011	Lindsay Confer, Volleyball
2012	Stephanie Kearns, Swimming
2013	Brianna Risch, Volleyball
2014	Katie Oliveri, Soccer
2015	Colleen Smith, Softball
2016	Emma Sullivan, Track & Field
2017	Kelsey Watson (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton), Basketball