The Buffalo State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will honor its major award winners tonight at its annual awards banquet at the Holiday Inn - Amherst.

The honored guests at the banquet with include the MVP's from Buffalo State's Athletics teams as well as several major and memorial award winners.

Men's basketball player Joshua Becker (Hamburg/Frontier) was selected as the Hube Coyer Award recipient for outstanding career athletic accomplishments by a male. A two-time All-SUNYAC performer, Becker helped lead the Bengals to a SUNYAC Championship and NCAA Playoff appearance in 2003. He finished his three-year career as the 10th all-time leading scorer in the school’s 75-year varsity history with 1,202 points. Becker received the “Male Athlete of the Year” Award last year.

Women's hockey player Mary Keddie (Williamsville/Williamsville North) was chosen as the Ruth Houston Award for outstanding career athletic accomplishments by a female. She finished her career as the Buffalo State record holder in nearly every goaltending category. She was twice named ECAC West Goaltender of the Year, was the 2002-03 ECAC West Player of the Year, and was a three-time all-conference selection. Keddie finished her career with 2,665 saves. She earned the “Female Athlete of the Year” Award in 2002-03.

Men's basketball player Joshua Becker (Hamburg/Frontier) was named the "Male Athlete of the Year." The junior helped lead the Bengals to a SUNYAC Championship and an automatic bid in the NCAA Playoffs. A First Team All-SUNYAC selection and Second Team All-East Region performer, Becker was also named Most Valuable Player of the SUNYAC tournament. He led the Bengals is scoring averaging 18.9 points-per-game.

Men's sophomore track athlete Justin Muise (Kenmore/Kenmore West) was named the “Male Athlete of the Year” for his accomplishments during the 2003 outdoor season and the 2004 indoor season. A three-time SUNYAC and two-time New York State Champion, Muise broke the school’s 22-year-old record in the 400-meter indoor hurdles and the 17-year-old mark in the 400-meter indoor dash. Muise represented Buffalo State at the Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 400-meter dash this past March, placing 11th in the nation.

Women's soccer player Gina Monaco (Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls) and softball player Heidi Rammacher (Angola/Lakeshore) will share the “Female Athlete of the Year” honors. Monaco had a sensational sophomore season, as she broke Buffalo State records for goals and points in a season with 25 and 53 respectively. A Second Team All-SUNYAC selection, she finished 11th in the nation with 1.32 goals-per-game. After just two seasons, she is the Bengals' all-time leading scorer with 98 career points. Rammacher earned the honor based on her 2003 season. Also a sophomore, she led the team with a .372 batting average, 38 RBI, and eight homeruns, and led Buffalo State to a SUNYAC playoff appearance. An All-SUNYAC selection and an ECAC All-Star, she was also selected to the All-Academic All-District Second Team.

Women's volleyball player Krista Wierzbicki (Cheektowaga/Maryvale) will be honored as the Female Scholar Athlete, an award that honors the senior-athletes with the highest cumulative grade point average. A public communication major, she has maintained a 3.90 cumulative grade point average. Men’s track and field athlete Mike Taylor (Cheektowaga/Maryvale) will receive the Male Scholar Athlete Award. A computer information systems major, Taylor has a 3.43 grade point average.

Three memorial awards, the Daniel Walker Cross Country and the Robert Kissinger Swimming and Diving Awards, will also be presented to student-athletes from the respective sports who exemplify an outstanding work ethic and commitment to the team and college. Steve Cahoon (We/Orchard Park) will receive the Walker Award and Dave Papke (Woodlawn/St. Francis) will receive the Kissinger.

The final major award is the Golden Bengals Award, which recognizes the member of the college community who goes beyond his or her job description to assist the athletics department. This year's recipient is Mark Kent from the college's computing and technology services office.

The following is a list of the 2003-04 Buffalo State Athletics teams Most Valuable Players:

Men's Basketball: Joshua Becker (Hamburg/Frontier)

Women's Basketball: Monique Hanks (Liverpool/Liverpool)

Cheerleading: Laurie Anello (E. Amherst/Wil. North)

Men's Cross Country: Matt Kubiak (Lakeview/Frontier)

Women's Cross Country: Aleksandra Halin (Clarence/Clarence)

Football (Offense): Curtis Hathcock (Buffalo/Bennett)

Football (Defense): Michael Holbok (Williamsville/St. Joe's)

Football (Special Teams): Bo Sireika (Lackawanna/Lackawanna)

Men's Ice Hockey: Mark Yoder (Ft. Wayne, IN/Gaylord), Sean O'Connell (Buffalo/St. Francis)

Women's Ice Hockey: Emma Wadsworth (Arlington, VA/Yorktown)

Women's Lacrosse: Annie Tallchief (Perrysburg/Lakeshore)

Men's Soccer: Matt Ketchum (Churchville/Churchville-Chili)

Women's Soccer: Gina Monaco (Niagara Falls/Nia. Falls)

Softball: Liz Beiter (N. Tonawanda/N. Tonawanda)

Men's Swimming & Diving: Rich Gaczewski (N. Tonawanda/N. Tonawanda)

Women's Swimming & Diving: Mindy Wood (Middlesex/Middlesex)

Men’s Indoor Track & Field: Ken Ciolek (Limestone/Bradford Area)

Women's Indoor Track & Field: Mercedes Roper (Buffalo/City Honors)

Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Ken Ciolek (Limestone/Bradford Area)

Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Desi Gibson (Rochester/Edison Tech)

Women's Volleyball: Vicky Manos (Cheektowaga/Maryvale)