MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Kiwanis Club of Utica held its 36^th annual recognition banquet honoring local student-athletes from six colleges and universities at Club Monarch in Yorkville. Of those honored were SUNY Morrisville senior's Logyn Nyitrai (Acton, Ont.) and Evan Salvaggio (Geneseo, N.Y.).
 
SUNY Morrisville athletics selected both student-athletes for their excellence in their sport, in the classroom and within the community.
 
"The event at the Kiwanis Awards the past few years has been incredibly rewarding," said Matt Grawrock, SUNY Morrisville Director of Athletics.
 
"We get to interact with our collegiate peers in the area, and it's a wonderful night to celebrate student-athletes who have demonstrated accomplishment in so many different ways.
 
"Our nominees were no different, and it was great to be represented by Logyn and Evan. They are great examples of what it means to be a student-athlete. It is an honor to work with them and their coaches, and it was great to see them honored by the Kiwanis Club of Utica."
 
Nyitrai was a four-year defenseman for the Mustangs women's hockey team, serving as assistant captain the past two seasons. Across her career, she appeared in 92 games and collected a total 12 points on one goal and 11 assists.
 
Aside from her time on the ice, the Acton, Ontario native also played women's lacrosse for two seasons, where she was a two-time second team All-Conference honoree and member of the 2021 squad that claimed the North East Athletic Conference title and NCAA bid.
 
Excelling in the classroom with multiple academic accolades that includes SUNYAC Commissioner's List honors, off the competitive field, Nyitrai has been actively engaged in service to the community through the women's hockey program. For the past two seasons, her commitment to others has benefited organizations such as Make-A-Wish Foundation that has made a direct impact within the local and surrounding community with children battling against and overcoming critical illnesses.
 
Nyitrai has been a four-year representative for the Mustangs on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), serving as president this past year and providing leadership to fellow student-athletes throughout the academic year. She has been a part of several community service initiatives, focusing on the betterment of the student-athlete experience and ties to the local community.
 
Salvaggio was a two-time captain for the Mustangs football program and is a three-time Empire 8 All-Conference honoree, also serving as one of the program's representatives on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
 
This past season, the senior from Geneseo, N.Y., dominated the secondary for Morrisville defensively, boasting a league best 90 tackles on the season across 10 regular season games.
 
In addition, he registered three tackles for a loss of nine-yards, broke up six passes, registered a forced fumble and recovered another. He ranked third overall in the Empire 8 in solo stops, and is first in tackles per game, with a 9.0 per game average.
 
Salvaggio's efforts on the field assisted the Mustangs in the 2024 Robert M. "Scotty" Whitelaw Bowl title, alongside a 7-4 overall record come final whistle.
 
Across his career, Salvaggio appeared in 38 games on defense, collected a total three interceptions for 144 total yards, made a total 289 tackles, 153 of which were solo stops, while also posting 12 tackles for a loss of 21 yards. In addition, he's defended 13 passes, forced two fumbles and recovered another three.
 
Maintaining a stellar academic status, he has been a constant on the college's Dean's List, as well as earned Empire 8 Presidents' List accolades.
 
Aside from his athletic and academic prowess, Salvaggio has been an active participant in several community service initiatives with the Mustangs, including local food pantry drives, mentorship programs with the local elementary school, and "Be the Match" bone marrow drives.
 
His involvement has created several positive relationships throughout the local and surrounding communities, as well as had a significant impact on the lives of others.
 
This is the fourth consecutive year Morrisville athletics has had student-athletes honored by the Kiwanis Club in Utica.
 
SUNY Morrisville's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
 
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2023 issue and earned additional recognition in Top Public Schools Regional Colleges (North). For more information about SUNY Morrisville, visit www.morrisville.edu.
 
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