Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Athletic News Release

June 17, 2009

The 2009 recipients of the prestigious Dale B. Lake Presidential Award have been named.  This award is a yearly endeavor that honors KVCC’s founding President, Dale B. Lake, by giving annual recognition to outstanding student-athletes at KVCC.  Exceptional academic achievement, outstanding athletic contribution, and evidence of uncommon leadership and character are among the criteria for this award. 

This year the lady recipient is Katelyn Bryce.  The male recipient is Evan Supernant.

Bryce  is a 2006 graduate of Watervliet High School.  She has achieved a 3.96 grade point average while passing 67 credit hours and earning an Associate of Arts Degree from KVCC.  Katelyn plans to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree with Secondary Education certification at Western Michigan University. 

Katelyn is the daughter of Curt and Kim Bryce.  As a result of her demonstration of leadership skills, Katelyn was selected as a Team Captain this past season.  Batting .430, she earned First Team All Conference honors while becoming KVCC’s MVP.  She had 4 doubles, 5 triples, and 4 home runs on this year’s 29-17 squad.  Katelyn also won the prestigious Alfie Award for outstanding attitude while attending KVCC.

Katelyn earned Academic All Conference and Academic All State recognition, and her plaudits keep coming as she recently received Distinguished Academic All American honors from the NJCAA. 

Katelyn did not play much as a freshman, making her on-the-field accomplishments even more remarkable.  Coach Mike Clark calls her “the best worker I have had at KVCC.”  She hit from the left side this season for the first time ever, causing Coach Clark to comment, “four home runs from a ‘slapper’ is unheard of.”  Katelyn works construction jobs in the summer and also picks pickles in the migrant fields.  “She is a great person with a huge heart,” and she “would do anything for a teammate,” states her coach.  Perhaps the highest honor of all is Coach Clark’s comment that Katelyn “is the perfect athlete to coach.”

Evan Supernant is a two year baseball player at KVCC.  He served as Team Captain for the 2009 season, playing a major role in the outfield on the 30-25 Cougar squad.  As a freshman, Evan only went to the plate 15 times, hitting .333.  Like Katelyn, Evan’s on-the-field improvement in his sophomore season was remarkable, as he had 90 at bats and hit .303 for the year. 

Evan is also an Academic All Conference and Academic All State recipient, earning a 3.54 GPA while taking classes like Organic Chemistry and Physiology to help prepare him for a career in the science field.

Son of Michael and Marcia Supernant, Evan is a 2007 graduate of Bay City All Saints Central High School, where he participated in football as well as baseball.  Counting a Biology Class he took at Delta College, Evan has completed 58 hours of college work. 

Evan was awarded the Alfie Award as a freshman and voted Most Improved Player by his teammates this season.  Coach Bernie Vallier remarked that “Evan never complained.  When you think of respect, class, and perseverance, Evan Supernant comes to mind.  As a coach, I am privileged to have young men like Evan as Cougars.”

“These two young people cap another great year for Cougar Athletics.  Katelyn and Evan exemplify all that is good in college athletics.  We join with friends and family in congratulating them and wishing them continued successes,” praised Athletic Director Dick Shilts.

Each recipient will be presented with a plaque signifying this honor, and their names will be engraved on a large plaque recording the names of previous winners.  The plaque is currently on display in the KVCC athletic office.