WEST BABYLON, N.Y. – The East Coast Conference has announced that Maggie Burns (Louisville, Ky.) of Daemen women’s volleyball, Carly Diolosa (Brookhaven, N.Y.) of Mercy women’s lacrosse, and Daniel Fuzailof (Queens, N.Y.) of Queens men’s track and field have been selected as the 2023-24 winners of the conference’s newly re-named Dr. Robert Dranoff Excellence in Community and Character Award.
Recipients of the ECC’s most prestigious award are student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through positive actions and behaviors that are consistent with the NCAA Division II attributes of learning, service, passion, sportsmanship, balance, and resourcefulness.
The award is now named after Commissioner Dranoff, whose relentless work at the helm of the ECC for the last 16 years enhanced the student-athlete experience, made athletic competition accessible to thousands of friends and families, and showcased the positive impact student-athletes have on colleges and communities.
“I was truly honored when I learned that the East Coast Conference athletic directors had voted to rename the ECC Award to include my name,” said Dranoff. “I was overwhelmed and could not ask for a better way to stay connected with the conference I have been part of for so long and had the privilege to lead for 16 years.
“When that award was created many years ago, we wanted it to be for the student-athletes that displayed the attributes we felt best exemplified the excellence of our conference: strong athletics, strong academics, and strong service. To now know that outstanding ECC student-athletes will annually receive this award in the future with my name on it is humbling. It’s a real honor.”
Maggie Burns, Daemen University
Burns concluded her undergraduate tenure with a 3.78 GPA, graduating this spring with a degree in adolescence & special education. An academic standout, Burns conducted her own independent study on pedagogical documentation, which required the collection of data on perfection, student motivation, teacher habits, and other factors that lead to tough conversations on societal norms, stereotypes and education. Her academic excellence led to a pair of College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selections.
In addition to her academic successes, Burns’ list of athletic accomplishments and community involvement epitomize balance. On the court, she was the 2023 ECC Championship Most Outstanding Performer alongside a three-time All-ECC selection. In the community, she was highly involved as SAAC President, where she planned a pre/post game anxiety panel with sport coaches and a mental health performance coach, Habitat for Humanity, for which she was responsible for coordinating volunteers for three build sites, and…
Team Impact.
Burns has served as a Team Impact fellow on Daemen's campus since 2022, helping Daemen earn the Team Impact Division II Campus of the Year Award in 2023; her service in this role helped Daemen to fulfill and expand upon its own Team Impact partnership, including the development and installation of a Team Impact Hall of Fame display, making Daemen only the second institution in the country to celebrate their Team Impact partnership in this way. She was extremely passionate about the experience of her team's Team Impact child and she carried that passion into a fellowship position where she was able to branch that passion out to more Team Impact children.
She also played a leading role in developing a commercial to highlight the ECC's Team Impact partnership.
Burns took advantage of the resources available to her as a student-athlete during her time at Daemen. She is a graduate of both Level 1 and 2 of the Wildcat Will Lead program, Daemen’s own, in-house leadership development program for student-athletes. She was also selected and attended the 2023 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum.
Burns on Dr. Robert Dranoff’s Impact
“When I first met Bob, I had no idea how much I would grow to appreciate him both as the commissioner and as a person,” said Burns. “There are not many conference commissioners in this country with whom student-athletes have the opportunity to not only be on a first name basis but also work directly. I was lucky enough to work with him through SAAC and Team Impact, and during every conversation, I felt heard, appreciated, and, most importantly, supported. Bob will forever be in my corner, and I’m so grateful for everything he’s done for myself, Daemen, and the ECC. He’s forever left his mark through his kindness, passion, and leadership.”
Carly Diolosa, Mercy University
Diolosa carries a 4.0 GPA as a graduate student at Mercy University while playing women’s lacrosse and holding an internship at Con Edison, working with Project and Resource Management from November 2022 through April 2023 and with Electric Operations from April 2023 through May 2024.
She finished her undergraduate degree in just three years (’23), earning a 3.96 GPA and selection to the 2023 CSC Academic All-District Team, and was presented with a decision: accept a job offer or stay for her final season of collegiate lacrosse.
The two-time Mercy women’s lacrosse captain stayed in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. and earned All-ECC Second Team accolades in her final season, as the graduate student defender started all 19 games with 16 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers to go with a pair of assists.
Diolosa served as Mercy’s SAAC President in each of the last two years and has spearheaded the athletics department’s community service efforts in events such as Making Strides Versus Cancer Pink Games, 9/11 remembrance ceremonies, and the annual Veterans Day Walk. She also led her women's lacrosse team in community service efforts at the Abbott House, where she and her teammates play basketball with developmentally disabled adults.
Diolosa on Dr. Robert Dranoff’s Impact
"Dr. Robert Dranoff resembled a pillar of support during my time as a student-athlete in the ECC. Throughout my involvement within ECC SAAC, I observed how he truly valued the opinions and feedback from student-athletes; he always wanted to hear from us. His leadership fostered an environment where teams thrived both on and off the field, and his dedication to our success will always be remembered and appreciated."
Daniel Fuzailof, Queens College
Fuzailof completed his undergraduate degree with a 3.1 GPA in psychology and is headed to NYU for his graduate studies, where he intends to pursue an MS in Sports Business.
The Queens men’s track and field sprinter only began running track in college… and quickly fell in love with it. Fuzailof worked hard every day and turned into one of the most successful runners on the team. He recorded five top-five finishes at the ECC Championships, including a second-place performance in the 4x100m relay and fourth-place individual showing in the 400m at the 2023 outdoor meet.
Fuzailof was a “team-first” teammate. In recovering from injury this past outdoor season, Fuzailof wanted to compete, but didn’t feel like he would give Queens its best chance at a medal, so he gave up his spot on the 4x100m relay to ensure that his team had the best shot at success. His selfless demeanor was recognized across the athletics department, and Fuzailof received Queens’ prestigious Patrick Parker Award, given to the student-athlete in the department who best demonstrates a passion and commitment to his or her sport while putting the team first.
Constantly serving his fellow student-athletes and Queens’ athletics department as a member of both SAAC and E-Board, Fuzailof helped plan events, assisted on event days, and fundraised. He also volunteered on behalf of the track team at community service events, working the concession stand and helping with facility rentals, as well as at all department events, from set-up to crowd control to donning the Knight mascot costume. No task was too big or too small for Fuzailof, and that set him apart as a leader.
Fuzailof represented Queens at the 2023 ECC Annual Experience in Community and Character Leadership Program, where he participated in a combination of networking, social activities, leadership training, and service and had the opportunity to meet and interact with student-athletes from all of the ECC's member institutions, learn, and give back.
Fuzailof on Dr. Robert Dranoff’s Impact
“From the first time I spoke with Commissioner Bob Dranoff, I quickly understood how much he cared about every student-athlete in the ECC. Commissioner Bob has been a very supportive and thoughtful leader in this conference and has done everything to ensure that every student-athlete was able to fully participate and excel in their sport. He encouraged me to pursue my career, academic, and athletic goals with more passion and enthusiasm. I am beyond grateful for everything Commissioner Bob has done for me and the rest of the ECC!”