LOUDONVILLE, NY – Recipients of the Leo and Jeannine Dufort Student-Athletes of the Month Award were awarded to Siena Men's Golf and Women's Water Polo standouts
Michael McConie and
Catherine Williamson for the month of March.
McConie, a junior and native of Huntington, NY, is a MAAC All-Academic and MAAC Academic Honor Roll member as well as a College Sports Communicators All-District selection. The product of Chaminade High School is one of 51 Siena student-athletes who achieved a 4.0 GPA this past semester and holds a 3.73 cumulative GPA as an accounting BS major.
McConie shot a two-over-par-73 at the Sea Palms Golf Resort in the Peoples Championship from March 12-14. McConie also finished first in the Crusader Invitational by shooting a four-under-par 69 to guide the Saints to a team victory amongst 12 teams back in October.
Williamson, a junior and native of Grahamstown, South Africa, is a ACWPC All-Academic Team (Outstanding) selection, a CSC Academic All-District selection, an Eastern Athletic Communications Association (EAST-COMM) Academic Honor Roll member and a MAAC All-Academic Team and MAAC Academic Honor Roll selection. The product of Kingswood College holds a 4.0 cumulative GPA as a marketing major.
Williamson ranks second in the MAAC in goals scored (63) and is ranked second in points (78), first in field blocks (15), fourth in sprint wins (13), and third in steals (25).
The Leo and Jeannine Dufort Student Athlete of the Month Award is presented nine times annually (September-May) throughout the academic year. The award recognizes exemplary achievements in both academics and athletics. The late Leo Dufort received a B.S. in marketing and management from Siena in August of 1977. His entire academic career was completed on a part-time basis beginning in the spring of 1961, as a married adult while at the same time raising six children. He passed away suddenly in 1993. His wife Jeannine wanted to do something to immortalize his memory. The original plaque was donated to athletics and the school began the Leo Dufort Student Athlete of the Month Award to help carry out his legacy. Dufort graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1954 which is where he met his high school sweetheart, Jeannine Snyder. Among his many accomplishments, Leo was extremely active in youth sports throughout his life and was a Navy Veteran stationed on the USS Bennington. The name of the award was updated in December 2024 to also honor Leo's wife, Jeannine Dufort, and her many years of dedicated and loving service to Siena College. It was often said that Jeannine was one the most knowledgeable people on campus during her years of service. Jeannine served as the secretary to presidents Rev. Hugh Hines, Rev. William McConville, and Rev. Kevin Mackin. Her love for the students was endless. A short time after Jeannine retired, she was awarded the title of Honorary Franciscan (complete with her Franciscan robe). Jeannine passed away in June 2025.
