Cunningham Named a Senior CLASS Award Candidate
3/13/2019 4:02:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Syracuse redshirt-senior defenseman Marcus Cunningham is one of 30 candidates for the 2019 Senior CLASS Award. The award goes to senior student-athletes who have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character, competition.
The Glen Ridge, N.J. native was selected as a team captain by his teammates this season and has continuously excelled on and off the field for the Orange. A three-year starter, Cunningham has 22 caused turnovers and 45 ground balls in his career on close defense.
Cunningham earned his bachelor of science in biology in May, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He is currently pursuing a certificate of advanced study in global health at the David B. Falk School of Sport and Human Dynamics, where he is currently maintaining a 4.0 GPA. A two-time ACC Honor Roll member and a two-time All-ACC Academic Team selection, Cunningham was given the Stevenson Scholar Award at SU and was the Syracuse Biology Department Academic Achievement Award recipient. Cunningham has twice been awarded the Team GPA Award for having the highest GPA on the team and has also twice received personal recognition of academic excellence from Chancellor Kent Syverud.
Outside of the classroom, Cunningham has been pursuing opportunities to advance his career aspirations. He served as a surgical shadow at Sforzo, Dillingham, Stewart Orthopedics and Sports Medicine as well as at Montclair Surgical Associates. The redshirt-senior also worked as an undergraduate researcher in Robert Silver's laboratory at Syracuse University.
In addition to his duties as a team captain, Cunningham was awarded the John McElroy Award for Spirit and Dedication to the program. The award is presented annually at the team's banquet and is voted on by previous recipients.
Cunningham also volunteers at Hackensack and Mountainside hospitals in New Jersey. He has been a volunteer coach for the Celtic Lacrosse Club and most recently he participated in the Headstrong Foundation's Project Gameday. He helped organize the team to raise funds for cancer research at the Headstrong Showcase. He was a top-three fundraiser at Headstrong Lacrosse Mustache Madness, in which players grow facial hair to raise donations for cancer research.
The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot, which fans can vote on. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced in conjunction with the 2019 NCAA Men's Lacrosse National Championship in May.
Cunningham and the No. 13 Syracuse men's lacrosse team will host their fifth-straight ranked opponent on Saturday at 1 p.m., when No. 16 Rutgers visits the Dome. Tickets are available at Cuse.com/Tickets, 888-DOME-TIX or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office.
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The Glen Ridge, N.J. native was selected as a team captain by his teammates this season and has continuously excelled on and off the field for the Orange. A three-year starter, Cunningham has 22 caused turnovers and 45 ground balls in his career on close defense.
Cunningham earned his bachelor of science in biology in May, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He is currently pursuing a certificate of advanced study in global health at the David B. Falk School of Sport and Human Dynamics, where he is currently maintaining a 4.0 GPA. A two-time ACC Honor Roll member and a two-time All-ACC Academic Team selection, Cunningham was given the Stevenson Scholar Award at SU and was the Syracuse Biology Department Academic Achievement Award recipient. Cunningham has twice been awarded the Team GPA Award for having the highest GPA on the team and has also twice received personal recognition of academic excellence from Chancellor Kent Syverud.
Outside of the classroom, Cunningham has been pursuing opportunities to advance his career aspirations. He served as a surgical shadow at Sforzo, Dillingham, Stewart Orthopedics and Sports Medicine as well as at Montclair Surgical Associates. The redshirt-senior also worked as an undergraduate researcher in Robert Silver's laboratory at Syracuse University.
In addition to his duties as a team captain, Cunningham was awarded the John McElroy Award for Spirit and Dedication to the program. The award is presented annually at the team's banquet and is voted on by previous recipients.
Cunningham also volunteers at Hackensack and Mountainside hospitals in New Jersey. He has been a volunteer coach for the Celtic Lacrosse Club and most recently he participated in the Headstrong Foundation's Project Gameday. He helped organize the team to raise funds for cancer research at the Headstrong Showcase. He was a top-three fundraiser at Headstrong Lacrosse Mustache Madness, in which players grow facial hair to raise donations for cancer research.
The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot, which fans can vote on. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced in conjunction with the 2019 NCAA Men's Lacrosse National Championship in May.
Cunningham and the No. 13 Syracuse men's lacrosse team will host their fifth-straight ranked opponent on Saturday at 1 p.m., when No. 16 Rutgers visits the Dome. Tickets are available at Cuse.com/Tickets, 888-DOME-TIX or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office.
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Players Mentioned
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