Ephs Win 6th ECAC Jostens Institution of the Year Award

The ECAC has awarded the Jostens Institution of the Year Award 16 times to the one of its 300-plus member institutions from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois, representing NCAA Divisions I, II and III. ECAC members include the ACC, The A-10, The Big East and the Ivy League.

The Minneapolis-based Jostens is a provider of products, programs and services that help people tell their stories, celebrate important traditions and recognize achievements. Jostens' products include school yearbooks and other memory book products, scholastic products such as class rings and graduation products, and products for athletic champions and their fans.

"Williams is honored to receive again the ECAC's Jostens Institution of the Year Award," President Adam Falk said. "It's a tribute to the many athletes, coaches, administrators, and fans, who together make the Williams athletics program the powerful educational experience that it is."

The Ephs will receive their award on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at the ECAC Honors Banquet presented by Jostens. Presenting the award will be Jim Dougher, Jostens National Sports Manager and long-time supporter of the ECAC. The luncheon will be held at The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, Massachusetts during the 2010 ECAC Fall Convention and Trade Show.

A year ago Williams and Duke tied for the award, but even a NCAA Division I title in men’s basketball was not enough to allow the Blue Devils to keep pace with the Ephs in 2009-10.

Williams was almost perfect in ECAC championships on the year, winning four of six events and finishing second in one other. Williams brought home top honors in men’s cross country, women’s crew and men’s and women’s outdoor track & field. The Ephs ECAC men’s cross country championship was their fifth in a row.

ECAC Jostens Institution of the Year Award Winners:

Williams led all NESCAC schools with 184 Academic All-NESCAC honorees on the year. Senior Corey Watts, a standout in cross country and track & field, won a prestigious Watson fellowship and classmate Blake Schultz was the winner of the national Josten’s Trophy in men’s basketball that is based on basketball ability, scholarship and community service. Further, men’s ice hockey player Zach Miller was the valedictory speaker at the College’s commencement

Grace Baljon secured national recognition when she was selected the Co-Senior Player of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Junior Ryan Malo was named to National Wrestling Coaches Association team representing the USA in Siberia for two weeks in June. Women’s crew coach Justin Moore earned national Coach of the Year honors; women’s tennis coach Alison Swain ‘01 appeared in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd,” and assistant softball and women’s ice hockey coach Joey Lye ’09 was named to the Canadian National Softball Team.

Eight NCAA individual titles were won this past year by Ephs. Women’s swimming & diving contributed six of the individual titles with first year Caroline Wilson and sophomore Logan Todhunter each capturing three. Wilson took top honors in the 500 Freestyle, 1650 Freestyle and the 400 Individual Medley, while Todhunter won the 100 and 200 Butterfly events and the 200 Individual Medley. Todhunter was named The Honda NCAA Division III Women's Swimmer of the Year.

Senior Connor Kamm won the 5,000m run at the Outdoor Men’s NCAA Track & Field Championships, while first year Tanasia Hoffler took top honors in the triple jump at the Outdoor Women’s NCAA Track & Field Championships.

In July Kamm was named the US Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. Joining Kamm in receiving academic recognition from the USTFCCCA are Chris Fogler, Richard Fusco, Josephat Koima, Isaac Nicholson, Anthony Raduazo and Corey Watts.

Eph teams combined to win 12 of 26 NESCAC titles, 19 of 24 Little Three titles, 5 of 6 ECAC championships and two NCAA titles. The 2009-10 academic year marked the 25th straight year that the Ephs had won the most Little Three titles.

Winning 12 NESCAC championships this year boosted the Eph all-time total of NESCAC titles to 151, leaving Middlebury second with 55 and Amherst third with 40. The 12 Eph NESCAC championships is one shy of the Eph previous best of 13, which was established in 2002-03, when surprisingly there were only 23 championships to be won that year.

Six Williams teams finished in the top five nationally with women’s crew winning its fifth consecutive NCAA title and women’s tennis extending its NCAA title streak to three. Additionally, eight Eph teams finished the year ranked 6-10 nationally to give Williams an impressive total of 14 teams finishing in the top 10.

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.