ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst Athletic Department has announced the finalist for Male and Female Scholar Athlete of the Year awards. Four female and four male athletes have been recognized for their academic performance, leadership, community service, sportsmanship, and athletic contributions to their team. 
 
The male finalist are Nathaniel Cheney, Mario Ganser, Aidan Lin, and John White.
 
Cheney, an AI and Data Science and Cyber Security major with a 3.85 GPA, has been a leading force on the men's water polo team. He served as captain for the squad over the last two seasons, helping the team transition through coaching changes.
 
Outside of the pool, Cheney has been a leader on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), planning service days and food pantry donations. He has also served as a resident assistant, helping his peers through struggles on campus.
 
In the community, Cheney volunteers coaching youth water polo, helping grow the sport for the younger generation.
 
Ganser has led the backline for the men's soccer team, helping lead the Lakers to a NEC regular season championship in 2024. The AI and Data Science and Business Economics double major has maintained a 3.91 GPA at Mercyhurst.
 
Named team captain in 2025, Ganser has led the team on and off the field. He has used his leadership voice to welcome in freshmen and transfers to the team.
 
Lin, a Cyber Security and Data Science major, has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA over his career while captaining the football team. He has also been a leader off the field, serving as a Laker Leader, helping freshmen transition to college during their first semesters.
 
Lin has also made it a priority to give back to the Erie community. He's worked at the local YMCA, helped run an after-school program at the Booker T. Washington Center, and aided in cleanup efforts at the Benedictine Monastery.
 
White, an Intelligence Studies and Political Science major, has been a voice of leadership for the men's golf team over the last four years while maintaining a 3.99 GPA. White has helped guide the team through coaching changes as well as the jump to Division I.
 
Off the course, White serves as the president of the Mercyhurst Ambassadors, the Honor Council, and the Pre-Law Society. He has also had success in his academic endeavors, winning a national championship at the National Collegiate Innovation Championship.
 
Beyond the gates, White has served the Erie community, volunteering at the Emmaus Ministries Kids Café, the Elmwood Gardens Retirement Home, and the Glenwood Food Pantry.