Mankato, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics hosted the 25th Annual Maverick Achievement Awards and Senior Honors Dinner Sunday and Jefferson Mason (Crystal, Minn.) and Rylan Galiardi (Calgary, Alta.) were awarded the Minnesota State Male Athletics Medal of Honor and Don Buchanan Award, respectively.

The Male Athletics Medal of Honor is presented annually to one senior student-athlete and is based solely on athletic achievements.

Named to three All-America teams this year, Mason was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2011 NCAA Central Region Men’s Basketball Tournament and was selected to the NCAA Elite Eight All-Tournament Team.  He led MSU in scoring with 19.2 ppg as a senior and was named 2010 NSIC Defensive Player of the Year as a junior in 2010. This past winter he led the Mavericks to a NSIC regular-season title and the NCAA DII Region title before leading MSU to its first-ever Elite 8 appearance.

The Don Buchanan Award (Outstanding Male Student-Athlete Award) is presented annually to the student-athlete who best combines academic and athletic achievements.

Galiardi, who is earning a degree in sports management and owns a cumulative grade point average of 3.81, is a five-time member of MSU Dean’s List.  He served as the captain of the MSU men’s hockey team this year and completed his four-year career with 29-52--81 in 140 games.  His 81 career points ties for 17th overall on MSU’s career scoring list for the NCAA Division I era and following the conclusion of the season he signed an amateur try-out agreement with San Antonio of the American Hockey League. A three-time WCHA All-Academic honoree and a two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award recipient, he was this year’s Men’s Hockey Don Brose Leadership Award recipient.

Nominations and selection for both awards was based on votes cast by Minnesota State head coaches and staff.

                                                                   -30-