Central Michigan University Athletics
Tolmie, Dardas Named MAC Medal of Excellence Winners
5/24/2024 9:27:00 AM | Baseball, General, Softball, Our Stories, Student-Athlete Leadership & Development
Abbey Tolmie and Nick Dardas will receive their awards at the annual MAC Honors Dinner on May 30 at the Marriott Key Tower Hotel in Cleveland.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan student-athletes Abbey Tolmie and Nick Dardas have been named Mid-American Conference Medal of Excellence winners for the 2023-24 season.
The Medal of Excellence award is presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 12 MAC institutions. To be considered for the award, which is among the most prestigious annually bestowed by the league, a student-athlete must carry a 3.5 or better grade point average, displayed athletic excellence, leadership and campus/community service.
"Both Abbey Tolmie and Nick Dardas are exemplary student-athletes and epitomize what it means to be a student-athlete at Central Michigan University," Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan said. "We are very proud of both for their accomplishments on the field as well as in the classroom.
"Part of the foundation for their success was laid here at CMU through their dedication, their commitment, and their hard work. We are certain that both will go on to great success wherever they go and in whatever they choose to pursue."
Tolmie and Dardas will receive their awards at the annual MAC Honors Dinner on May 30 at the Marriott Key Tower Hotel in Cleveland.
Tolmie, who hails from Clarkston, completed a standout career last week with the Chippewa softball team. She earned a bachelor of science degree with a major in exercise science while compiling a perfect 4.0 GPA.
On the softball field, Tolmie in 2024 earned the prestigious MAC Nan Harvey Award, which goes to a league player who demonstrates commitment, leadership, toughness and tenaciousness.
Tolmie ranks fourth in CMU softball history with 232 hits and seventh with a .341 career batting average. She collected 76 hits and posted a .394 average as a junior in 2023; those numbers rank second and sixth, respectively, in program history.
She has twice been named an Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar and to the Academic All-MAC team. She is a three-time Second Team All-MAC honoree, was named to the MAC All-Tournament Team in 2023, and last fall received the CMU Dick Enberg Scholar Athlete Award. The Enberg Award goes to a student-athlete who has performed with distinction in their sport, is a team leader, and carries a 3.2 or better GPA.
Dardas, a Bay City native who will play his final three games this weekend when the Chippewa baseball team entertains rival Western Michigan, has graduated with three bachelor's degree with majors in general management, personal finance and finance. He earned his degrees while carrying a 3.76 GPA.
He has played in 176 career games, 133 of them starts, primarily at catcher or second base, and has a .231 career average with eight home runs, 23 doubles, 48 RBI, a .359 slugging percentage and a .387 on-base percentage.
He is a two-time Academic All-MAC honoree and has played a key role, both on the field and off, in helping Chippewa Baseball win a combined four MAC regular season and tournament championships and appear in three NCAA Tournaments during his time on campus.
The Medal of Excellence award is presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 12 MAC institutions. To be considered for the award, which is among the most prestigious annually bestowed by the league, a student-athlete must carry a 3.5 or better grade point average, displayed athletic excellence, leadership and campus/community service.
"Both Abbey Tolmie and Nick Dardas are exemplary student-athletes and epitomize what it means to be a student-athlete at Central Michigan University," Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan said. "We are very proud of both for their accomplishments on the field as well as in the classroom.
"Part of the foundation for their success was laid here at CMU through their dedication, their commitment, and their hard work. We are certain that both will go on to great success wherever they go and in whatever they choose to pursue."
Tolmie and Dardas will receive their awards at the annual MAC Honors Dinner on May 30 at the Marriott Key Tower Hotel in Cleveland.
Tolmie, who hails from Clarkston, completed a standout career last week with the Chippewa softball team. She earned a bachelor of science degree with a major in exercise science while compiling a perfect 4.0 GPA.
On the softball field, Tolmie in 2024 earned the prestigious MAC Nan Harvey Award, which goes to a league player who demonstrates commitment, leadership, toughness and tenaciousness.
Tolmie ranks fourth in CMU softball history with 232 hits and seventh with a .341 career batting average. She collected 76 hits and posted a .394 average as a junior in 2023; those numbers rank second and sixth, respectively, in program history.
She has twice been named an Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar and to the Academic All-MAC team. She is a three-time Second Team All-MAC honoree, was named to the MAC All-Tournament Team in 2023, and last fall received the CMU Dick Enberg Scholar Athlete Award. The Enberg Award goes to a student-athlete who has performed with distinction in their sport, is a team leader, and carries a 3.2 or better GPA.
Dardas, a Bay City native who will play his final three games this weekend when the Chippewa baseball team entertains rival Western Michigan, has graduated with three bachelor's degree with majors in general management, personal finance and finance. He earned his degrees while carrying a 3.76 GPA.
He has played in 176 career games, 133 of them starts, primarily at catcher or second base, and has a .231 career average with eight home runs, 23 doubles, 48 RBI, a .359 slugging percentage and a .387 on-base percentage.
He is a two-time Academic All-MAC honoree and has played a key role, both on the field and off, in helping Chippewa Baseball win a combined four MAC regular season and tournament championships and appear in three NCAA Tournaments during his time on campus.
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