Alumni & UST News
UST Picks Up Seven Player of the Week Honors
In just one month of NCAA Competition The University of St. Thomas- Houston Athletics earned seven SCAC Player of the Week Honors. All of our fall sports competing received at least one award, with Cross Country and Men’s Soccer picking up multiple honors.
Volleyball:
PAIGE HAVEL, a senior middle blocker from Giddings, Texas, has been named the SCAC Volleyball Offensive Player-of-the-Week for matches played from Tuesday, September 6 through Sunday, September 11. SCAC Volleyball Release (Week 2)
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Havel posted an impressive 51 points in four matches this past week, highlighted by 34 total kills (2.43 per set), 12 blocks, and nine service aces across four matches. Spotlighted by a reverse sweep victory over #25 UMHB, Havel and the Celts finished 4-0 at their First Responders Tournament.
Men’s Soccer:
TATY ALEMAN, a junior forward from Pasedena, Texas, has been named the SCAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week for games played from Tuesday, September 6th through Sunday, September 11th. SCAC Men's Soccer Release (Week 2)
Aleman poured in four goals in a span of just 23 minutes in the Celts 7-0 win over Sul Ross St. last Saturday. He is just the 30th athlete to score four or more goals in a single contest in SCAC and just the third since 2012. Aleman and the Celts are now 4-0 to start the season, the best start for the program since joining the SCAC.
DANIEL CASTRO, a sophomore forward from Cypress, Texas, has been named the SCAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week for games played from Monday, September 12th through Sunday, September 18th. SCAC Men's Soccer Release (Week 3)
Castro has an impressive two-game stretch for the Celts factoring in on four of the five goals, finishing the week with three goals and one assist for seven total points to lead the SCAC. In the Celts opening fixture on Friday, Castro opened the scoring in a 1-1 draw against Southwestern, scoring in the 18th minute. He then returned Sunday to assist on the game-winning mark and added two insurance goals in a 4-0 win over ETBU. Castro is now second in the SCAC in both goals and points with six and 14 respectively.
Women’s Soccer:
KARSON FUNDERBURK, a senior forward from Cypress, Texas, has been named the SCAC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week for games played through Monday, September 5th. SCAC Women's Soccer Release (Week 1)
Funderburk was outstanding to open her senior campaign, finding the back of the net in both contests as the Celts started the season 2-0 for the first time since joining the SCAC (2019). She struck for the opening goal of the season in a 2-1 win over Howard Payne before striking again in the SCAC opener against Centenary to secure three important league points.
Cross Country:
SOPHIA SANCHEZ, a senior from Houston, Texas, has been selected the SCAC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week for meets ran Thursday, September 1 and Saturday, September 3. SCAC Cross Country Release (Week 1)
Sanchez kicked off her senior year with a strong performance at the Celt Opener, taking first-place honors with an impressive time of 14:06 over the 2.12 mile course. She paced all Division I runners at the meet while braving muggy conditions in Houston.
JHANCARLOS CARPIO, a sophomore from Pasadena, Texas, has been selected the SCAC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week for meets ran Friday, September 9 through Saturday, September 10. It is the second consecutive week Carpio has taken home ROTW honors. SCAC Cross Country Release (Week 2)
In Week One, Carpio impressed at the Celt Opener, securing a first-place finish at 15:50 over the 5K course. Carpio topped a field including Division I runners in muggy Houston conditions.
In Week Two, continuing his stellar sophomore season, Carpio topped all DIII runners with a time 20:58, securing a 20th place finish at the Nory Hersey Rice Invitational. Amongst a field of Division I and Division III programs, the Celts placed the highest of all DIII schools at eighth.
For all information on UST Athletics visit ustcelts.com
Lasting Legacy
Ray Kwan ‘92 certainly took the biblical call to “honor thy father,” to heart. Over the last year, Ray has worked with UST to establish the Dr. Sik Hung Kwan Physics Endowed Scholarship, contributing $100,000 to support scholarships for Houston-area students pursing undergraduate degrees in Physics.
Born in 1935 in Hong Kong to a butcher’s family, Ray’s father, Sik Hung Kwan, received his bachelor’s degree from
the University of Hong Kong in 1958. He continued his studies at the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, and received his PhD in Physics from the University of London in 1965. Dr. Kwan taught at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University for more than 20 years, contributing to the successful careers of countless graduates who would go on to shape much of Hong Kong’s then-growing industries.
Following Dr. Kwan’s passing in 2020, Ray began considering the ways in which he could honor his incredible legacy as a lifelong learner and thought of his own alma mater. Ray understood that a gift to UST’s Physics program could have a transformative impact on our students, and from his own experience, he knew that the faculty here would deliver an education that would make his father proud. We are so grateful to Mr. Kwan and his desire to support UST students for decades to come.