Finally, in honor of the first commissioner of CUNYAC, the Michael Steuerman Awards are CUNYAC's platform to highlight the top four graduating scholar-athletes. Annually, just one male and one female student-athlete from both the community and four-year colleges are honored as the best in the CUNY Athletic Conference. These men and women show us the true meaning of “student-athlete” with their ability to balance commitments in the classroom and on the field of play beyond any ordinary standard.
Safarova has dedicated thirteen years of her youth to sports. She graduated from a specialized high school for athletics and then graduated from college with a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education in Azerbaijan. Soon afterwards, she taught physical education and coached volleyball coach for six years.
Safarova eventually immigrated to the United States and continued pursuing her passion, but she would have to start all over. She lacked English language skills, worked many hard hours and almost gotten divorced. Fortunately, that did not stop Safarova from accomplishing her goals. She worked hard to stay grounded by thinking about the positive things in her life despite her struggles.
Her first job in the United States was in a doctor's office as a secretary. Safarova excelled in this position and thought that this was going to be the profession she would follow. However, it didn't seem that a career as a medical biller would satisfy her the way the job as a teacher and coach had before.
Safarova tells a story of a personal reflection. One day, she remembered waking up in the morning and thinking, “You have to go and continue your education. Don't be scared about your language issues, you'll be ok, you can do it.” She turned these thoughts into action, left her job and decided to get an education. She has taken some major steps towards realizing her goal, a goal that she is setting out to accomplish for a second time in her life.
In 2005, she went back to college and studied ESL, speech and technology courses. Once she had begun her college experience, her professors played a major role in encouraging and motivating her to pursue her career. Safarova's favorite quote from Og Mandino, one of her instructors is, “Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.”
During her transition to the United States, Safarova did not participate in athletics. That was until she volleyball coach,
Paul Watson and some of the players on the team. After talking to her about the opportunities, she decided to give it a shot. The team took to her quickly giving her the nickname “Mom.”
Safarova summed up her experience as “great and lovely people that brought us very close to one another….in a short span of time, we had become a real family.”
On the court, Safarova had an impact on the success of her team and for that, she was awarded to the Women's Volleyball Region XV All-Star team as well as being a CUNY Athletic Conference All-Star.
This wonderful relationship along with Coach Watson's strategy led the Wave to a CUNY Championship and third place finish at Regionals. Although she misses competing and winning, she looks forward to coaching a volleyball team of her own.
Vlasta Safarova came to this new country, overcame adversity and after a long lapse of time is finally now back on the path to achieve her dreams, again.
Honorable Mentions Scholar-Athletes of the Year from Kingsborough CC
Kubanichpek Maripbek Uulu, Kingsborough Community College
Men's Tennis
A team captain of the Tennis team, Kubanyanchbek Maripbek boasts a stellar 3.964 GPA with a major in accounting. The Brooklyn native has been the #1 singles player for the Wave during the last 2 seasons and has helped his team reach the national championship in Texas last season. Maripbek Uulu is a Presidential Scholars Honors Program student and has served on four committees at Kingsborough, including serving as the President of Phi Theta Kappa. He has worked with the Luna Park administration, which helps cleanup efforts in Coney Island as a result of Hurricane Sandy. The sophomore not only works hard to make himself better, but pushes his teammates and classmates to do the same.
Mospanova, Kingsborough Community College
Women's Tennis
The 2012 NJCAA Division III Player of the Year,
Ekaterina Mospanova has helped qualify Kingsborough's team to the 2010 and 2012 NJCAA Women's Tennis National Tournament. In 2010, Mospanova was undefeated in both singles and doubles throughout the Region XV Championships. A Liberal Arts major from Brooklyn, Mospanova holds a 3.40 GPA and also participates in intramural volleyball and tennis. Despite balancing athletics, a full-time job, child, and other family responsibilities, she is determined to excel in the classroom and on the court. Mospanova has always lent herself to helping others and for that, she is a role model to her teammates.
Stewart, Kingsborough Community College
Cross Country, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field
A two-time CUNYAC scholar-athlete,
Rohan Stewart majors in Criminal Justice and maintains a 3.34 GPA at Kingsborough. Athletically, Stewart was the 2011 NJCAA National Champion in the 4X400m, 2011 NJCAA National Runner-up in the 4X800m, and 2012 NJCAA Runner-up in the 4X800m. A three-time NJCAA All-American, Stewart is a hard worker on the track and in the classroom and always looks to get better. After Hurricane Sandy, Stewart helped clean the community of those who were affected. He is also well known for his sportsmanship, which extends to the classroom.
