ADRIAN, Mich. – The Adrian College Athletics Department is proud to announce the 2024-25 recipients of the Outstanding Senior Athlete Award, for both male and female athletics.
Michael Jonas of Men's Lacrosse and
Mya Minjares of Women's NCAA Volleyball were voted on as this year's recipients, recognizing their overall success and accomplishments as Adrian College Bulldogs over the last four seasons.
The Outstanding Senior Athlete Award goes to a student-athlete that is graduating and has had a successful career in athletics at Adrian College. Coaches or Athletic Department staff members nominate athletes based on their success in athletics during their entire career based on awards, statistics, records, and leadership. At the end of each academic year, the nominees are voted on by the entire Athletic Department to determine the Outstanding Senior Athlete Award. Most of these student-athletes move on to be inducted into the Adrian College Athletic Hall of Fame in the future. The Male Outstanding Senior Athlete Award began in 1951, while the Female Outstanding Senior Athlete Award began in 1979.
Michael Jonas, a standout attacker from Holland, Michigan, concluded his collegiate lacrosse career at Adrian with a prolific 2025 season, earning the prestigious Outstanding Senior Athlete of the Year award, along with many other individual accolades. These honors recognized his exceptional contributions to the Bulldogs' lacrosse program and his record-breaking performances.
Jonas' journey with the Bulldogs began in 2022, where he made an immediate impact as a freshman, starting all 17 games and recording 37 goals and 24 assists for a total of 61 points. His sophomore year saw continued growth, with 54 goals and 21 assists over 17 games, totaling 65 points. In his junior season, Jonas tallied 31 goals and 40 assists in 16 games, accumulating 71 points. Over his first three seasons, Jonas grabbed All-MIAA honors twice. In his final season, Jonas achieved program records and career highs with 67 goals, 45 assists, and 112 points over 18 games, leading the Bulldogs to a No. 2 seed in the conference for the first time since 2015. His remarkable performance set new single-season records for points, goals, assists, and points per game, along with many other marks, including the first Bulldog to record a 12-point game on April 3, 2025. Jonas earned All-MIAA First Team after his final season and was named an All-American by USA Lacrosse and USILA.
Over his four-year career, Jonas amassed 189 goals and 130 assists, totaling 319 points, while setting multiple career records, including shots on goal, games played, and games started. He ends his Bulldog career on top of the thrown with a total of thirteen different Adrian College Men's Lacrosse program records. His leadership extended beyond the field, serving as the key member of the captains group and the offense and earning recognition as the 2025 MIAA Offensive Player of the Year. Jonas's exceptional performance and leadership have left a lasting legacy at Adrian College, setting a high standard for future athletes in the men's lacrosse program.
Mya Minjares concluded her remarkable collegiate volleyball career at Adrian College as one of the most decorated defensive players in the program's history. Over four seasons, she played in 91 matches and 337 sets, amassing 1,829 career digs, placing her second all-time in school history. Her consistency and tenacity earned her an All-MIAA recognition each year, including three consecutive MIAA Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2022 to 2024, making her the first player in conference history to achieve this distinction.
In her senior season in 2024, Minjares appeared in all eight league matches, recording 169 digs, 28 assists, and 12 service aces, contributing to the Bulldogs' 4-4 conference record. Throughout the entire season, she totaled 424 digs, leading the team in that category. Although Minjares' impact extended beyond her senior year, as a sophomore in 2022, she led the MIAA with 487 digs and an average of 5.66 digs per set during the regular season. Throughout her career, Minjares set several program records, including the most digs in a three-set match with 25, and she ranks among the top five for digs in both four-set and five-set matches. She also contributed offensively with 295 career assists and 16 kills, showcasing her versatility on the court.
Beyond her athletic achievements, Minjares was recognized for her academic excellence and leadership as she was inducted into Alpha Chi for being in the top 10% of her class. Her leadership and consistent performance have left an indelible mark on the Adrian College Women's NCAA Volleyball program, solidifying her legacy among the Bulldog greats.
The Outstanding Senior Athlete Award winners will be honored during Adrian College's 2025 Homecoming Weekend at the Hall of Fame dinner and the Homecoming football game. This year's Homecoming Weekend will take place from September 19-21.
