TRAFFORD, Pa. (pacathletics.org) – Allegheny College junior Chloe Bonson (Penn Twp., Pa. | Penn-Trafford) and Westminster College senior Brice Butler (Farrell, Pa. | Farrell) were named the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Scholar-Athletes of the Month for September.
Each month, the SAAC groups at PAC member institutions are asked to nominate one male and one female student-athlete for PAC SAAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month consideration based on academic and athletic accomplishments. Nominees must be varsity team members in their respective sport and in their junior or senior year. Scholar-Athlete of the Month nominees must also have a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher and be actively involved within their campus communities.
Bonson led the Gators to a first-place team victory with 16 points scored and an individual first place title at the 2024 Allegheny Cross Country Classic, hosted by the Gators at the Robertson Athletic Complex on September 21st. The junior led from start to finish, completing the three-mile race in 18:28, a full eleven seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.
The computer science and economics major maintains a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA, earning Dean’s List honors, as well as the PAC Honor Roll. Bonson is a Doane Distinguished Scholar, which each year recognizes up to 30 students who have earned the highest cumulative averages in their respective classes.
On Allegheny’s campus, Bonson is a writing consultant. She is also active in the community, dedicating her time volunteering to various organizations including the Westmoreland County Food Bank. Bonson serves as a financial advisor database management employee at Darren Bonson and Associates.
Female September honorable mention nominees included: Bethany senior Anna Taylor (women’s volleyball), Franciscan junior Gabrielle Disselkamp (women’s volleyball), Geneva senior Lillie Berryman (women’s soccer), Grove City senior Emma Herrmann (women’s soccer), W&J junior Claire Anderson (women’s cross country), Waynesburg junior Alli Bailey (women’s tennis), Westminster senior Ava Ferringer (women’s volleyball).
In Westminster's victory at Allegheny on Sept. 21, Butler returned an interception 76 yards for a touchdown, earning the 13th interception of his career. Butler continued to light up the football field with a career long 64-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter which took Westminster to a 14-0 lead in a Sept. 28 win at Thiel. It was the first score on a punt return of his career and his sixth return for a touchdown (5 interceptions, 1 punt). He was named the PAC Special Teams Player of the Week for September 23-29, 2024.
Butler's five interceptions returned for touchdowns are the most among Division III active leaders, while his 13 interceptions are currently tied for third-most among the leaders in the division.
The senior has been named All-PAC three times in his career, earning his second-straight First Team selection in 2023. Following the 2022 season, he earned First Team All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and Second Team D3football.com honors.
A Marketing and Professional Sales major maintains a 3.37 cumulative GPA. He was selected as an Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team® nominee for 2023-24 and 2024-25. Butler earned PAC Fall Honor Roll honors in 2022 and has been named to the Dean’s List.
Extremely active in the college and local communities, Butler volunteers with the Special Olympics, assisting the College's Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) with initial visitor registration for its annual spring event on campus that typically welcomes Special Olympics athletes from local counties for a basketball tournament and swim meet. The acceptance and welcome of every single person -- what Special Olympics is all about -- is very meaningful to Butler: he has grown up with an inspiring sister that has Cerebral palsy (CP), and his dedication to Special Olympics stems from his sister continuing to show him how important it is to care for others and help everyone realize their own potential.
He works with Westminster’s Black Student Union (BSU), helping champion inclusive experiences for students of color, and is a member of the Mercer County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), located in his hometown of Farrell, Pa.
As a member of Westminster’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), he has helped spearhead the football program's annual campaign to assist the United States Marine Corps with its annual toy drive and distribution.
Butler has volunteered at Peace in Our Community Day, sponsored by the New Wilmington Rotary, and has participated in local clean up initiatives and aids in the New Wilmington Field Day.
Male September honorable mention nominees included: Allegheny senior Carson Messemer (football), Bethany senior Santino Fox (football), Franciscan junior Andrew Madigan (men’s cross country ), Geneva senior Gabe Trexler (football), W&J senior Dawson Dietz (football), Waynesburg senior Seth Massotti (men’s soccer).