WESTFIELD, Mass. - Westfield State University's senior hockey player Nik Passero (Fort Erie, Ont.) was honored with the Peter Mazza Athletics Award at the annual Student Athlete Advisory Committee banquet.

The Peter Mazza Athletics Award is named in honor of Peter Mazza, the retired vice-president of student affairs at Westfield State who was, and remains, a big proponent of the student-athlete experience.

The recipient must excel in academics, athletic ability, sportsmanship, character, service, leadership, and personal development.

Passero has played a huge role in Athletics, serving as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President, exceling in community outreach events, and by being a representative to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

A business management major and a four-year member of the hockey team, Passero served as an associate captain and was a productive scorer on the power play.

He was the team's third leading scorer this season, and has career totals of 31 goals and 32 assist for 63 points.

Passero interned with the athletics department this spring, providing excellent graphic design for publications and social media, and served as a member of the game-day staff as public address announcer for women's lacrosse, baseball and softball.