Photo courtesy: Gil Talbot Photography 

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- The Collegiate Water Polo Association  announced the selection of Egen Atkinson of the Harvard men's water polo team as the recipient of the 2010 Men's Varsity Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, announced Friday.

The accolade is the highest honor bestowed by the league to an active player, matched only by the induction of a former player to the league's Hall of Fame. The award recognizes an outstanding senior student-athlete who has achieved success in both the scholastic and athletic arenas while possessing a spirit which provides service to the community.

A 2010 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District second team selection, Atkinson graduated from Harvard in May with a degree in Economics and a 3.821 grade point average.

The Honolulu, Hawaii product served as a team captain as a senior, and was tabbed to the Academic All-Ivy League team last fall.  A four-time CWPA Scholar-Athlete and three-time Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-Academic pick, he scored 28 goals during his senior campaign, including 10 multiple-goal efforts, following a 2008 season in which he earned the team's Most Improved Player award. Atkinson also received the inaugural Arthur L. Boland Award, established for a graduating senior who will attend medical school, at the Senior Letterwinners' Dinner last month.

In addition to his academic and athletic success, he served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, while donating his time to a medical mission to Costa Rica with Health Volunteers Overseas, the Mission Hill After School Program and a medical mission to Honduras with Unite for Sight. Further, he served as the organizer of the Harvard water polo team's volunteer efforts with Habitat for Humanity.