PULLMAN, Wash. - Washington State University Athletics honored its senior student-athletes at the 37th Annual Senior Recognition Luncheon Friday afternoon at the Bohler Athletic Complex.
The luncheon highlighted the academic and athletic contributions of this year's senior class of Cougar student-athletes.
The Pac-12 Conference Tom Hansen Conference Medal recipients are Taylor Mims (Volleyball) and Gardner Minshew II (Football). The conference medal winners are those who best reflect the greatest combination of performance and achievement in athletics, scholarship and leadership, as selected by the athletic director and senior administrative staff.
Twenty-nine student-athletes were recognized for the Senior Excellence in Academics Award, given to seniors who have earned a minimum of 90 credits with at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA, been members of the WSU Athletics All-Academic Team each semester, enrolled at WSU for at least two years, and excelled in their degree program and sport program. This year's recipients are AJ Armstrong (men's golf), Sara Brevick (rowing), Jess Brougham (rowing), Rachael Christman (rowing), Olivia Coale (volleyball), Andrew Cooper (men's track & field/cross country), Paige Danielson (rowing), Linnea Davison (rowing), Ethan Gardner (men's track & field), Grace Hancock (soccer), Maddy Haro (soccer), Maria Kostourkova (women's basketball), Kaitlin Krouse (women's track & field), Kyler Little (men's track & field/cross country), Ray Littles (men's track & field/cross country), Aoife Martin (women's track & field), Aneta Miksovska (tennis), Tracy Myers (women's track & field), Tiffany Mylonas (tennis), Jake Nienhuis (men's track & field), Madison Odiorne (women's golf), Alysha Overland (soccer), Lindsey Schauble (women's track & field), Tierney Silliman (women's track & field), Taija Thompson (rowing), Grace Victor (women's track & field), Hannah Welzbacker (rowing), McKenna Woodford (volleyball) and Breya Wynne (women's track & field).
The Pac-12 Conference Postgraduate Scholarship recipients are Ray Littles (men's track & field) and Paige Danielson (rowing). The scholarships are awarded to one male and one female student-athlete at each Pac-12 school who have excelled academically and athletically and intend to pursue a graduate degree.
The Cougar Pride Academic salute is awarded to one male and one female senior who has maintained over a 3.00 cumulative GPA and has displayed exceptional academic, athletic and outstanding personal qualities. This year's award winners are Kyler Little (men's track & field) and Paige Danielson (rowing).
Brock Eager (men's track & field) and Sophia Rogers (rowing) were presented the Athletic Director's Star Performer Award, given to the male and female senior student-athlete who best reflect a commitment to academic improvement leading to successful completion of their degree.
Six seniors were presented the Steve Gleason Community Service and Leadership Award, given to those who have demonstrated strong citizenship skills and leadership qualities within their team and throughout the athletic department and community. This year Grace Hancock (soccer), Keith Harrington (men's football), Aneta Miksovska (tennis), Taija Thompson (rowing), Hannah Welzbacker (rowing) and McKenna Woodford (volleyball) were recognized.
The Student-Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) True Cougar Award was presented to Taylor Comfort (football) and Aoife Martin (women's track & field). This award is presented to a female and male senior student-athlete who started their WSU careers as non-scholarship student-athletes, and who, to their respective teams, define leadership, commitment to excellence and Cougar Pride.
The Damien Ficek Athletic Training Award was presented to male and female senior student-athletes who are humble, hard working in the training room and have overcome physical and/or other personal challenges to succeed at WSU. The award is presented in memory of former WSU athletic training student Damien Ficek, whose life came to an end in 2004 while serving his country in Iraq. This year's award winners are Nick Begg (football), Peyton Pelluer (football) and Alysha Overland (soccer).
The Rob Oviatt and David Lang Strength and Conditioning Award is presented to one male and one female senior student-athlete who possess a great commitment to training, are accountable to his/her workout, lead by example and show an overall improvement in the weight room. Honoring the work ethic and training ideals of former WSU Directors of Physical Development Rob Oviatt and David Lang. This year's recipients are Brock Eager (men's track & field) and Chrisshnay Brown (women's track & field).
Maddy Haro (soccer) and Keith Harrington (football) were named as recipients of the Beulah M. Blankenship Outstanding Student-Athlete Award, given to acknowledge personal achievements of a senior male and female student-athlete at WSU. The award recognizes contributions to the highest values of athletic expression by sportsmanship, dedication and positive regard for others.
The Cougar Athletics Leadership Award recognizes the senior student-athletes who have impacted a positive change within his/her sport, the athletics department, Washington State campus, at the conference and/or national level, as well as the greater Pullman community. The recipient of the Cougar Athletics Leadership Award has been a consistent voice while representing the student-athlete experience at WSU. The recipients have also demonstrated personal growth and development through active participation in student-athlete development programming such as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, leadership and peer academic counseling and mentoring programs, and community engagement activities. This year's recipients are Grace Arnis (rowing), Peyton Pelluer (football), Tierney Silliman (women's track & field) and Grace Victor (women's track & field).
The WSU Alumni Association Big Ten Senior Award recognizes the most qualified 10 students from across the campus, each representing a specific aspect of the college experience. The categories are academics, athletics, campus involvement, community service and visual/performing arts. This year's athletics recipient is Paige Danielson (rowing) and community service recipient is McKenna Woodford (volleyball).
Other awards received by WSU senior student-athletes include Andrew Cooper (men's track & field), the WSU President's Leadership Award winner, and Tierney Silliman (women's track & field) and McKenna Woodford (volleyball), the College of Arts and Sciences' Outstanding Seniors for social sciences and biological sciences, respectively.
Graduation at Washington State takes place Saturday, May 4.
The luncheon highlighted the academic and athletic contributions of this year's senior class of Cougar student-athletes.
The Pac-12 Conference Tom Hansen Conference Medal recipients are Taylor Mims (Volleyball) and Gardner Minshew II (Football). The conference medal winners are those who best reflect the greatest combination of performance and achievement in athletics, scholarship and leadership, as selected by the athletic director and senior administrative staff.
Twenty-nine student-athletes were recognized for the Senior Excellence in Academics Award, given to seniors who have earned a minimum of 90 credits with at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA, been members of the WSU Athletics All-Academic Team each semester, enrolled at WSU for at least two years, and excelled in their degree program and sport program. This year's recipients are AJ Armstrong (men's golf), Sara Brevick (rowing), Jess Brougham (rowing), Rachael Christman (rowing), Olivia Coale (volleyball), Andrew Cooper (men's track & field/cross country), Paige Danielson (rowing), Linnea Davison (rowing), Ethan Gardner (men's track & field), Grace Hancock (soccer), Maddy Haro (soccer), Maria Kostourkova (women's basketball), Kaitlin Krouse (women's track & field), Kyler Little (men's track & field/cross country), Ray Littles (men's track & field/cross country), Aoife Martin (women's track & field), Aneta Miksovska (tennis), Tracy Myers (women's track & field), Tiffany Mylonas (tennis), Jake Nienhuis (men's track & field), Madison Odiorne (women's golf), Alysha Overland (soccer), Lindsey Schauble (women's track & field), Tierney Silliman (women's track & field), Taija Thompson (rowing), Grace Victor (women's track & field), Hannah Welzbacker (rowing), McKenna Woodford (volleyball) and Breya Wynne (women's track & field).
The Pac-12 Conference Postgraduate Scholarship recipients are Ray Littles (men's track & field) and Paige Danielson (rowing). The scholarships are awarded to one male and one female student-athlete at each Pac-12 school who have excelled academically and athletically and intend to pursue a graduate degree.
The Cougar Pride Academic salute is awarded to one male and one female senior who has maintained over a 3.00 cumulative GPA and has displayed exceptional academic, athletic and outstanding personal qualities. This year's award winners are Kyler Little (men's track & field) and Paige Danielson (rowing).
Brock Eager (men's track & field) and Sophia Rogers (rowing) were presented the Athletic Director's Star Performer Award, given to the male and female senior student-athlete who best reflect a commitment to academic improvement leading to successful completion of their degree.
Six seniors were presented the Steve Gleason Community Service and Leadership Award, given to those who have demonstrated strong citizenship skills and leadership qualities within their team and throughout the athletic department and community. This year Grace Hancock (soccer), Keith Harrington (men's football), Aneta Miksovska (tennis), Taija Thompson (rowing), Hannah Welzbacker (rowing) and McKenna Woodford (volleyball) were recognized.
The Student-Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) True Cougar Award was presented to Taylor Comfort (football) and Aoife Martin (women's track & field). This award is presented to a female and male senior student-athlete who started their WSU careers as non-scholarship student-athletes, and who, to their respective teams, define leadership, commitment to excellence and Cougar Pride.
The Damien Ficek Athletic Training Award was presented to male and female senior student-athletes who are humble, hard working in the training room and have overcome physical and/or other personal challenges to succeed at WSU. The award is presented in memory of former WSU athletic training student Damien Ficek, whose life came to an end in 2004 while serving his country in Iraq. This year's award winners are Nick Begg (football), Peyton Pelluer (football) and Alysha Overland (soccer).
The Rob Oviatt and David Lang Strength and Conditioning Award is presented to one male and one female senior student-athlete who possess a great commitment to training, are accountable to his/her workout, lead by example and show an overall improvement in the weight room. Honoring the work ethic and training ideals of former WSU Directors of Physical Development Rob Oviatt and David Lang. This year's recipients are Brock Eager (men's track & field) and Chrisshnay Brown (women's track & field).
Maddy Haro (soccer) and Keith Harrington (football) were named as recipients of the Beulah M. Blankenship Outstanding Student-Athlete Award, given to acknowledge personal achievements of a senior male and female student-athlete at WSU. The award recognizes contributions to the highest values of athletic expression by sportsmanship, dedication and positive regard for others.
The Cougar Athletics Leadership Award recognizes the senior student-athletes who have impacted a positive change within his/her sport, the athletics department, Washington State campus, at the conference and/or national level, as well as the greater Pullman community. The recipient of the Cougar Athletics Leadership Award has been a consistent voice while representing the student-athlete experience at WSU. The recipients have also demonstrated personal growth and development through active participation in student-athlete development programming such as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, leadership and peer academic counseling and mentoring programs, and community engagement activities. This year's recipients are Grace Arnis (rowing), Peyton Pelluer (football), Tierney Silliman (women's track & field) and Grace Victor (women's track & field).
The WSU Alumni Association Big Ten Senior Award recognizes the most qualified 10 students from across the campus, each representing a specific aspect of the college experience. The categories are academics, athletics, campus involvement, community service and visual/performing arts. This year's athletics recipient is Paige Danielson (rowing) and community service recipient is McKenna Woodford (volleyball).
Other awards received by WSU senior student-athletes include Andrew Cooper (men's track & field), the WSU President's Leadership Award winner, and Tierney Silliman (women's track & field) and McKenna Woodford (volleyball), the College of Arts and Sciences' Outstanding Seniors for social sciences and biological sciences, respectively.
Graduation at Washington State takes place Saturday, May 4.