ASC Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor Awards Announced

5/26/2010 11:19:14 AM

RICHARDSON, Texas –– Graduating student-athletes from each of the 15 American Southwest Conference member institutions have been named as recipients of the 2009-10 ASC Scholar-Athlete Award on their respective campuses, the ASC office announced on Wednesday (May 26).

The ASC Scholar-Athlete Award is presented to one male and one female member of the graduating class who has compiled the most outstanding record in academics, athletics and leadership over their collegiate career. The award is presented annually by the Faculty Athletics Representative at each conference member institution.

Recipients of the ASC Scholar-Athlete Award represent nine different conference sports and include individuals who graduated with academic honors or hold admissions to graduate-level programs; are members of academic honor societies and campus organizations; competed on national, conference or division title teams; earned ASC All-Academic, Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, All-Conference or All-Division honors; and who served as volunteers, tutors and teachers within their campus, community and church groups.

School	Scholar-Athlete	Major(s)	Sport(s)	Hometown
Concordia Texas	Reza Farahani	Accounting	Basketball	Kerrville, Texas
	Jackie Eddins	Kinesiology	Basketball	Austin, Texas
East Texas Baptist	Kyle Pope	Accounting	Football / Baseball	Longview, Texas
	Adrienne Meier	Biology	Softball	Bellville, Texas
Hardin-Simmons	Jaxon Jordan	Biology/Pre-Med	Baseball	Abilene, Texas
	Kaela Parnell	Biology/Pre-Med	Volleyball	Carrollton, Texas
Howard Payne	Ross Sidman	Criminal Justice	Tennis	Seabrook, Texas
	Lauren Hankins	Elementary Education	Soccer	Midlothian, Texas
LeTourneau	Joshua Baumgartner	Mechanical Engineering	Cross Country	San Antonio, Texas
	Kayla Blucher	Interdisciplinary Studies	Volleyball / Softball	San Antonio, Texas
Louisiana College	Troy Folse	Business	Basketball	Moss Bluff, La.
	Meggie Hixson	Biology / Pre-Med	Tennis	Sulphur, La.
Mary Hardin-Baylor	Kyle Flynn	Sport Management	Baseball	Clear Lake, Texas
	Lindsay Hunt	Art	Soccer	Lahaina, Haw.
McMurry	Will Davis	Physical Education	Tennis	Houston, Texas
Mississippi College	Renard Ellis	Business Administration	Football	Winter Haven, Fla.
	Anna Patterson	Math	Basketball	Sumrall, Miss.
Ozarks	Brandon Carlson	History / Social Science	Tennis	Grapevine, Texas
	Emalee Pearson	Strategic Communications	Soccer	Salt Lake City, Utah
Schreiner	Ralph Turner	Accounting	Basketball	Borne, Texas
	Lindsay Rutkowski	Exercise Science	Softball	Jourdanton, Texas
Sul Ross State	Monte Piper	History	Baseball	Houston, Texas
Texas Dallas	Scott Rodgers	Finance	Basketball	The Woodlands, Texas
	Chelsea Edwards	Public Affairs	Basketball	Friendswood, Texas
Texas Lutheran	Ryan Nokelby	Physics	Baseball	Santa Fe, Texas
	Jacqueline Allen	Kinesiology	CC / T&F	Katy, Texas
Texas-Tyler	Nick Kreines	Finance	Tennis	Houston, Texas
	Whitney Clements	Special / Elementary Ed.	Volleyball	Flint, Texas

Biographical information on the ASC Scholar-Athlete Award recipients provided by their Faculty Representative follows:

ASC 2009-10 SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD RECIPIENTS

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY TEXAS

Reza Farahani
Major: Accounting
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Kerrville, TX
Summary: Farahani finished his collegiate career in style at Concordia. He helped the CTX men’s basketball team to its fourth consecutive appearance in the ASC postseason tournament. Farahani finished his career by averaging 8.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 72 games for the Tornados. He is a two-time ASC All-Academic team selection and earned ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete status in 2009-10. He became the first CTX men’s basketball player to ever be named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Team. He earned the CTX men’s basketball scholar-athlete award in 2009-10. Farahani was a team captain in his senior year and served as the president of the CTX Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He helped lead the CTX S.A.A.C. into various community projects including collecting food for the Austin Area Food Bank during the holiday season and raise money to assist with the natural disaster in Haiti.

Jackie Eddins
Major: Kinesiology
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Austin, TX
Summary: Eddins persevered through an injury-riddled career for the Concordia Texas women’s basketball team. She had her best season as a freshman, averaging 10.1 points and 5.2 rebounds during the season. In her next three seasons, she fought through various injuries, including one which ended her collegiate career in the middle of her senior season. She finished her career by averaging 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 72 games for the Tornados. Eddins ranks eighth all-time at Concordia in blocked shots and 12th in rebounds. She served as a team captain and invaluable role model for the Tornados women’s basketball team in 2009-10. She was twice named the ASC All-Academic Team.

EAST TEXAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

Kyle Pope
Major: B.B.A. Accounting
Sports: Football, Baseball
Hometown: Longview, TX
Summary: 3.91 final cumulative GPA; While at ETBU, made the Dean’s List with Honors all full semesters attending (5 times); A two-sport athlete at ETBU, starring in both football and baseball; a 3-time winner of the Top Tiger award as best overall male athlete at ETBU (all 3 years attended); ASC All-Academic team 3 times; ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team for both football and baseball; multiple conference awards as a kicker, including ASC Special Teams Preseason Player of the year; [some possible conference-, regional-, and national-level awards in baseball still pending] In baseball, Career .381 Batting Average entering senior season; .431 batting average in senior season; ASC All-East Division 1st team three times; member of FCA; plans on becoming a certified public accountant after graduation. Pope has been named to the ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.

Adrienne Meier
Major: B.S. Biology (Human Biology track), Kinesiology Minor
Sport: Softball
Hometown: Bellville, TX
Summary: 3.70 final cumulative GPA; While at ETBU, made the Dean’s List 7 times (5 times with Honors); national champion in 2010, All West Region 1st team (junior season); NCAA First-Round Tournament All-Tournament Team (junior season); ASC All-East Division 1st Team twice, 2nd Team once, Honorable Mention once; ASC All-Academic team 4 times; ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete (junior year); Career .364 Batting Average entering senior season; .431 batting average thus far in senior season; Meier started in the outfield this season but has been the ultimate utility player for her career, with career starts in left field, right field, third base, second base and first base; member of MSISO and Relay for Life; plans on attending physical therapy school after graduation. Meier has been named to the ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.

HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY

Jaxon Jordan
Major: Biology / Pre-Med
Sport: Baseball
Hometown: Abilene, TX
Summary: One of the top hitters on the Cowboy baseball team with a .364 average and four home runs and 33 RBIs. Member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Kaela Parnell
Major: Biology/Pre-Med
Sport: Volleyball
Hometown: Carrollton, TX
Summary: Was named the ASC West MVP after a stellar senior season. She also was named an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Winner. Was given the Minnie Anderson Award that goes to the highest achieving woman in the HSU graduating class of 2010. Was the first All-American at HSU in the sport of volleyball. Named the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for Volleyball. 4.0 GPA as a pre-med major.

HOWARD PAYNE UNIVERSITY

Ross Sidman
Major: Criminal Justice
Sport: Tennis
Hometown: Seabrook, TX
Summary: A four-year letterman, Ross will graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice. He played a key role in the Jackets making the ASC postseason tournament the past two seasons. He is a three-time Academic All-Conference selection, on the HPU President’s list, and an All-Conference selection. Ross is also a member of Sigma Theta Phi and has helped out with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Brownwood.

Lauren Hankins
Major: Elementary Education
Sport: Soccer
Hometown: Midlothian, TX
Summary: Lauren, honored on the HPU President’s List, is majoring in Elementary Education and plans to teach after graduation. After spending one year at Navarro JC, she has been Honorable Mention All-Conference and named to the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team while at HPU. She is also a member of Gamma Beta Phi, Student Foundation and Kappa Delta Pi.

LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY

Joshua Baumgartner
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Sport: Cross Country
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Summary: Member of the Engineering Honor Society. He also is a math lab and English review tutor…Is the lead author of ASEE published paper to be presented at the national conference. During the summers, he is an engineering intern and a cross country camp speaker, counselor and assistant director. Also helps his high school cross country team (FEAST Home School). He is on the Worldview Academy Leadership Camp staff and is also a tutor.

Kayla Blucher
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies
Sports: Volleyball, Softball
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Summary: Played in all 36 games for the YellowJacket softball team. She batted .349 with 44 hits, 27 runs scored, seven walks, seven stolen bases, three runs batted in, one double and one triple. Also is in the Student-Athletic Advisor Committee (SAAC), Preside of Delta Omega Kappa (women’s society on campus), math tutor for LeTourneau, works at the Solheim Center and is on the Intercollegiate Athlete Committee.

LOUISIANA COLLEGE

Troy Folse
Major: Business
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Moss Bluff, LA
Summary: Troy Folse, an Economics and Finance major from Moss Bluff, La., has compiled an overall GPA of 3.81 at Louisiana College, and was recently named a Distinguished Scholar Athlete by the American Southwest Conference. He was also named to the Academic All-Conference Team in 2010. He played in 24 games with seven starts and averaged 1.6 ppg and 2.0 rpg in 2009-2010.

Meggie Hixson
Major: Biology / Pre-Medical Studies
Sport: Tennis
Hometown: Sulphur, LA
Summary: Meggie Hixson, a Pre-Med major from Sulphur, Louisiana who attended Hamilton Christian Academy, has compiled an overall GPA of 3.82 at Louisiana College. She has been accepted into both LSU Medical School in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Tulane University Medical School in New Orleans. She will attend LSU Medical School in the fall.

UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR

Kyle Flynn
Major: Sport Management
Sport: Baseball
Hometown: Clear Lake, TX
Summary: Kyle is a two-year starter at shortstop and has helped lead the Cru baseball team to a pair of ASC Tournament berths. He is batting over .300 this season. Kyle is also a member of the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team, an ASC Academic All-Conference selection and a two-time member of the UMHB Vice-President for Athletics Honor Roll. Kyle was named the school’s Male Senior Scholar-Athlete after posting the highest GPA among graduating seniors. He was also awarded the Top X Award for the ten highest GPA’s in the senior class. Kyle helped the baseball team raise more than $950 for breast cancer research this spring through the team’s Pink Zone campaign.

Lindsay Hunt
Major: Art
Sport: Soccer
Hometown: Lahaina, HI
Summary: Lindsay was a two-year letter winner for the Cru women’s soccer team and she helped lead the Cru to back-to-back ASC Tournament appearances. The UMHB women posted the best single-season win total in school history this season and also won an ASC Tournament match for the first time in the program’s history. Lindsay was a member of the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete team, a two-time ASC Academic All-Conference selection and a two-time member of the UMHB Vice-President for Athletics Honor Roll. She was voted the school’s Female Senior Scholar-Athlete after posting the highest GPA among female seniors. Lindsay also was awarded the Top X award for the ten highest GPA’s in the senior class.

MCMURRY UNIVERSITY

Will Davis
Major: Physical Education
Sport: Tennis
Hometown: Houston, TX
Summary: Three-time all-conference honoree, two-time academic all-conference, 2010 ASC West Player of the Year, member of two ASC West Championship Teams

MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE

Renard Ellis
Major: Business Administration
Sport: Football
Hometown: Winter Haven, FL
Summary: Renard capped off an outstanding four-year career with a stellar senior season for the Choctaw football team. Renard helped lead the Choctaws to their first ASC Championship since the 1997 with one of the best seasons for a tight end in school history. The Winter Haven, FL native earned AFCA First Team All-America honors as well as D3football.com Third Team All-America honors. Renard exemplifies the team spirit that has allowed the MC football team to be successful. Renard routinely played multiple positions on the field this year in order to help the team. Though an All-American tight end, Renard was willing to be used in whatever role that was needed, and earned the respect of his teammates in the process. On the field Renard led the Choctaws with 58 receptions for 748 yards and eight touchdowns. He matched that achievement in the classroom where he has earned ASC All-Academic recognition each year he has been eligible. With a GPA wellover 3.5 in Business Administration, Renard has plans to continue his education in law school.

Anna Patterson
Major: Math
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Sumrall, MS
Summary: Anna has made the most of her college career both on and off the court. She has made the ASC All Academic team her junior and senior year, was an ASC scholar-athlete in 2008-09, and was the 2009 Recipient of the David M. Halbrook Award for Academic Achievement due to maintaining a 3.96 gpa. (This award is given by the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges to a male /female athlete that achieves high academic success.) Anna’s leadership on the basketball team has been exemplary but not limited to just her teammates. As a result Anna was voted as the Team Captain for basketball by her peers. Anna has also been very instrumental and very hands-on with our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has implemented several community service projects and campus support projects that will continue after she is gone. (Ex: Cookouts at games to get student support in attendance, Think Pink-Race for the Cure donations, canned food drives, angel tree, etc). Athletically, Anna has achieved recognition on the 2nd Team All ASC East Division, Named the ASC East Division Defensive Player of the Year, Team Best Defensive Award and the Outstanding Senior Athlete for Women’ s Basketball.

UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS

Brandon Carlson
Major: History / Social Science
Sport: Tennis
Hometown: Grapevine, TX
Summary: Carlson played No. 1 singles for the tennis team all season. He is also one of the top doubles players on the team, posting four doubles wins. He is a four-year lettermen and served as a team captain his senior campaign. He has been a member of the President’s List and Dean’s List during his collegiate career. He has also been on the ASC All-Academic Team three times. A history and social science major, he is just one of 15 students to have been accepted into the Higher Education Administration master’s program at Texas A&M. Carlson is an active member of the campus community, serving as President of the campus activities board. He is a Resident Assistant and has been involved in SAAC.

Emalee Pearson
Major: Strategic Communications
Sport: Soccer
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Summary: Pearson was among the top players in the ASC in 2009, helping the team tie the school record for most shutouts in a season (5). The 5-foot-8 defender was named to the All-ASC Third Team following the 2009 season, which saw her record two assists, serve as a team captain and lead the team in minutes played. She capped her senior season by earning the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete award for women’s soccer and Ozarks 2009-2010 Female Athlete of the Year. She is the program’s career leader in starts (70) and ranks second in career games played (71). In 2008, she was a NSCAA Scholar All-American. Additionally, she worked in the Sports Information Office for two years, earning ASC SID All-Academic status. Pearson, who graduated early with a degree in strategic communications, was on the ASC All-Academic Team three times and is currently working at a Public Relations firm in Tulsa.

SCHREINER UNIVERSITY

Ralph Turner
Major: Accounting
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Borne, TX
Summary: Ralph was an exceptional student during his time at Schreiner University. His cumulative 3.48 GPA is among the highest of any male student athlete on campus. He was named to the President’s List in the fall of 2009 for his outstanding academic performance the previous semester where he achieved a 4.0 in his coursework. As a member of the basketball team, Ralph was chosen as captain in both the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons. During the 2008-2009 season he was named player of the week twice and chosen a member of the second team ASC-West.

Lindsay Rutkowski
Major: Exercise Science with Teacher Certification
Sport: Softball
Hometown: Jourdanton High School, Jourdanton, Texas
Summary: Ms. Rutkowski has been named to the Dean’s or President’s List every semester of her college career. She has served as president of the FCA and YCA. She is a member of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority and named to the Who’s Who of College Students in 2009. Lindsay was recognized in 2008 for her outstanding community service activities while a student at Schreiner University. Ms. Rutkowski has been named to the ASC Academic All-Conference teams in Volleyball and Softball all four years of her college career. In both 2008 and 2009 she garnered an Honorable Mention designation for her athletic performance in Softball.

SUL ROSS STATE UNIVERSITY

Monte Piper
Major: History
Sport: Baseball
Hometown: Hightower, Houston, TX
Summary: Monte Piper graduates summa cum laude: 3.97 in history. He was 2010 SRSU Man of the Year, our highest award combining academics, leadership, and service and 2010 Outstanding History Major. He was Student Government President and Senator, Student Athlete Advisory Commission president (leading numerous charity projects), vice president of Alpha Chi (national honor society), and a member of Phi Alpha Theta (national history honor society) and Pi Sigma Alpha (national political science honor society). As a catcher for the Lobo baseball team four years, he was named to the American Southwest Conference Academic All-Conference team twice and an ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete the past two years. As a junior, he batted .225 with 20 hits: 4 doubles, a homer, and eight RBI’s. His baseball coach, Bobby Mesker, has also nominated Monte for a sportsmanship award because of his great attitude toward sitting on the bench his senior year, yet working just as hard. He is Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and made the Dean’s List seven consecutive semesters. He served the university as student representative to the Athletic Committee and Quality Enhancement Committee (important for reaffirmation of accreditation). Following graduation he intends Officer Candidate School, US Army.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS

Scott Rodgers
Major: Finance (MBA)
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: The Woodlands, TX
Summary: A four-year player for the Comets, Rodgers excelled both on and off the court despite not cracking the starting lineup until his final season… As a reserve off the bench, he was one of the team’s top 2-3 scorers and rebounders each of his first three seasons, but saved his best effort for his senior year, when he helped lead UTD to its second-straight NCAA Division III “Sweet 16” appearance… In 2009-2010 Rodgers led the team in scoring throughout the season, averaging 32.0 minutes of playing time throughout the course of the season and became UTD’s first American Southwest Conference All-Conference selection in his sport… Off the court, he was a three-time ASC Academic All-Conference selection and was selected the 2010 ASC Men’s Basketball Distinguished Scholar-Athlete… After earning a finance degree one semester early, he was selected as a speaker at the December 2009 Winter Commencement ceremony, then later was elected to third-team honors in the prestigious Academic All-America Team.

Chelsea Edwards
Major: Public Affairs (Grad)
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Friendswood, TX
Summary: UTD’s all-time leading scorer for women’s basketball, and among the leaders in other UTD career statistical categories… Voted first-team All-American Southwest Conference in 2008 and has been a member of the ASC’s All-Defensive team three straight years. Team Captain each of the last three years … Earned undergraduate degree in Business Administration in just three years with a cumulative GPA of over 3.5. Is currently enrolled in UTD’s public affairs graduate program with another 3.5 cumulative GPA… Winner of ASC 2010 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for women’s basketball and 3x ASC Academic All-Conference honors… Assisted on campus with a Campus Clean-Up program through the UTD Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and helped lead free basketball clinics for local schoolchildren. Worked at home during the summers with various community service projects including food drives and independent hands-on work with the homeless in her hometown (gathering groceries, collecting furniture, providing childcare and other services).

TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY

Ryan Nokelby
Major: Physics
Sport: Baseball
Hometown: Santa Fe, TX
Summary: 2010 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American Third Team…3.68 GPA…ASC career hits record-holder (270)…13th all-time in NCAA DIII for career hits…Holds multiple TLU records, including career hits, 4-year career average (.388), and career runs scored (186)…Also ranks in the TLU career top-five for at-bats (2nd, 695), doubles (2nd, 53), total bases (4th, 370), and walks (5th, 92)…Started all four years and played in every game of his Bulldog baseball career…Started in center field in TLU’s drive to a second consecutive ASC West Division Championship in 2010…Played on three ASC West title teams (2007, 2009, 2010), on one ASC Championship squad (2007), and on one NCAA Division III West Regional squad (2007)…In 2010, he hit a team-best .414 with a team-high 72 hits, 16 doubles, and four triples. He drove in 42 runs and scored 50 times. He also walked a team-best 28 times and stole 7-of-8 bases…Did not commit an error all season…SAAC representative…Rawlings Gold Glove All-West Region in 2009…Third Team All-West Region selection in 2007…ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 3 times (twice 1st Team, once 2nd Team)…3-time ASC Academic All-Conference selection…3-time ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete representative…Named the 2009-10 TLU Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Jacqueline Allen
Major: Kinesiology
Sports: Cross Country, Track & Field
Hometown: Katy, TX
Summary: TLU 2009-10 Female Scholar Athlete of the Year...TLU 2009-10 TLU Female Sportsmanship Award Winner...Four-year letterwinner with the TLU women's cross country and women's track and field team...Three-time Academic All-ASC selection in both sports...Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for the women's cross country team and the women's track and field team...Member of TLU's 2010 American Southwest Conference Championship Team...Seventh in the javelin at the 2010 ASC Championships…Graduated with a 3.64 grade point average.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLER

Nick Kreines
Major: Finance
Sport: Tennis
Hometown: Houston, TX
Summary: An All-Conference and All-East Division selection in every year Krein has played, he was also an ASC Distinguished Scholar and will be named the first doubles All-American in school history at season’s end along with senior teammate Brad Fenter. He carries a 3.98 GPA in finance.

Whitney Clements
Major: Special Education, Elementary Education (double major)
Sport: Volleyball
Hometown: Flint, TX
Summary: Clements 3.82 GPA has helped her earn numerous honors off the playing court, including being named a two-time Academic All-ASC selection and ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District selection. She will graduate Summa Cum Laude in three years with a dual major.

Related Headlines