EIU Student-Athletes Honored

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois athletics recognized the success that student-athletes have had both in the class room and in their respective sport on Wednesday evening with the Athletics Honors Banquet.  At the event, held in the EIU Baker/Warmoth Hall of Champions, EIU awarded its 2016 EIU Athletic Directors Award to Nick Smith from the men’s soccer team.  The department honored 27 seniors that earned the Presidential Award.  In addition the Panthers awarded senior watches to 97 seniors and announced this year’s finalists for the EIU Male/Female Senior Athlete of the Year and Male/Female Newcomer of the Year.
 
Nick Smith was named the winner of the 2016 Athletic Directors Award which is presented to a senior student-athlete who best personifies what it means to be a Panther.  The committee looks at academic and athletic achievement, co-curricular activities, leadership and integrity.  Smith was a four-year member of the EIU men’s soccer team and most recently was one of three finalists for the Walter Byers NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.   Joining Smith as finalists for the award this year were Janie Howse (Women’s Track), Joann Wakefield (Women’s Swimming), Robert Skolik (Men’s Tennis) and Stephanie Wallace (Volleyball).
 
The EIU Presidential Award is the highest academic honor awarded by the Athletic Department.  It is presented to senior student-athletes with a 3.75 or higher cumulative GPA.  This year 27 student-athletes and spirit squad members have been honored: Haylee Beck (softball), Kylie Bennett (softball), Bridgette Bowen (w swimming), Kaitlyn Corzine (w track), Caitlin Danforth (w swimming), Karlee Deacon (w soccer), Ben Feltes (m soccer), Molly Hawkins (w soccer), Ryan Henderson (m tennis), Anna Henson (pink panthers dance team), Briana Hickman (w soccer), Emily Hinton (w soccer), Beth Houghton (w swimming), Janie Howse (w track), Christian Ilunga-Matthiesen (m track), Quincy Knolhoff (w cross/track), Hannah Miller (w soccer), Mark Pedziwiatr (m cross/track), Victoria Quarton (w cross/track), Kristin Rohrer (w cross/track), Rui Silva (m tennis), Robert Skolik (m tennis), Nick Smith (m soccer), Cassidy Strohl (w track), Joann Wakefield (w swimming), Stephanie Wallace (volleyball), Amy Yeoman (w cross/rack).
 
The EIU Athletic Department announced the finalists for its four athletic awards which will be voted on in May and released during the summer.  The finalists for this year’s awards are:

Male Senior Athlete: Trae Anderson (basketball), Calvin Edwards (track), Dino Fanti (football), Kamu Grugier-Hill (football), Robert Skolik (tennis), Demetre Taylor (baseball)

Female Senior Athlete:  Dhiaa Dean (track), Ali Foster (tennis), Janie Howse (track), April Markowski (softball), Kaylee Morris (swimming)

Male Newcomer:  Devin Church (football), Alvaro Hernandez (golf), Trevor Kerns (soccer), Demetrius McReynolds (basketball), Tyler Yunk (cross/track)

Female Newcomer: Kayla Bear (softball), Maddie Lyon (soccer), Lauren Oostman (swimming), Taylor Smith (volleyball), Halle Stull (basketball)