ASC Announces Community Service Award Winners

For the first time in the history of the award, five student-athletes have been named winners of the 2014-15 American Southwest Conference Community Service Award.

6/7/2015 7:40:00 PM

RICHARDSON, Texas - For the first time in the history of the award, five student-athletes have been named winners of the 2014-15 American Southwest Conference Community Service Award, the ASC office announced Monday (June 8) after a vote of the league's athletic directors.

Three men student-athletes were named tri-winners as East Texas Baptist senior Nicolas Larzabal, Louisiana College senior Brand Bignar and Sul Ross State senior Zakk Revelle received honors. Two women student-athletes were named co-winners as McMurry senior Kayla Hines and Texas Dallas senior Chelsea Sartor received the award.

Larzabal (Bogota, Columbia/Northstar Academy) is a two sport athlete in cross country and tennis, and the third East Texas Baptist recipient of the ASC Community Service award. In his time at ETBU, Larzabal has consistently been involved in some form of voluntary community service. For the last two years, he volunteered at least 40 hours a semester at the Soda Lake Baptist Association Clothes Closet. He contributed at the Marshall Food Pantry and has taken part in a variety of conference and institution-level Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) initiatives. For the last several years, he served as a volunteer at different summer youth camps and has taken part in all of the volunteer service projects through the ETBU Cross Country and Tennis teams. He served as a volunteer coach for the Kaboom Project, which built a new playground at Robert E. Lee Elementary.

"Nick has been an invaluable member of our team, with a servant's heart and a positive attitude," said ETBU cross country coach Natalie Bach-Prather. "Besides being a part of every service project on campus and getting involved in off campus ministry, he is constantly encouraging everyone around him. Nicolas is very deserving of this award."

Bignar (Jena, La./Jena HS) is the face of the Wildcats' Community Outreach Program and the first Louisiana College recipient of the ASC Community Service Award. Bignar helped organize efforts that donated more than 300 hours of community service as a team during the fall semester as well as over 50 pints of blood during the annual Life Day Blood Donation Drive in December. Bignar volunteers in the Louisiana College S.T.A.R program, an on campus initiative for high school and college-aged students in the community who suffer from learning disabilities. He also helped coordinate the LC baseball team's first annual "Cats Crush Cancer" campaign, which raised more than $5,000 towards free mammograms. Bignar will graduate with honors next fall.

"Brand is what Louisiana College baseball and being a student-athlete in Pineville is all about," said LC baseball coach Mike Byrnes. "He has been a model citizen and a leader for the team both on and off the field the past four years, and this award is a testament to his dedication to community service, commitment to excellence, and character. I can't thank him enough for the class he showed in being an ambassador for Louisiana College athletics."

Revelle (Burnet, Texas/Burnet HS) is the first Sul Ross State recipient of the ASC Community Service Award. He served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for two years and has received the ASC Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year award the last three consecutive seasons. Revelle was also active in the Sul Ross State Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) chapter, serving as the president of the organization. He volunteered with Red Saw Ministries and assisted with summer basketball camps for children. Last summer, Revelle traveled to Israel with the Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) to participate in basketball clinics and tournaments. He also serves as assistant youth director at First Baptist Church in Alpine, working with junior high and high school students.

"I want to personally congratulate Zakk on his community service award," said former Sul Ross men's basketball coach Greg Wright, who coached Revelle throughout his collegiate career. "The day Zakk stepped on campus we knew he was a leader. He personifies excellence, leadership, and caring in all that he does and is very giving with his time and energy. This is another well deserved award for a special young man and I have no doubt he will go on to impact many more lives in the future."

Hines (Robinson, Texas/Robinson HS) was a four-year starter on the volleyball team and the first McMurry recipient of the ASC Community Service Award. A compassionate and loving person, Hines is concerned with not just the physical, but spiritual well-being of others. She has demonstrated the love of Christ through serving others through the mission work of the McMurry Religious Life Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Meals on Wheels, Disability Resources, and hosting Bible studies for friends and teammates. Hines is active in church and also currently serves as a Leader within the Young Life Organization in Abilene. She also coaches a youth club volleyball team, so she is actively leading and loving not only those on our campus, but in our community. On the court, Hines was an impact player receiving three awards from the NCCAA as an All-Region selection, Scholar-Athlete Team member and as a National Championship Team recipient.

"I - as well as McMurry University -- was blessed to have had Kayla Hines as a part of our volleyball program and campus community for the past four years," said volleyball coach Cammie Petree. "She was an outstanding player on the court and had the top grade point average among our senior athletes, but it truly was her servant's heart and willingness to help others that set her apart. Kayla has a deep Christian faith and helping others is natural to her. Whether it's through her positive attitude or her selfless actions, she has a very positive impact where ever she goes."

Sartor (Plano, Texas/Plano HS) is actively involved in the Texas Dallas Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and will serve as SAAC President for the 2015-16 academic year. The first UTD recipient of the ASC Community Service Award, Sartor currently serves as the SAAC Special Olympics liaison. She coordinated an event at a UTD women's basketball game where Special Olympics athletics played a mini-game during halftime and were introduced during pre-game announcements with the Comets. Sartor worked with Angel Tree, adopting two underprivileged kids and buying Christmas presents and competed in Theta Court Appointed Special Advocates 5K. She coordinated efforts with the UTD SAAC for trips to Minnie's Food Pantry in the fall for "Trunk or Treat", a safe Halloween option for local Richardson children and also volunteered with FC Dallas Knights of Columbus.

"We are extremely proud of Chelsea and what this award represents," said UTD Athletic Director Bill Petitt. "Chelsea has been a tremendous role model for our teammates. She is our incoming SAAC President and initiates many community service opportunities. She will be a great representative for the conference this upcoming year."

The ASC Community Service Award, in its seventh academic year, honors a male and female student-athlete who best displays leadership and action in fostering community service on their campus and local community. Each ASC member institution has the opportunity to nominate its campus community service award winner to the conference-wide ballot.

All-Time ASC Community Service Award Winners

Year	Male	Female
2014-15	(tri) Brand Bignar, Louisiana College	(co) Kayla Hines, McMurry
	(tri) Nicolas Larzabal, East Texas Baptist	(co) Chelsea Sartor, Texas Dallas
	(tri) Zakk Revelle, Sul Ross State
2013-14	Andrew Cummings, Ozarks	(co) Whitney Lewis, Ozarks
		(co) Caitlin Cronan, Texas-Tyler
2012-13	Spencer Turner, Mary Hardin-Baylor	Dalaine Whitlock, Concordia Texas
2011-12	James Fugate, East Texas Baptist	Yvonne Castillo, Texas Lutheran
2010-11	Max Taylor, Mary Hardin-Baylor	Kaitlyn McCanna, Texas Lutheran
2009-10	(co) Michael Cucinotta, East Texas Baptist	Kaela Parnell, Hardin-Simmons
	(co) Seth Lynn, Mary Hardin-Baylor
2008-09	Brandon Pierson, Ozarks	Lea Rana, Ozarks

2014-15 ASC Community Service Award Honorees
Biographical information provided by each student-athletes' sports information director or head coach

Men

Andrew Cummings
Class: Senior
Sport: Track and Field / Cross Country
Hometown: Mansfield, Texas
School: University of the Ozarks
Andrew Cummings serves his campus as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Despite a busy athletic career in which he lettered in basketball, cross country and track, Cummings found time to lead Bible studies and organize events for the SAAC. Among his service activities are Special Olympic tournaments, church ministry camps and National Student-Athlete Day. He also completed a mission trip overseas during his collegiate career.

C.J. Edwards
Class: Junior
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Pasadena, Calif.
School: LeTourneau University
C.J. Edwards helped run the East Texas Special Olympics Bowling event in Longview, Texas. He has also assisted with Upward Basketball as well as community-wide clean-up activities in Longview.

Paxton Grayer
Class: Junior
Sport: Football
Hometown: Abilene, Texas
School: McMurry University
In addition to being one of McMurry's leading rushers in school history, Paxton Grayer is a youth ministry leader at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he leads Rosary Prayer prior to church each Sunday and is a choir member. He volunteers at Loving Care Ministries, where he gathers food and clothing for those in need. Also, Grayer participates in a ministry where he literally gets into a car, and drives around town looking for the homeless where he prays with them and tries to help them with any material needs. He has also applied for volunteer work at a nearby Hospice.

Zack Hansen
Class: Senior
Sport: Soccer
Hometown: Kingwood, Texas
School: University of Texas at Dallas
Zack Hansen served as president of the Texas Dallas Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). While working with UTD's Davidson Management Honors Program (DMHP), Hansen volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, helping rebuild houses for lower income families in south Dallas. Active with UTD's and the NCAA Special Olympics programs, Hansen worked with UTD SAAC in organizing trips to Minnie's Food Bank and ran a holiday food drive. Hansen also volunteered with The Love for Kids Toy Sort with Dallas Society of CPA's, serving as a representative from UTD's Beta Alpha Psi chapter, an honors accounting fraternity. Hansen contributed with BAP by volunteering at North Texas Food Bank and at the Scholastic Book Fair Warehouse in addition to Trees for Threes with PricewaterhouseCooper and the Dallas Mavericks.

Xavier McFalls
Class: Junior
Sport: Football
Hometown: Amarillo, Texas
School: Howard Payne University
Xavier McFalls is a three-year letterman with the Howard Payne football program. Apart from football he is involved in leadership with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). McFalls served as an intern with the Coggin Avenue Baptist college ministry and is the Chaplin of the HPU student government association. He also helps with the Love Brownwood program that reaches out to the local families. He was named to the Who's Who American College Students this year and is a two-time Academic All-Conference selection. On the field playing defensive back for the Jackets, McFalls recorded 52 total tackles with three pass breakups and one interception.

Matt Pitcock
Class: Senior
Sport: Matt Pitcock
Hometown: Plano, Texas
School: Hardin-Simmons University
Matt Pitcock was instrumental as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Pitcock coordinated efforts with the leadership team from McMurry University to organize a competition canned food drive that benefited the West Central Texas Food Bank. Pitcock also helped plan the Special Olympics track meet as part of NCAA Division III week. With the soccer team, he and his teammates prepared and served a meal to the Love and Care Ministries. Pitcock was the ASC Soccer Tournament MVP and a First-Team All-ASC selection.

Josiah Summerville
Class: Senior
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Cayuga, Texas
School: University of Texas at Tyler
Josiah Summerville is very active in the Tyler community. He has done various community service activities including Hunger for Love Homeless Ministry , Jesus' Closet Homeless Ministry, the East Texas Food Bank, A Day For Kids by the Boys and Girls Club of East Texas. He volunteered at various elementary school events, Jack Jubilee, STARR Pep Rally at Vista Academy and at the Azalea 10K Race. Summerville also gave his time to move furniture on campus for Residence Life.

Justin Traxler
Class: Freshman
Sport: Baseball
Hometown: Austin, Texas
School: Concordia University Texas
Justin Traxler has volunteered at his local church working with a program called First Serve. He has worked on different mission trips and worked with the campus Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) on different projects. He also spends multiple hours volunteering at the local YMCA.

Women

Sidney Coffey
Class: Junior
Sport: Softball
Hometown: Houston, Texas
School: Concordia University Texas
Sidney Coffey worked with RBI baseball group as well as other Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) projects. She was a part of "U in the Driver Seat" program on our campus. She also volunteered with the local Urban Roots project.

Amanda Cruddas
Class: Graduate
Sport: Softball
Hometown: Killeen, Texas
School: Howard Payne University
A transfer from Cisco Junior College, Amanda Cruddas finished her third and final season with the Lady Jackets. She is an honorary member of Chi Alpha Omega and a member of Kappa Delta Pi education national honor society. The past two years she has spent time volunteering at the Corinth T. Smith Animal Shelter in Brownwood. Over three seasons, Cruddas has started 65 of the 69 games she has played in and has a career .240 average with 15 RBI, 41 hits, six doubles and two home runs. A two-time Academic All-Conference selection, Cruddas boasts one of the highest cumulative grade point averages among women student-athletes in the HPU athletic department and is HPU's ASC Medal of Honor winner this year.

Joanna Daniel
Class: Senior
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Martin's Mill, Texas
School: Hardin-Simmons University
Joanna Daniel was an active member as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). She participated in the competition canned food drive that benefited the West Central Texas Food Bank in collaboration with McMurry University. She also helped plan the Special Olympics track meet as part of NCAA Division III week. Daniel was a team leader for the Cowgirls as point guard and ranked second in the conference in assists.

Maile Hoyt
Class: Senior
Sport: Softball
Hometown: Toyah, Texas
School: Sul Ross State
Maile Hoyt has been captain of the softball team and a four-year starter at Sul Ross State. She is a two-time ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and an All-ASC Sportsmanship member. Hoyt is president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and is active in Baptist Student Ministries. Off campus, she is active in the First Baptist Church in Alpine, serves as a mentor for youth, and finds time to volunteer at the Food Bank and Big Bend Special Olympics.

Beth Massey
Class: Freshman
Sport: Softball
Hometown: Cleburne, Texas
School: University of the Ozarks
Beth Massey displayed an enthusiastic and outgoing attitude while volunteering at the Special Olympics Softball tournament hosted by the city of Clarksville, Arkansas. Massey built relationships at the tournament that continue to last today. Massey plans to continue working with the Special Olympics throughout her collegiate career. She also spent time volunteering in the campus garden, as a volunteer coach in her hometown and as a campus student ambassador.

Karolyn Thornton
Class: Senior
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Monroe, La.
School: Louisiana College
Karolyn Thornton was a three-year starter for the Louisiana College women's basketball program and graduated in the spring with a 3.4 grade point average. Thornton is the leader of LC's on campus Sports News department, Wildcats Media, and received the LC Department of Convergence Media's Senior Leadership Award. She volunteers her time in the fall at KALB News Channel 5 to help video, edit, and produce Central Louisiana's only high school football highlight show "The 5th Quarter".

Stephanie Vana
Class: Sophomore
Sport: Soccer
Hometown: La Verne, Calif.
School: LeTourneau University
Stephanie Vana has served as a volunteer coach with the East Texas Wildcatters, a local soccer club in the Longview area. She has also been a part of the community-wide clean-up activities with her soccer teammates.

Abby Weaver
Class: Freshman
Sport: Volleyball
Hometown: Richardson, Texas
School: East Texas Baptist University
Abby Weaver has been an excellent example of a service-oriented leader in her short time at East Texas Baptist. During the summer, she was part of a Young Life work crew in Colorado. As a freshman, she was a member of the ETBU Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) leadership board and is the president-elect for the coming academic year. She has been part of a women's discipleship ministry and started the volleyball team Bible study, asserting herself as a leader in this regard despite being an underclassman. Weaver has taken part in a variety of fundraising initiatives, including Dig Pink, a charity volleyball tournament, and a charity push-up contest. She is a member of the ETBU Freshman Leadership Board and in the summer of 2015, she will be a counselor at Pine Cover camps.

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