ASC Announces Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor Awards

5/18/2016 9:20:42 AM

All-Time Recipients

RICHARDSON, Texas -- Twenty-Six graduating student-athletes from the 13 American Southwest Conference member institutions are honored by the conference and their institutions as 2015-16 ASC Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor recipients.

The ASC Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor 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 2015-16 ASC Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor represent 15 different conference sports and include individuals who graduated with academic honors, hold admission 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 and All-Conference honors; and who served as volunteers, tutors and mentors within the campus and the community.

ASC 2015-16 Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor Award Recipients

Member	Scholar-Athlete	Major(s)	Sport(s)	Hometown
Belhaven	Alonzo Peavy	Business Administration	Football	Pascagoula, Miss.
	Makenzie Hawkins	Communications	Softball	Nettleton, Miss.
Concordia Texas	Connor Bertsch	Kinesiology	Baseball	Fayetteville, Texas
	Jordan Redmond	Education	Volleyball	Liberty Hill, Texas
East Texas Baptist	Conner Combs	Business Administration	Baseball	Southlake, Texas
	Morgan Garrett	Physical Education	Basketball	Coushatta, La.
Hardin-Simmons	Colson Craddick	Exercise & Sport Science	Baseball	Lubbock, Texas
	Kara Doege	Comm. Sciences & Disorders	Golf	Monahans, Texas
Howard Payne	Richard Young	Marketing	Football	Gunter, Texas
	Allison Eaton	Psychology	Volleyball / Softball	Burnet, Texas
LeTourneau	Luke Funk	Biomedical Engineering	Cross Country	Siloam Springs, Ark.
	Kaitlynn Conway	Mechanical Engineering	Golf / Soccer	Damascus, Md.
Louisiana College	Jake Dunbar	Pre-Physical Therapy	Football	Marksville, La.
	Jessica Johnson	Psychology	Softball	Deville, La.
Mary Hardin-Baylor	Ben Hammonds	Business	Soccer	Flower Mound, Texas
	Elizabeth Ostroff	Psychology	Tennis	The Woodlands, Texas
McMurry	Michael Von Ende-Becker	Mathematics	Soccer	Lubbock, Texas
	Taylor Russell	Bio-Medical Science	Basketball	Liberty Hill, Texas
Ozarks	Travis Leach	Mathematics	Soccer / Tennis	Denton, Texas
	Nena Evans	Environmental Studies	Cross Country	Bergman, Ark.
Sul Ross State	Trent Pearson	Business Administration	Baseball	Lubbock, Texas
	Shelby Stegent	Interdisciplinary Studies	Soccer	Eustace, Texas
Texas Dallas	Michael Matthews	Business Admin. / Marketing	Soccer	Plano, Texas
	Kayla Jordan	Computer Science	Volleyball	Deer Park, Texas
Texas-Tyler	Matthew Markert	Economics	T &F / Cross Country	Lucas, Texas
	Vanessa Carrizales	Criminal Justice / Psychology	Softball	Austin, Texas

Biographical information provided by each student-athletes' Faculty Athletic Representative and Sports Information Director.

BELHAVEN UNIVERSITY

Alonzo Peavy | Business Administration | Football | Pascagoula, Miss.
Alonzo Peavy was a Dean's List selection and Dean's Circle Member. Peavy has a cumulative 3.25 grade-point average and was President of Phi Beta Lambda (Business Club). His community service involvement included the HPU SAAC Representative, member of the Campus Recreation Team Staff, a volunteer at Local Soup Kitchen, and works with his local church with community park clean up and feeding the homeless. Peavy was a three year starter at linebacker. He recorded 106 tackles, 12.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks, three pass-breakups and three passes defended.

Makenzie Hawkins | Communications | Softball | Nettleton, Miss.
Makenzie Hawkins has a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average and was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Academic Honor Society. In community service she volunteered with the Mississippi Speech School, Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital, and Church Mission Trips to Spanish Wells in the Bahamas. Hawkins was a two-year starter at second base. She had a.315 batting average, .477 slugging percentage, and a .955 fielding percentage. She was the starting second baseman on NAIA and NCCAA National Tournament Teams and received and NCCAA National Player of the Week award in 2016.

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY TEXAS

Connor Bertsch | Kinesiology | Baseball | Fayetteville, Texas
Connor Bertsch maintained a 3.0 grade-point average in one of Concordia's toughest courses of study. He was heavily involved in on-campus activities outside of baseball. On the field, he holds several career and single-season records for the Tornados. He's been a D3baseball.com All-American and was the inaugural ASC Male Athlete of the Year at Concordia Texas. Dubbed a "silent leader" by his coaches, Bertsch helped spark Concordia's late-season surge in 2016.

Jordan Redmond | Education | Volleyball | Liberty Hill, Texas
Jordan Redmond will graduate with Latin honors in December upon completion of student-teaching. She is in Concordia's strenuous education major and is focusing on preparation to teach special needs students in the Lutheran schools. She's very active in campus ministry and other on-campus groups. As a volleyball player, she made all-ASC teams in both of her seasons for the Tornados and was a team captain.

EAST TEXAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

Conner Combs | Business Administration | Baseball | Southlake, Texas
Conner Combs is a business administration major with a cumulative 4.0 grade-point average. The East Texas Baptist SAAC representative, Combs received the ETBU Athletics Academic Excellence Award and was the team captain and team chaplain in the 2016 season. For the past two seasons Combs has been recognized with the James Morgan Memorial Award. Voted on by his teammates, the award is based on the characteristics that former ETBU baseball player James Morgan showed during his life in terms of leadership, community outreach, and spiritual qualities.

Morgan Garrett | Physical Education | Basketball | Coushatta, La.
Morgan Garrett is physical education major with a cumulative 4.0 grade-point average. She received the East Texas Baptist Athletics Academic Excellence Award in 2015 and 2016. Named Miss ETBU in 2015, Garrett has been a four-year varsity player on the Tigers' basketball team and served as team captain in the 2015-16 season. A CentriKids Camp Recreation Staffer (2013, 15'), Garrett received the Dean's Award, is in the School of Professional Studies (2016) and has the highest GPA in Teacher Education (2016).

HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY

Colson Craddick | Exercise & Sports Science | Baseball | Lubbock, Texas
Colson Craddick graduated in three and a half years with a degree in exercise science. A four-year starter for the Cowboy baseball team, Craddick has been named an honorable mention All-ASC selection three times and was named third team all-conference in 2016. He is the team captain and is active with Special Olympics.

Kara Doege | Communications Sciences & Disorders | Golf | Monahans, Texas
Kara Doege was a four-year starter and significant contributor to the Hardin-Simmons golf program. She was named All-American scholar three times by the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) and is a three-time academic all-ASC selection. Doege is active on the campus with the SAAC Committee and Special Olympics.

HOWARD PAYNE UNIVERSITY

Richard Young | Football | Marketing | Gunter, Texas
A management major graduate, Richard Young has been a two-year all academic team member. A December 2015 graduate, Young is currently enrolled in graduate school working on a MBA at Howard Payne. He also received the Paul Cunningham Memorial Award, symbolic of service, effort and Christian values on and off the football field. Young has been a three-year starter at quarterback as well as team captain. He passed for over 2,070 yards in his final season and was named honorable mention at quarterback after the 2014 season.

Allison Eaton | Psychology | Volleyball, Softball | Burnet, Texas
A Psychology major, Allison Eaton graduated and is now pursuing an MBA at Howard Payne. She is a member of Psi Chi, a Psychology honor society. She was also active in her service sorority, Delta Chi Rho. Eaton has been a mainstay on the volleyball team for three years and the starting catcher on the softball team for the past two seasons. She finished the season batting .245, scored 15 runs, and had eight RBI with a .958 fielding percentage.

LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY

Luke Funk | Biomedical Engineering | Cross Country | Siloam Springs, Ark.
Luke Funk was involved with the Wheels Project and Dr. Karen Rispin, where they traveled to Kenya. He is a part of the Honors College and was a supplemental instructor for electric circuits. Funk is a member of the LETU chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society along with the Gold Key Honor Society and the Engineering Honor Society. He recently accepted a full-ride post-graduate scholarship to attend the Harvard MIT Program of Health Sciences and Technology to pursue a graduate degree in biomedical engineering. As a member of the men's cross country team, the performance by Funk at the ASC Cross Country Championships propelled the YellowJackets to a second-place team finish. He improved his time by 2:41 from his junior year to his senior year.

Kaitlyn Conway | Mechanical Engineering | Golf, Soccer | Damascus, Md.
Kaitlynn Conway received the LeTourneau University Female Scholar-Athlete Award for the 2015-16 season exemplifying an outstanding record in leadership, academics and athletics. A three-time Academic All-ASC selection in soccer, Conway was recognized as the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in 2014 and received the soccer team's Leadership Award in 2015. She also just finished her second year as a member of the LeTourneau women's golf team. Conway was involved with the First Tee Program through the Longview Boys and Girls Club, Keep Longview Beautiful and Soccer Without Borders. She has provided leadership on the LeTourneau campus as a member of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Vice President for Society for Women Engineers and Co-Chairman of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

LOUISIANA COLLEGE

Jake Dunbar | Pre-Physical Therapy | Football | Marksville, La.
Jake Dunbar has been on the Dean's List the last three semesters, was an ASC Academic All-Conference member, and a member of the National Honors Society by Alpha Lambda Delta. He was one of four people selected as a Gala Honor Court nominee for displaying academic excellence in the classroom and outstanding character on campus, and was selected as the 2015 ASC Sportsman of the Year. He will graduate with a 3.7 grade-point average and a degree in Pre-Physical Therapy. Dunbar has helped minister to the elderly in nursing homes in the area for the past four years as well as reading to elementary children through their reading program. A three year receiver on the Wildcats football team, Dunbar recorded 60 receptions for 648 yards and five touchdowns.

Jessica Johnson | Psychology | Softball | Deville, La.
Jessica Johnson will graduate from Louisiana College with a 3.90 grade-point average in psychology and has already been accepted into the master's program in clinical psychology. She has been a member of the Dean's List multiple times and the ASC Academic All-Conference Team. Johnson works with young inner city kids during the summer at the Sports Quest camp in Baton Rouge, she is an active member of the FCA and BCM on campus, and a member of the National College Humane Society Alpha Chi. She played in 75 games in her three years on the Lady Wildcats softball team with a .203 career batting average.

UNIVERISTY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR

Ben Hammonds | Business | Soccer | Flower Mound, Texas
Ben Hammonds was an All-West Region selection and was voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII Team this fall. A three-time ASC All-Conference selection, Hammonds was also a three-time ASC All-Academic recipient. Named to the ASC Men's Soccer Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team this season, Hammonds ranked among the team leaders in goals, assists and points while serving as a team captain. He is active in numerous campus activities and community service projects.

Elizabeth Ostroff | Psychology | Tennis | The Woodlands, Texas
Elizabeth Ostroff is a four-year letter winner and has played for four consecutive ASC tournament qualifiers. She has earned five total ASC All-West Division honors during her career and is a three-time ASC All-Academic selection. Ostroff is a two-time member of the ASC Women's Tennis Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team and served as a team captain. She demonstrated selfless character by playing up in the line-up this year due to injuries and defections from the team and played No. 1 singles for the Cru.

MCMURRY UNIVERSITY

Michael Von Ende-Becker | Mathematics | Soccer | Lubbock, Texas
Michael Von Ende-Becker is a two-time ASC All-Academic Team selection. A 2015 ASC Distinguished Scholar, Becker was named Heartland Conference All-Academic as a sophomore. He primarily played defender during his four seasons at McMurry.

Taylor Russell | Bio-Medical Science | Basketball | Liberty Hill, Texas
Taylor Russell is a five-time member of the McMurry Dean's List. The 2015 Dr. Sandra Harper Leadership Award recipient, Russell is a two-time ASC All-Academic, ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and NCAA National Scholar-Athlete selection. A McMurry Honors Program member, Russell is currently doing a study on diatomaceous earth and sediment and microbial growth, and plans on attending dental school. A four-year letter winner Russell played in 101 of a possible 105 career games. She was named to the 2015-16 NCCAA First team All-Central Region team and was a two-time D3Hoops.com National Team of the Week selection. In 2015-16 Russell averaged 16.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 2.4 assists per game. She recorded 17 double-doubles and scored in double figures in 22-of-24 games. She also had double-figure rebounds in 19 contests.

UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS

Travis Leach | Mathematics | Soccer, Tennis | Denton, Texas
Travis Leach ranks among the top soccer players in program history behind a decorated academic and athletic career. In the classroom, Leach was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team, ASC All-Academic Team, NSCAA Scholar All-South Region Team and was the school's ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete during his playing career. He led the team in goals and game-winning goals as a defender this season. The 2014-15 University of the Ozarks Male Athlete of the Year, Leach is a three-time all-conference selection and was the 2014 ASC Defensive Player of the Year. He served as President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee this year leading the organization in a number of community service events. He also helped the soccer and tennis teams to their respective ASC Championship Tournaments.

Nena Evans | Environmental Studies | Cross Country | Bergman, Ark.
Nena Evans has been a campus leader in conservation while excelling in her academic pursuits. The winner of the school's female Fall 2015 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete award, she has achieved membership on the ASC All-Academic Team, President's List and Dean's List. Evans, who ran at the 2015 NCAA Division III South / Southeast Cross Country Regional, was named the 2014 Student Conservationist of the Year by the Arkansas Wildlife Federation. An outdoor enthusiast, she participates in a number of activities with Ozarks Outdoors and has a role in the campus's Food For Thought Garden. She spent the summer of 2015 interning as a staff member at the Donegal Adventure Center in Bundoran, Ireland. She ran a 22:09.1 at the 5K University of the Ozarks Invitational in 2015, placing her among the top-25 fastest times in program history.

SUL ROSS STATE UNIVERSITY

Trent Pearson | Business Administration | Baseball | Lubbock, Texas
Trent Pearson has a 3.398 GPA and received his degree in business administration in May. He is a two-time ASC Academic All Conference selection and a 2015 ASC Distinguished Scholar Athlete. On the field Pearson was named ASC honorable mention at catcher in 2016 and started 31-of-33 games played. He led the team in sacrifice bunts.

Shelby Stegent | Interdisciplinary Studies | Soccer | Eustace, Texas
Woman of the Year, Shelby Stegent, will complete a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies. She has maintained a 3.70 grade-point average while participating in athletics, campus and community activities and for the past two years and served as a Resident Assistant in Lobo Village. During her Sul Ross career, Stegent has played softball and soccer and was a member of the women's cross country team. This past year, she has been the public relations officer for the Student Government Association, hosted Safe Treat in the residence halls for young Halloween trick-or-treaters and has helped coach youth basketball and softball teams. She was a Distinguished Student-Athlete twice while representing SRSU.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS

Michael Matthews | Business Administration, Marketing | Soccer | Plano, Texas
A four-year letter winner for the Comets, Michael Matthews finished his career as a three-time Academic All-ASC selection and one of the top goals scorers in program history. Matthews played in 80 career games with 28 starts over his four-year career with 17 goals, including three game-winners. As a junior, Matthews was named first team All-ASC and second team NSCAA All-West Region after helping the Comets to their first NCAA Division III Tournament appearance in nine seasons. He was tabbed Academic All-District by CoSIDA as a junior and was a two-time ASC Player of the Week during his career.

Kayla Jordan | Computer Science | Volleyball | Deer Park, Texas
One of the most decorated student-athletes in school history, Kayla Jordan finished her playing career as the Comets' all-time assists leader after leading NCAA Division III in assists during her senior season. A four-time All-ASC honoree, including three first team selections, Jordan was tabbed the ASC Offensive Player of the Year this past fall, also earning first team All-Region and honorable mention All-America honors by the AVCA. A three-time Academic All-ASC selection, Jordan played in a school-record 141 career matches for the Comets and finished with 5,210 career assists. She led the ASC in assists per set in each of her final two seasons, ending her career with 10.55 assists per set, also a program record. Jordan sparked the Comets to their first ASC title in seven seasons this past fall and lifted UTD to two NCAA Division III National Tournament appearances over the past three seasons.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLER

Matthew Markert | Economics | Cross Country, Track and Field | Lucas, Texas
Matthew Markert was a dual sport athlete running four years of cross country and competed for three years in track and field. He was named to the Presidents List with a 4.00 grade-point average in fall of 2012, 2014 and 2015, and to the Dean's List in spring of 2013 and 2015. Markert received the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Award in fall of 2013 and 2014 and in the spring of 2015 and the fall of 2015. He was named a UT Tyler Student Athlete of the Year nominee in the fall of 2014 and the spring of 2015 and to the NCAA Division III All Region Cross Country Team in the fall of 2013 (23rd), fall of 2014 (17th) and fall of 2015 (14th). Markert was the top cross country runner and MVP for UT Tyler in fall of 2013, 2014 and 2015. He was a member of seven ASC championship teams; four in cross country and three in track and field. Markert was the ASC Men's Cross Country Individual Champion in fall of 2015 and the ASC Track and Field Champion in the 3000 meter steeplechase in the spring of 2015, and received multiple ASC Runner of the Week awards. He had extensive community service involvement. Markert served as the Student Government Association (SGA) Treasurer at UT Tyler during his junior and senior year. He was the Chair of the Student Fee Advisory Committee responsible for advising administration on allocating the $1.9 million collected annually from student service fees. He served as Chair of the Student Government Appropriations Committee, the SGA Senator his sophomore year and was a member of the Student Government Appropriations Committee. Markert was a significant contributor to various UT Tyler student initiatives including an on-campus no-smoking policy, recycling programs, and University Center facility upgrades. He volunteered at multiple Road Races (Fresh 15K, Tyler Rose Marathon / Half-Marathon).

Vanessa Carrizales | Criminal Justice | Softball | Austin, Texas
Vanessa Carrizales is a criminal justice major with a minor in psychology and will graduate with a 3.82 GPA. She was a President's Scholarship recipient at UT Tyler for four years and was named to the President's List, the Dean's List 2013, 2014, was Academic All-ASC and an NFCA Academic All-American in 2014 and 2015. Carrizales was also named Academic All-ASC, NFCA Academic All-American and was an ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. She was involved in several community service activities: Austin Police Department Blue Santa (2012), East Texas Food Bank (2012- Present), Hubbard Middle School's Ace Program (2014), Tyler Kiwanis Club Turkey Shoot (2012-16) and the Boys and Girls Club of East Texas- National Kid's Day (2012). On the Patriots softball team she was named First Team All-ASC (2014, 15') and is a two-time NFCA All-West Region selection (2014, 15') and received All-American status from the NFCA (2015).

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