Despite not being able to hold an in-person awards ceremony due to the coronavirus pandemic, Wittenberg Athletics announced the winners of the 2020 Tiger Awards last week via social media.
The Tiger Awards Banquet honors the accomplishments and hard work of Student-Athletes within our Athletic Department. The nominations for these awards are selected by Wittenberg's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and then voted on by members of SAAC, our Faculty Athletic Representatives, Brian Yontz, and Lindsay Meermans, along with an award presentation from Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation, Dr. Gary Williams.
The week started with the announcement of the Male and Female Newcomer of the Year award, which went to men's and women's soccer member's Sean Williams and Brooke Peters.
Williams was a North Coast Athletic Conference Honorable Mention in his first season in the Red and White. He led the Tigers in scoring while posting the second-most goals scored in the NCAC on the season.
Peters added to her list of accolades from her first season with the Tigers, earning NCAC Newcomer of the Year to go along with her Second Team All-NCAC mention. Peters was also named to the Ohio Soccer Coaches Association All-Ohio Third Team. She tallied five goals, adding three assists for 13 points in her first season in the Red and White.
The second award of the week was the Male and Female NCAC Scholar-Athlete Award, given to Brad Barren of Wittenberg swim & dive, and Taylor Yontz of women's volleyball. These student-athletes have excelled off the court and out of the water for the Red and White, leading by example for their fellow Tiger community. Barren and Yontz have maintained over a 3.5 cumulative GPA during their career, as Barren is set to graduate with a degree in History. Yontz closes out her time at Wittenberg with a degree in Mathematics.
The Wittenberg women's volleyball team continued to shine off the court, collecting the Team GPA award from the 2018-19 academic year, with a cumulative mark of 3.56.
Wrapping up the week of awards, the final recipients to be named were Noah Wissel of men's volleyball and Korynne Berner of women's basketball earning the Tiger Achievement Award. The Tiger Achievement Award goes to a senior that embodies the Wittenberg Athletics guiding principles of; Respect, Responsibility, and Pride on their way to becoming 'Champions for a Lifetime'.
Wissel was an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Second Team honoree, along with earning AMCC All-Academic honors. He has been a member of SAAC while serving on the executive board in a leadership position, as well as serving as a team captain for the Tigers.
Berner was the Tiger's leading rebounder and field goal shooter this season, along with serving as team captain for the Red and White. She was a member of the Alpha Lamda Delta honorary, Tau Pi Phi business honorary, as well as the Chi Alpha Sigma student-athlete honorary. Actively involved with community service during her four years at Wittenberg as a member of the Community Service Committee on campus, while also serving as Community Service Coordinator. Berner served as a volunteer at a variety of organizations around the Springfield community, including "On the Rise", "Rock of Hope" and "Project Woman". She also led the team fundraiser for the "Angel Tree Program" and organized "Gift Giving Day" at the Rocking Horse Center.
Our Wittenberg student-athletes were also honored with multiple awards across campus, as part of the honors convocation.
Presidential Scholars -- Named for each of Wittenberg's 14 Presidents, the Presidential Scholars hold the top 14 grade point averages in the junior class.
Samuel Alfred Ort Scholarship
Abigail Yunker (women's basketball)
Charles G. Heckert Scholarship
Erika Bournival (women's cross country/track & field)
Mark H. Erickson Scholarship
Lucas Klever (men's lacrosse)
The Ralston C. Thompson Awards were established in honor of the late Ralston Thompson, professor of art (1941-1970). These awards are granted by the Art Department to students who demonstrate exceptional promise in art.
Anna Lebold (women's cross country/track & field)
The Emmett Bodenberg Award for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Biology, named to honor the late professor of biology (1931-1968), is given to the junior or senior students who have excelled in and demonstrated commitment to this field of study.
The Rachel Ianni Award for Excellence in Peer Mentoring was established in memory of 2008 graduate Rachel Ianni (1986-2013). A biology major and marine science minor, Rachel served as a peer mentor for three years in the biology department, where she inspired fellow students with her knowledge of the field, passion for research, love of "good science," and joie de vivre.
Thomas Scholl (football)
Biology Senior Fellows recognizes outstanding junior Biology majors who are model representatives of both the Department and the University.
Elaina Adams (softball), Caleb Austin (men's track & field), Paxton Kreger (men's lacrosse), Abigail Yunker (women's basketball)
The Tau Pi Phi Award is given to the graduating business major who combines the highest academic achievement with university contribution.
Korynne Berner (women's basketball)
The Faculty Award for Excellence recognizes business majors with the greatest potential for career success.
Noah Moderwell (men's lacrosse)
The Denise L. Calvert Award is given to the senior business major who provides significant leadership to both the department and university, while offering a strong example of dedication to scholarship and the needs of others.
Jack Wolfe (men's lacrosse)
The Dr. Woodrow Wilson Prize for Excellence in Business, made available by the widow and children of Woodrow Wilson, professor emeritus of business administration (1956-1978), was created to give annual financial awards to students who major and excel in management.
Erin Adams (women's golf)
The Virginia Lucas Silver Apple Award is presented to the Education Department junior who displays the qualities exemplified by Professor Emerita of Education Virginia Lucas (1973-1992).
Caleb Austin (men's track & field)
The Geology Alumni Fund for Student Development recognizes an outstanding incoming freshman who intends to major in Geology.
Hannah Hayes (women's cross country/track & field)
The Kurt J. Fickert Award, established in honor of Kurt J. Fickert, professor of languages (1956-1986), is presented to an outstanding junior or senior majoring in French, German, or Spanish or completing advanced studies in Russian. The recipient must possess those qualities exemplified by Professor Fickert during his more than 30 years of service to the Department of Languages and to the university: an understanding of and commitment to the humanistic values fostered by an education in the liberal arts, a lively interest in intellectual endeavor and achievement, and plans for a career that will enrich the lives of others.
Danny Barren (football)
The Meagan Toothman Scholarship is named for Meagan because she represented the best of Wittenberg as a scholar-athlete, a beloved sister in her sorority and a friend to many. Meagan followed Wittenberg's motto of "having light we pass it on to others" in supporting countless individuals. This scholarship is awarded annually to a junior or senior psychology student who is hardworking, passionate and engaged in the community.
Gabby Zysik (women's lacrosse)
The Virgil E. Rahn Memorial Fund in Psychology has been established to honor an outstanding junior student in psychology.
Lucas Klever (men's lacrosse)
The David Hartman Award, established in honor of the late David Hartman, associate professor of religion (1962-1976), is awarded to an outstanding senior in the Department of Religion based upon the student's academic performance, ability to relate the study of religion to the liberal arts, and contributions to the department and its program.
Danny Barren (football)
The Award for Excellence in Russian and Central Eurasian Studies is given to an outstanding senior Russian and Central Eurasian Studies major.
Danny Barren (football)
The Community Service Champion Award recognizes a student's commitment to service, the quality of his/her service, and his/her positive impact on the City of Springfield and Clark County. It is not merely the student's hours of service, but the impact on the quality of life in the Springfield community that is most important.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Award was instituted in 1981 to recognize two outstanding black seniors, one man and one woman, who have been positive examples to members of the black community and to the university at-large during their college careers. The Copeland Community Service and Social Justice Award recognizes a student who has demonstrated engaged citizenship in the Springfield/ Clark County community. It is not merely the student's hours of service, but the ability to think critically about difficult social issues and the willingness to work to confront these issues with compassion and commitment that is most important.
Jonathan Seay (football/track & field)
Alma Mater is a traditional honor bestowed upon a junior female student who possesses qualities of leadership, scholarship and service. Final candidates are selected from a pool of nominees determined by students, faculty and staff. The Alma Mater is chosen in a campus-wide election.
The 2020 honoree is: Elaina Adams (softball)