TU Student-Athletes Honored For Academic Excellence

The University of Tulsa student-athletes were honored for their athletic and academic achievements as well as their community service and campus involvement Tuesday night at the school’s Golden ‘Cane Awards Gala.

A crowd of over 750 gathered for the 22nd Annual Golden ‘Cane Awards Gala, a Grammy Awards-type Ceremony, at the Donald W. Reynolds Center on the TU campus.

The top awards were given to TU’s “Ultimate Team”, recognizing the top student-athletes based on academic achievement, athletic success, campus involvement and community outreach.

Tulsa’s all-time passing leader Dane Evans (Football), Track All-American Marc Scott (Cross Country/Track & Field) and the school’s third-ever Rhodes Scholar Kirk Smith (Cross Country/Track & Field) headline an impressive Ultimate Team list that includes 10 seniors and one junior.

Nadia Majidizadeh (Golf), a Tulsa Union High School product, Mahitha Dadireddy (Women’s Tennis), Rachel Thun (Women’s Soccer), Jake McGuire (Men’s Soccer), Skylar Luttjehuizen (Rowing), Clara Langley (Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field), and twins Maddie and Maggie Withee (Softball) round out the Ultimate Team for the 2016-17 season.

With perfect 4.00 grade point averages throughout their collegiate careers, (Clara) Langley and (Kirk) Smith were also recognized as the Warren Garrison Academic Excellence Award-Winners, presented in honor of TU’s first academic advisor and given to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average.

The Wilson Holloway “Ultimate Service” award was established in order to recognize the efforts of student support staff for service to the teams and student-athletes. This year’s honoree is spirit team member Claire Collard.  

In December 1989, Tulsa football All-America receiver Dan Bitson’s life was altered when his automobile was struck head-on just a mile from campus. His unlikely return to football in 1991 was inspirational to many and remains an inspiration to Tulsa student-athletes today with the establishment of the Dan Bitson Courage Award.

The award is presented annually to the TU student-athlete who exemplifies courage, perseverance and tenacity for overcoming adversity. This year, two senior student-athletes were recognized with the Dan Bitson Courage Award, including volleyball student-athlete Brooke Berryhill and football receiver Keevan Lucas.

The Faculty Athletic Board Classroom Grit Award, which recognizes one female and one male graduating senior student-athlete who has faced the rigors of TU classes with extraordinary commitment and effort, went to women’s tennis athlete Yelena Nemchen and football’s James Flanders. 

The Athletes Supporting Athletes Award, an award that began in 2016, goes to the team recognized by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) that attends the most sporting events in support of their fellow student-athletes throughout the year. This year, two teams share the award –– the Golden Hurricane Women’s Golf and Women’s Tennis Teams.

The Dr. Barry Kinsey Faculty Athletics Representative Award, which goes to the Tulsa team winning a conference championship with the highest team grade point average, was presented to Men’s Cross Country

For turning in a total of 956.5 volunteer hours for an average of 73.6 hours per student-athlete in 2016-17, the Women’s Basketball Team was the recipient of the Outstanding Team Community Service Award.

A first-year award this season is the Hurricane Cup, which is a Life Skills Team Competition, based on team’s achieving points for academic achievement, athletic success, community service, development, SAAC membership and Athletes Supporting Athletes. The first-time recipient was the Men’s Cross Country Team.

Each year, Tulsa student-athletes have the opportunity to select the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Faculty Member of the Year Award. This year’s selection was Economics Professor Dr. Steve Steib.

2016-17 SPECIAL AWARDS

Ultimate Team Members (awarded to student-athletes based on academic success, campus involvement, community outreach and athletic participation)

Mahitha Dadireddy, Women’s Tennis

Dane Evans, Football

Clara Langley, Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field

Skylar Luttjehuizen, Rowing

Nadia Majidizadeh, Golf

Jake McGuire, Men’s Soccer

Marc Scott, Cross Country/Track & Field

Kirk Smith, Cross Country/Track & Field

Rachel Thun, Women’s Soccer

Maddie Withee, Softball

Maggie Withee, Softball

Wilson Holloway Ultimate Service Award (recognize the efforts of student support staff for service to the teams and student-athletes)

Claire Collard, Spirit Team

Dan Bitson Courage Award (presented to the TU student-athlete who exemplifies courage, perseverance and tenacity for overcoming adversity)

Brooke Berryhill, Volleyball

Keevan Lucas, Football

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Faculty Member of the Year Award (selected by the TU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee)

Steve Steib, Kendall Professor of Economics

Warren Garrison Academic Excellence Award (presented to student-athletes who have maintained 4.0 cumulative GPA)

Clara Langley, Cross Country/Track &Field

Kirk Smith, Cross Country/Track &Field

Athletes Supporting Athletes Award (team that attends the most sporting events in support of their fellow student-athletes)

Women’s Golf and Women’s Tennis

Outstanding Team Community Service (team with the most community service hours)

Women’s Basketball

Hurricane Cup (Life Skills Team Competition)

Men’s Cross Country  

Faculty Athletic Board Classroom Grit Award (awarded to one male and one female graduating senior student-athlete who has faced the rigors of TU classes with extraordinary commitment and effort)

Yelena Nemchen, Women’s Tennis

James Flanders, Football

Dr. Barry Kinsey Faculty Athletics Representative Award (awarded to the Tulsa team winning a conference championship with the highest team grade point average)

Men’s Cross Country

2016-17 INDIVIDUAL SPORT AWARD WINNERS

Men’s Basketball:

Junior Etou, Offensive Player of the Year

Will Magnay, Defensive Player of the Year

Women’s Basketball:

Erika Wakefield, Offensive Player of the Year

Tyjae’ Scales, Defensive Player of the Year

Football:

Dane Evans, Offensive Player of the Year

Trent Martin, Co-Defensive Player of the Year

Matt Linscott, Co-Defensive Player of the Year

Dalton Parks, Special Teams Player of the Year

Women’s Golf:

Greta Bruner, Golfer of the Year

Women’s Rowing:

Hannah Vissers, Team MVP

Jennifer Casson, Team MVP

Men’s Soccer:

Matt Puig, Offensive Player of the Year

Quinton Duncan, Defensive Player of the Year

Women’s Soccer:

Rachel Thun, Player of the Year

Anna Williams, Newcomer of the Year

Men’s Tennis:

Or Ram Harel, Most Valuable Player

Women’s Tennis:

Mahitha Daddireddy, Most Valuable Player

Men’s Track & Field:

Marc Scott, Indoor Athlete of the Year

Luke Traynor, Outdoor Athlete of the Year

Women’s Track & Field:

Stacie Taylor, Indoor Athlete of the Year

Cecilya Johnson, Outdoor Athlete of the Year

Men’s Cross Country:

Luke Traynor, Athlete of the Year

Women’s Cross Country:

Clara Langley, Athlete of the Year

Volleyball:

Erica Bohannon, Offensive Player of the Year

Brooke Berryhill, Defensive Player of the Year

Softball:

Julia Hollingsworth, Offensive Player of the Year

Emily Watson, Defensive Player of the Year