Sooners Honored at Scholar-Athlete Breakfast

NORMAN — It has been a record-setting year for the University of Oklahoma in athletics competition, but the department celebrated an equally exciting year in the classroom and community on Tuesday morning at the annual Max Weitzenhoffer Scholar-Athlete Breakfast at Oklahoma Memorial Union.

The Sooners' academic achievements continue to improve as fall 2015 marked OU's eighth consecutive semester of a 3.00 cumulative GPA or better. The department's cumulative GPA of 3.06 also tied as the best in school history (also in fall 2013 and fall 2014).

“Each year it's a real source of pride for all of us,” said OU Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione. “Each year we get to celebrate an achievement that somehow sets a higher bar than the year before, which obviously gives us all a real sense of joy. Not just because of what we get to witness, but looking in the eyes of the student-athletes and seeing how they not only achieved every one of their athletic endeavors but are doing so well in the classroom, the way they serve the rest of the community, and obviously the way that their academics now are being recognized across America.”

The Sooners' trend toward a stronger academic performance continued to grow this past fall as 15 of the Sooners' 19 teams held a 3.0 cumulative GPA or better, including 3.20 or higher GPAs from baseball, men's golf, women's golf, women's gymnastics, rowing, soccer, women's cross country, women's tennis and women's track and field.

"We need to do more and more to have people understand how they are taking the educational experience that we have on our campus and extending it to everything else that they do, in how they interact with teammates and how they interact with the community."
Joe Castiglione

“I really believe that this is an extension of what they do best and that is investing in the lives of each other,” Castiglione said. “These athletes get their greatest joy by helping their teammates or one of the other student-athletes, or even a student on campus or somebody in this community do something they didn't think was possible. You see their true happiness that comes from seeing others have success, and I think therein lies the reason they are having such great personal success themselves.”

In addition to team accomplishments, OU student-athletes have captured 154 Academic All-Big 12 honors and 59 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team awards over the past year. A total of 328 Sooners earned a spot on the fall 2015 Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll, which requires at least a 3.0 GPA. Of the 328, 63 student-athletes recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Many Sooners were recognized by the university and nationally during the 2015-16 academic year as well. Football's Ty Darlington received the Campbell Trophy, awarded to college football's top scholar-athlete, and the Wuerffel Trophy, presented to an FBS player who exhibits exemplary community service. Teammate Eric Striker became the first student to ever win OU's Otis Sullivant Award, which is given annually to a university community member who exhibits “keen perceptivity.” Jenny Carmichael, a track and field redshirt junior, became the first OU student-athlete to earn a spot on the school's Homecoming Court. And men's basketball senior C.J. Cole won the NCAA's Elite 90 award, which is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships. Cole owns a 3.98 GPA.

Over the last year, OU student-athletes have devoted more than 4,000 hours to community service, making contact with hundreds of people through mentoring, speaking arrangements and other special events.

“There is, quite candidly, a lot that these student-athletes do and do so well, and that is why celebrating their success can never get old,” said Castiglione. “We need to do more and more to have people understand how they are taking the educational experience that we have on our campus and extending it to everything else that they do; in how they interact with teammates and how they interact with the community. Again, this is just a great source of pride to see them celebrated in this great way.”

The Awards and Winners

Athletics Director's Leadership Award

Given to student-athletes who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in representing the University of Oklahoma and their teams. The award recognizes the special qualities of being a leader, including mental toughness, ability to work with others, giving respect and gaining the respect of others, integrity and accountability. These qualities are tantamount to one's success in athletics and life.

Chayse Capps (Women's Gymnastics)
Emma Devine (Women's Tennis)
Buddy Hield (Men's Basketball)
Julia Reedy (Track and Field)
Eric Striker (Football)

Most Inspiring Faculty

Awarded to faculty members who have motivated and inspired our student-athletes. These faculty are nominated by the student-athletes and selected by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Dr. Dennis Awasabisah (Chemistry)
Dr. Darren Purcell (Geography)
Dr. Michael Strauss (Physics & Astronomy)

Conference Medal Award

Each member institution may award a Conference Medal Award annually to a male and female student-athlete who has completed his/her athletic eligibility and who has made the most outstanding record in athletics and scholarship. (The student must have a 3.00 minimum grade point average.) No student shall be eligible for this award that has not had 2 years of intercollegiate competition at the University of Oklahoma.

Ty Darlington (Football)
Haley Scaman (Women's Gymnastics)

Dan Gibbens Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award

Given to student-athletes who have attained the highest level of scholarly and athletic success in the prior calendar year. Scholarship is to be measured by appropriate indices and academic attainment including grade point average. Athletic success is to be measured by overall athletic performance. Students must attain an OU minimum 3.50 cumulative grade point average to be eligible for this award.

Marissa Beene (Rowing)
Madeline Brem (Soccer)
Ty Darlington (Football)
Brandon Doughty (Track and Field and Cross Country)
Alex Ghilea (Men's Tennis)
Lily Miyazaki (Women's Tennis)
Paige Parker (Softball)
Micaela Spann (Volleyball)

Athletics Council Achievement Award

Honors graduating student-athletes who have overcome great personal, academic, and/or emotional odds to achieve academic success while participating in intercollegiate athletics. These young men or women have persevered and made significant personal strides toward meeting their individual goals. The common thread for all of those to be considered for this award is a motivation/drive to succeed and work ethic that overcomes difficult situations.

Cody Brewer (Wrestling)
Maile'ana Kanewa (Women's Gymnastics)
Sergey Resnick (Men's Gymnastics)
Kaylon Williams (Women's Basketball)

Athletics Council Service Award

Student-athletes receiving this award have made important contributions to the community through their commitment to service.

Jenny Carmichael (Track and Field)
Clark Glass (Wrestling)
Haley Hill (Women's Golf)
Maddie Manning (Women's Basketball)
Sergey Resnick (Men's Gymnastics)
Taylor Spencer (Rowing)

Jay Myers Outstanding Freshman Award

Given to freshman student-athletes who best combine excellence in scholarship with potential excellence in their chosen field of athletic endeavor. The student must have a 3.00 minimum grade point average.

Caleigh Clifton (Softball)
Madison Drescher (Volleyball)
Jake Irvin (Baseball)
Madeleine Lange (Rowing)
Nicole Lehrmann (Women's Gymnastics)
Mackenzie Shell (Track and Field)
Paige Welch (Soccer)

University of Oklahoma Prentice Gautt Award

Established by the Oklahoma House of Representatives and awarded annually by OU's Black Student Association, the award honors a male and female student-athlete who demonstrate the dignity, integrity and strength of character reminiscent of Oklahoma's first African American scholarship athlete.

Devin Barrett (Soccer)
Eric Striker (Football)

Big 12 Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award

Initiated in 2011, the Gerald Lage Award is the Big 12 Conference's highest academic honor. It is named for Dr. Gerald Lage, who was the Faculty Athletics Representative at Oklahoma State University from 1983-2007. To be eligible for this award, students must have earned 100 hours with a 3.80 GPA, be a letter winner, and must be in residence at their institution for at least one academic year. Students may only be recognized one time.

Marissa Beene (Rowing)
Jenny Carmichael (Track and Field)
C.J. Cole (Men's Basketball)
Brandon Doughty (Track and Field and Cross Country)
Kelsey McKee (Track and Field and Cross Country)
Taylor Spencer (Rowing)

Academic and Student Life Award for Coaches

Presented to a coach for exemplary encouragement of the personal development and academic achievement of student-athletes through principles of life skills.

Pete Hughes (Baseball)

CHAMPS/Life Skills Team Competition Award

The team receiving this award has earned the most Life Skills Competition points by attendance at life skills events, athletics competitions, community service hours, campus cultural events, Bridge Builder and SAAC events, as well as earning high individual GPAs.

First Place: Rowing
Second Place: Women's Basketball
Third Place: Men's Gymnastics