2008-09 ODAC Winners
Each year, Farm Bureau Insurance recognizes student-athletes from each of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s (ODAC) 22 male and female sports. The awards recognize student-athletes who distinguish themselves through outstanding classroom performance and athletic achievements.
Farm Bureau Insurance presents awards to these top male and female athletes in each ODAC-sponsored sport, applauding the commitment and desire each has shown towards collegiate excellence. The program culminates each spring when the conference names its top male and female athlete. The athletes below represent the Fall sports winners for the 2008-2009 academic year.
“We believe true achievement involves success gained through hard work and education,” says Matt Smith, Marketing Director at Virginia Farm Bureau. “Those are bedrocks of a bright future and we are proud to help recognize the excellence of intelligent and talented young people through this partnership.”
The 2008-09 scholar athlete award winners have been selected:
Men's Cross Country: Michael Welsh, Washington & Lee
Women's Cross Country: Becca Taylor, Washington & Lee
Field Hockey: Kristina Landis, Eastern Mennonite
Football: Nick Olivero, Catholic
Men's Soccer: Chris Thomas, Bridgewater
Women's Soccer: Anne Van Devender, Washington & Lee
Volleyball: Rebecca Leedom, Virginia Wesleyan
Men's Basketball: Ben Heller, W&L
Women's Basketball: Amanda Hiltunen, Randolph-Macon
Men's Indoor Track & Field: Billy Billington, Washington & Lee
Women's Indoor Track & Field: Elizabeth Webb, W&L
Swimming: Shafer Busch, Randolph-Macon
Equestrian: Ashley Lovegrove, Randolph University
Baseball: Terence McKelvey, Washington & Lee
Golf: Brian Creghan, Guilford
Men's Lacrosse: Harry St. John, Washington & Lee
Women's Lacrosse: Kelsi Robinson, Washington & Lee
Softball: Brittany Allsop, Lynchburg
Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Billy Billington, Washington & Lee
Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Elizabeth Webb, W&L
Men's Tennis: William Moss, Hampden-Sydney
Women's Tennis: Katie Tabb, Washington & Lee
The sport awards are selected by the Sports Information Director of each member institution. In order to be eligible, the student-athlete must have a cumulative 3.2 grade point average and have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her institution.
“We are proud of the accomplishments of every one of our student-athletes,” says ODAC commissioner Brad Bankston. “It is especially gratifying to be able to recognize those who personify the definition of ‘student-athlete’ through these awards, and we are proud to be affiliated with Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance in this program.”
The ODAC Board of Directors created the sport-by-sport scholar-athlete awards prior to the start of the 2003-04 academic year. The conference sports information directors have selected these honors since their inception, maintaining an equitable balance of emphasis between athletic prowess and academic achievement. Inaugurated in 1984 and 1981, respectively, the Marjorie Berkley and Harry G. “Doc” Jopson Scholar-Athlete Awards are given each May to member college seniors and conference sport participants who exhibit the highest athletic, academic, and extracurricular achievements.
In 2008, Bridgewater College’s Jeff Highfill and Washington and Lee University senior Nathaniel James shared the league’s top male student-athlete honor. The top female student-athlete was Lauren Askey, a Lynchburg College senior.