Emsick, Docking Highlight 2007 Jayhawk Senior & Scholar Banquet
May 10, 2007
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The University of Kansas Athletic Department recognized its top senior athletes for their accomplishments on the field and in the classroom at the annual Jayhawk Senior & Scholar Athlete Banquet Thursday night.
Seniors Abby Emsick and Tyler Docking received the Robert Frederick Senior-Scholar Athlete of the Year awards. Emsick, a Council Bluffs, Iowa, native and nursing major was recently named to her third-straight Academic All-Big 12 First Team, the second time in three years that she has posted a perfect 4.00 GPA. On the track, Emsick, is the school record holder in the discus (180-10) and ranks in the top five in three events: the indoor and outdoor shot put, throwing 49-3.5 and 49-8.25, respectively, and the discus.
Docking, an Olathe Kan., native and a mechanical engineering major, has recorded 21 Top 20 finishes, including 15 Top-10 finishes during his time at Kansas. Docking holds a career-best three-round total of 206 (Waikoloa Intercollegiate-2005), a career-best one-round total of 64 (Waikoloa Intercollegiate-2005), and a career-best finish in a tie for second (Roadrunner Intercollegiate-2005). Docking was also named to the 2007 Academic All-Big 12 First Team for the second time in his career. He was also named to the squad in 2005.
“Tyler truly embodies the word student-athlete,” head coach Ross Randall said. “He does everything we ask of him as a golfer and in the classroom. His major is very difficult and he has done a great job of balancing his time and excelling both on the golf course and in school.
Eleven student-athletes received a Senior Athlete of the Year award, given to those athletes who have achieved excellence at the conference, regional or national level. Those who received the award this year included Benson Chesang (Eldama Ravine, Kenya, track & field), Jana Correa (Macapa, Brazil, volleyball), Amanda Costner (Claremore, Okla., women’s golf), Abby Emsick (Council Bluffs, Iowa, track & field), Holly Gault (Spring Hill, Kan., women’s soccer), Kassie Humphries (Glendale, Ariz., softball), Lindsey Miles (Halstead, Kan., rowing) Shaquina Mosley (Lancaster, Calif., women’s basketball), David Ochoa (Houston, Texas, football), Jenny Short (Olathe, Kan., swimming & diving) and Gary Woodland (Topeka, Kan., men’s golf).
The University of Kansas also recognized two student-athlete recipients of the Prentice Gautt Big 12 Postgraduate scholarships. Jonathan Lamb (football) and Lindsey Miles (rowing) both received the prestigious award to further continue their academic pursuits.
For their academic achievements this year, 311 student-athletes were named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, 54 of which posted a perfect 4.00 GPA, including 84 Academic All-Big 12 selections and 11 Academic All-Americans. Those Academic All-Americans included Tyler Docking (men’s golf), Amanda Costner (women’s golf), Chelsea Pryor (women’s golf), Lauren Bonfe (swimming & diving), Molly Brammer (swimming & diving), Danielle Herrmann (swimming & diving), Ashley Leidigh (swimming & diving), Emily Rusch (swimming & diving), Terri Schramka (swimming & diving), Jenny Short (swimming & diving) and Lindsey Urbatchka (swimming & diving).
Egor Agafonov (men’s track & field), Charrise Bacchus (women’s track & field), Sheldon Battle (men’s track and field), Don Czyz (baseball), Paul Hefferon (men’s cross country & men’s track & field), Brandon Rush (men’s basketball), Cameron Schwehr (men’s track & field), Serena Settlemier (softball), Kate Sultanova (women’s track & field), Aqib Talib (football), Colby Wissel (men’s track & field and men’s cross country), Julian Wright (men’s basketball) and Denita Young (women’s track & field) were honored for being named Athletic All-Americans.
In addition to honoring KU’s student-athletes, Lynn Marotz (Applied Behavioral Science) was the recipient of the Del Shankel Teaching Excellence Award at Thursday night’s banquet. Richard Nelson, Diana Carlin, Mark Thompson and René Brown received the Student-Athlete Support Service Awards.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway also received a lifetime service award at the banquet for his dedication and devotion to intercollegiate student-athletes.
Don Green, the outgoing faculty-athletics representative, also received an award at the ceremony for his commitment to Kansas student-athletes and their academics.
Formerly known as the Jayhawk Scholar Recognition Banquet in its initial 10 years, the event was expanded in 2003-04 to include both academic and athletic success.
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