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CHAMPAIGN, ILL. – Softball star Nicole Evans and football player Joe Spencer garnered the prestigious Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor Monday night at the Fighting Illini Oskee Awards Celebration held at State Farm Center. More than 500 Fighting Illini student-athletes, managers and cheerleaders were honored at the Oskee Awards (formerly known as the All-Sports Celebration), an annual event that recognizes graduating student-athletes and others who have excelled both athletically and academically.
This year marks the 103rd anniversary of the Big Ten Medal of Honor, awarded annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each member institution who has demonstrated excellence on and off the field throughout their college career. The conference's most exclusive award was the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence.
NICOLE EVANS | 2017 Female Big Ten Medal of Honor
On the field, Evans leads the nationally ranked Illini in batting average (.380), slugging percentage (.853), on-base percentage (.491), RBIs (53), home runs (15), total bases (110) and walks (23) this season. Evans is the Illinois career leader in RBI with 171 and is second in career home runs (50), just one off the UI all-time record. In 2016, Evans was a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First-Team All-Midwest and Second-Team All-Big Ten honoree, helping lead the Illini to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010 while pacing the team in almost every offensive category, including batting average (.337), hits (62), doubles (18), home runs (12), RBI (53), total bases (122) and slugging percentage (.663).
The Glen Ellyn, Ill., native owns a 3.8 cumulative GPA in kinesiology and is a two-time NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten selection, while also being named a 2016 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. Earlier this spring, Evans was named Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year, named after the tennis legend to honor undergraduate students of color who best exemplify academic and athletic achievement. Looking ahead to her future, Evans plans to be a physician assistant and has already been accepted into the master's program at Illinois.
Along with her athletic and academic achievements, Evans has also put an emphasis on community service and giving back, working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the Down Syndrome Network as well as volunteering around the Champaign-Urbana community and communities the Illini visit during road trips. Evans was chosen to serve on the African American Cultural Center Director Search Committee as a student representative last fall and assists as a student-athlete representative for the University Athletic Gender Equity Committee.
"Nicole is an outstanding individual with unlimited potential," said Tyra Perry, Illinois head softball coach. "She is a person of character and purpose. Her relentless work ethic has led our program to higher heights. Nicole not only interacts well with her peers, but also with aspiring young athletes, taking special interest in teaching kids about the sport of softball and about life as a student-athlete. Nicole is a young woman with a healthy sense of who she is and where she would like to go in life. My favorite comment when asked about Nicole is that she could run for president and I would be first in line to vote for her."
JOE SPENCER | 2017 Male Big Ten Medal of Honor
Spencer was a football team captain in 2016 and earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors by the media. He started 37 games during his Illinois career, including 11 this season at center. Spencer is enrolled in the MBA program at the University of Illinois after earning a bachelor's degree in finance in May 2016. He was awarded the John Wooden Citizen Cup earlier this month, a prestigious natioinal award given to the most outstanding role model among college student-athletes.
Spencer's work in the community and the classroom has been incredible during his five years in Champaign. The 2016 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award and Fighting Illini Spirit Award honoree's long list of community involvement includes serving as president of Illinois' Uplifting Athletes chapter, president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, raising nearly $40,000 for charity in two years by organizing the Illini's "Lift for Life," helping organize Illinois' student-athlete variety show that has raised over $80,000 in the last five years, being a "Big" at the local Big Brothers Big Sisters, spearheading the Leadership Summit for local middle school students, volunteering at the Special Olympics, and visiting nearly every elementary school in Champaign-Urbana.
"In one word, Joe is exceptional," said Lovie Smith, Illinois head football coach. "He is the true epitome of the term student-athlete. His accomplishments as both a student and a football player speak for themselves. Joe is not just a leader on our football team, but in the athletic department, university, and community. He served as a leader and role model for all student-athletes and gave countless hours in the community visiting schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. Joe is as well respected as any student-athlete has been on our campus. It has been a true privilege to know and coach Joe Spencer."
THE 2017 OSKEE AWARDS
Evans and Spencer were just two of more than 500 Fighting Illini student-athletes, managers and cheerleaders honored at the Oskee Awards. Hosted by Ryan Baker, the annual event recognizes graduating student-athletes and others who have excelled both athletically and academically.
The Fighting Illini Spirit Awards, which are given to the male and female athlete who best exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini, also were handed out on Monday. Receiving the 2017 Fighting Illini Spirit Awards were Jill Nicklas of softball and basketball's Tracy Abrams.
The Leadership Academy Award was presented to a student-athlete who exemplifies leadership skills and service in the community. Alyssa Gunther of softball was awarded the Leader of Distinction honor.
The women's golf (3.63 GPA) and men's tennis (3.21 GPA) teams were recognized for having the top team cumulative grade-point averages among Illinois' varsity sports over the last two semesters, and seven individuals were honored for having the top GPA in their respective classes. Softball's Stephanie Abello (3.97 GPA in creative writing) and track & field's Joe Haight (4.0 GPA in engineering physics) had the top GPAs among sophomores. Soccer's Olivia Schmitt (3.96 GPA in journalism), basketball's Cameron Liss (3.98 GPA in accountancy) and cross country/track's Zack Smith (3.98 GPA in accountancy) were the top juniors. Among seniors, soccer's Alia Abu-Douleh (3.97 GPA in architectural studies) and track & field's Michael Hyc (Chicago, Ill., 4.0 GPA in accountancy) had the highest GPAs.
The Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarships also were awarded. Seniors Alia Abu-Douleh of soccer and Aaron Wilks of track & field received $7,500 scholarships to be utilized at their graduate schools.
The softball team received the Illini Life Skills Team Competition Award for its commitment to community service.
Twenty-five years after winning 1992 Big Ten Medal of Honor, former Fighting Illini football player Mike Hopkins and former women's basketball player Kate Riley Smith returned to campus to address the current group of student-athletes.
In addition to the awards handed out, finalists for Dike Eddleman Male and Female Athlete of the Year and Newcomer of the Year also were announced. The Eddleman and Newcomer winners will not be selected until the conclusion of the spring sports season in June.
The Conference's oldest and most prestigious award has been given annually to a male and female student in the graduating class that has demonstrated proficiency in both scholarship and athletics
» Senior Nicole Evans, Softball
» Senior Joe Spencer, Football
Fighting Illini Spirit Award Winners | Award History
Athletes who exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
» Junior Jill Nicklas, Softball
» Senior Tracy Abrams, Basketball
Leadership Academy Awards
Athletes who exemplify leadership skills and service in the community
» Senior Alyssa Gunther, Softball – Leader of Distinction
Fighting Illini Outstanding Team GPA Awards
Highest cumulative grade point average for a team over the last two semesters
» Women's Golf - 3.63 GPA, Coach Renee Slone
» Men's Tennis - 3.21 GPA, Coach Brad Dancer
Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award Winners
Female and male student-athletes with the highest grade-point average in each class of school
» Sophomore Stephanie Abello, Softball, 3.97 GPA, creative writing
» Sophomore Joe Haight, Track & Field, 4.0 GPA, engineering physics
» Junior Olivia Schmitt, Soccer, 3.96 GPA, journalism
» Junior Cameron Liss, Basketball, 3.98 GPA, accountancy
» Junior Zack Smith, Track & Field/Cross Country, 3.98 GPA, accountancy
» Senior Alia Abu-Douleh, Soccer, 3.97 GPA, architectural studies
» Senior Michael Hyc, Track & Field, 4.0 GPA, accountancy
Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
Female and male student-athletes selected to receive $7,500 scholarships to be utilized at their graduate schools
» Senior Alia Abu-Douleh, Soccer
» Senior Aaron Wilks, Track & Field
Life Skills Team Competition Award
Team that shows the most commitment to community service during the academic year
» Softball, Coach Tyra Perry
Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year Finalists | Award History
Presented to the University of Illinois male and female athletes who most excel in their sport at both the conference and national levels. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.
» Sophomore Alex Wittinger, Basketball
» Sophomore Lizzy LeDuc, Gymnastics
» Senior Nicole Evans, Softball
» Junior Pedrya Seymour, Track & Field
» Sophomore Ali Bastianelli, Volleyball
Dike Eddleman Male Athlete of the Year Finalists | Award History
Presented to the University of Illinois male and female athletes who most excel in their sport at both the conference and national levels. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.
» Senior Pat McInerney, Baseball
» Senior Malcolm Hill, Basketball
» Senior Dylan Lafond, Cross Country
» Junior Dylan Meyer, Golf
» Sophomore Alex Diab, Gymnastics
» Junior Aleks Vukic, Tennis
» Junior David Kendziera, Track & Field
» Junior Isaiah Martinez, Wrestling
Female Newcomer of the Year Finalists | Award History
Presented to a male and female, participating in their first year at Illinois, who most excel in athletics. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.
» Freshman Brandi Beasley, Basketball
» Freshman Tristyn Nowlin, Golf
» Freshman Alicia Barker, Soccer
» Sophomore Kiana Sherlund, Softball
» Freshman Jacqueline Quade, Volleyball
Male Newcomer of the Year Finalists | Award History
Presented to a male and female, participating in their first year at Illinois, who most excel in athletics. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.
» Freshman Michael Massey, Baseball
» Senior Hardy Nickerson, Football
» Freshman Michael Feagles, Golf
» Freshman Sebastian Quiana, Gymnastics
» Freshman Aleks Kovacevic, Tennis
» Freshman Jon Davis, Track/Cross Country
» Freshman Travis Piotrowski, Wrestling
Fighting Illini Female Spirit Award Finalists | Award History
Athletes who exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
» Senior Ashley McConnell, Basketball
» Senior Mary Jane Horth, Gymnastics
» Senior Jenna Miller, Soccer
» Junior Jill Nicklas, Softball ***WINNER***
» Freshman Fiona McDermott, Swimming
» Sophomore Jaclyn Switkes, Tennis
» RS Freshman Beth Prince, Volleyball
Fighting Illini Male Spirit Award Finalists | Award History
Athletes who exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
» Senior Anthony Drago, Baseball
» Senior Tracy Abrams, Basketball ***WINNER***
» Senior Joe Spencer, Football
» Senior Joey Peters, Gymnastics
» Senior Aaron Wilks, Track & Field
