The State Farm Student-Athlete Academic Excellence Banquet that will be held Sunday, October 24, at Redbird Arena will award not only the Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year, but will also give out three new awards, the Phoenix Award, Good Neighbor Award and Impact Award.
The female Scholar-Athletes of the Year nominees include Heather Forsyth, a member of the womens soccer team from Burlington, Ontario, Ashlee Johnson, womens golf, from Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Emily Kabbes, volleyball, from Normal, Ill., Lisa Klein, gymnastics, from St. Peters, Mo,. Jen Klosterman, cross country/track and field, from Highland, Ill., Chris Kutschinski, womens basketball, from Ann Arbor, Mich., Kate Stake, softball, from Buffalo Grove, Ill., and Liina Suurvarik, womens tennis from Tallin, Estonia. The male nominees include Stephen Carroll, football, from OFallon, Ill., Mark Jackson, track and field, from Batavia, Ill., Neil Plank, mens basketball, from Mt. Zion, Ill. and Nate Whitney, baseball, from Bloomington, Ill.
The Phoenix Award will be given to an athlete who has overcome academic challenges and has made a consistent academic progress throughout their career. The nominees for this award are Gregg Alexander, mens basketball, a native of Lincoln, Ill., Greg Baker, cross country/track and field, from Hoffman Estates, Ill., Serena Cruz, softball, from Joliet, Ill., and Monique Witkowski, a member of the swim team, from Tinley Park, Ill.
The Good Neighbor Award will be given to a student-athlete who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to excellence in academics, service to others, and personal conduct. They also volunteer their time to assist fellow student-athletes in their endeavors to achieve their academic goals. Nominees for the Good Neighbor Award are Klosterman, Antwan Oliver, football, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Plank, Amber Rogers, volleyball, from Muskegon, Mich., and Stake.
The recipient of the Impact Award embodies the commitment to excellence. This individual desires to make an impact on the lives of others with their outstanding leadership skills, commitment to academics and their service to the community. The nominees for this award are Ryan Brown, mens golf, a native of Stauton, Ill., Klein, Kevin Kreger, football, from Frankfurt, Ill., Sarah Loomis, womens golf, from LaCrosse, Wis. and Kelly Rikli, volleyball, from Highlands Ranch, Colo.
The academic staff at Illinois State University will vote on the Phoenix and Impact Award nominees, while the Good Neighbor Award will be voted on by the academic staff and State Farm Insurance representatives.
The awards will be presented during the State Farm Student-Athlete Academic Excellence Banquet.
