For one of the largest turnouts in the history of the State Farm Student-Athlete Academic Excellence Banquet, Neil Plank, a member of the mens basketball team, and Liina Suurvarik, a 2004 graduate and former Illinois State womens tennis player, were honored for their achievements in the classroom and on the court. Plank and Suurvarik were awarded the most prestigious award given to an Illinois State student-athlete, Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year.
Plank, a success in the classroom, community and on the court, has garnered several accomplishments in his short time as a Redbird. A native of Mt. Zion, Ill., he was a member of the 2004 Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Second Team, an AFNI Honor Roll member, a 2003-04 Co-SIDA Academic All-District honoree and a 4.0 student for four consecutive semesters. Not only has Plank been focused in the classroom, but also in the community. Plank has been involved in Redbirds for Education, Day of the Dozer, Dennys Doughnuts and was a two-year Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member. In the 2003-04 season, Plank played in all 29 games with 16 starting assignments. He averaged five points and four rebounds per game.
Suurvariks career as a Redbird ended in the spring of 2004, but not before she accomplished a long list of achievements in the process. A native of Tallin, Estonia, Suurvarik received numerous accolades for her success in the classroom. A member of the Deans List, she graduated sum cum laude, was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American, was a member of the AFNI Honor Roll and Missouri Valley Conference honor roll all four years and was a Charlotte West award nominee. She was also recognized as a two-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American. On the court, Suurvarik made four consecutive NCCA appearances. In 2002, she was ranked 13th in Regional Doubles. Three out of the four years that Suurvarik was a Redbird she was ranked regionally and nationally.
Other award recipients include golfer Sarah Loomis, a native of LaCrosse Wis., who was the recipient of the Impact Award. The Phoenix award was given to softball player Serena Cruz, from Joliet, Ill., and Jen Klosterman, former cross country and track athlete, from Highland, Ill., received the Good Neighbor Award.
During the banquet 206 student-athletes were honored as members of the AFNI Athletics honor roll. These student-athletes were recognized for posting a 3.0 grade point average or higher.
Former Illinois State athletics director, Bob Frederick, was the keynote speaker at the event. Fredericks stint at Illinois State was for a short period of time, 1985-87, but during those years he administered a 20-sport athletic program that won the Missouri Valley Conference all-sports championship in 1986. He also coordinated the development of a new basketball arena, soccer field and baseball facility for the Redbirds during his time at Illinois State. Frederick also made his mark at the University of Kansas where he was director of athletics for 14 years. Frederick has also been extremely involved in serving on the Division I Mens Basketball Committee and a member of the NCAA Committee on Womens Athletics. In 1996 the NIT named Frederick Man of the Year for his many years of involvement, encouragement and support of college basketball. Frederick currently holds a courtesy faculty appointment in the School of Education at Kansas where he teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in Sport Administration.
