Eastern Mennonite University held its Athletic Honors Banquet on April 17 in a time of reflecting upon and honoring the journeys of the Royals’ student-athletes. Seniors Andy Richter (Perkasie, PA/Christopher Dock) and Marla Young (Fishersville, VA/Wilson Memorial) won the President’s Awards, the highest athletic award given out by EMU.
Dr. Loren Swartzendruber presented the awards, which are based on academic achievement, athletic contribution, Christian commitment, leadership, campus involvement and service, as the culmination of the evening.
Young, a captain with the women’s basketball team, was also on the Dean’s List and ODAC All-Academic Team, holding a 3.71 GPA with a major in biology and minor in exercise science. She was a four-year member of Royals Society, helping with prospective students, as well as being a member of the Pre-Professional Healthy Society. Young was also a youth leader at her church and volunteered with a local food bank and the fall back-to-school backpack drive.
“Being a student-athlete has taught me to be mentally and physically strong in seemingly impossible situations,” said Young, who suffered a long-lasting shoulder injury her freshman season. “God used basketball as the framework that I could grow in my relationship with Him, share my talents with others, and now go on to pursue a career in physical therapy.”
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Dr. Ronald Stoltzfus, Faculty Athletic Representative, and Dr. Nancy Heisey, Undergraduate Academic Dean, presented the Academic Achievement Awards to each team’s individual with the highest GPA.
Those awards went to:
– Andy Richter (Perkasie, PA/Christopher Dock) and Brad Billings (Selinsgrove, PA/Selinsgrove) in baseball
– Jennifer Blankenship (Bassett, VA/Bassett) in women’s basketball
– Owen Longacre (Telford, PA/Christopher Dock) in men’s basketball
– Nels Akerson (Harrisonburg, VA/Eastern Mennonite) in men’s cross country
– Alli Eanes (Harrisonburg, VA/Westmont Hilltop) in women’s cross country and track
– Jenna Longenecker (Lancaster, PA/Conestoga Valley) in field hockey
– Bryce Shank (Harrisonburg, VA/Eastern Mennonite) in men’s soccer
– Erica Detweiler (Hickory, NC/Fred T. Foard) in women’s soccer
– Aaron Sloan (Ooltewah, TN/McCallie School) in men’s track
– Kendall Garber (Lancaster, PA/Lancaster Mennonite) in men’s volleyball
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Chris Graham
