General | 5/4/2010 9:45:33 PM

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Methodist University Department of Athletics held their annual awards ceremony Tuesday night recognizing more than 400 student-athletes for another successful year.

All of the teams were treated to a buffet dinner from Olive Garden. Following dinner, student-athletes were recognized for both individual and team accomplishments.

Associate Director of Athletics DeeDee Jarman recognized 139 Methodist University Scholar Athletes, those student-athletes with a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average through the fall semester. Fifteen students were honored as senior scholar athletes with a 3.4 or better cumulative grade point average.

Each team was announced with All-Conference players, Most Valuable Players and season highlights shared with the audience as an opportunity to congratulate each other on a commendable season.

The athletic department also has a tradition of awarding Honorary Monarchs to those supporters who have given back to teams or the athletic department as a whole. Doris Jackson, Director of Student Activities was recognized for her support by the women's basketball program. Charlene Tate has spent countless hours working with the men's basketball team while Kip and Trinh Lancaster were honored for their tireless support of the baseball team. Bill Billings has been a part of Methodist University for years and has shown immense support for the athletics department.

The Male and Female Outstanding Senior Athletes of the Year were awarded during spring convocation, but Brian Leary and Susan Martin were recognized again in front of their peers for outstanding careers.

Director of Athletics Bob McEvoy awarded six staff members with five-year service awards. #C.J. Goss#, Tyrone Jones, Jennifer Cuchna, Jennifer Hoenig and Francie Barragan have all completed five years while Jarman finished her 15th year at Methodist.

The Bobby Bell Good Works Award is given to the student or staff member who represents the work ethic and character of former staff member Bobby Bell. Bell always went above and beyond to help make the department run as smoothly as possible. This year, Student Athlete Advisory Committee president and softball senior Crystal Metzger was selected to receive the award.

Metzger followed up with announcing a new award, the Dr. Elton and Jerry Hendricks award to be given beginning next spring to an alum who has made a difference following his or her athletic career at Methodist. Dr. Hendricks received a standing ovation for his service to the University and he thanked the student-athletes and coaches for giving he and his wife the opportunity to have an award named in their honor.

Conference champions cheerleading, men's golf and women's tennis were recognized along with national competitors from women's golf, track and field and potentially baseball. The evening ended with a slideshow recapping photos from the 2009-10 year.

Photo Gallery

Senior Scholar Athletes
Allison Averitt - Volleyball, Athletic Training	Jordan Grady - Volleyball
Emily Beck - Softball	Jennifer Hamel - Women's Tennis
Heather Brayton - Women's Tennis	Susan Martin - Women's Golf
Allyson Burak - Women's Golf	Erica Nath - Women's Soccer
Kelsey Carter - Volleyball	Whitney Roberson - Women's Soccer
Lindsey Cosgray - Lacrosse, Athletic Training	Kelly Shipkowski - Volleyball
Liam Friedman - Men's Golf	Alana Swain - Women's Golf
Laura Gilbert - Vollebyball

Most Valuable Players
Baseball - TBA
Men's Basketball - Mark Jernigan
Women's Basketball - Dezzire Gilliard
Cheerleading - Courtney Fernandez
Cross Country - Kristyn Zeiler, Aaron Holmes
Dance - Erinn James
Football - Chris Peoples, Brian Leary, Tyler Mosko
Men's Golf - Josh Schrader
Women's Golf - Susan Martin
Lacrosse - Lindsey Cosgray
Men's Soccer - Bret Brennan
Women's Soccer - Erica Nath
Softball - Katie Byrd
Men's Tennis - Matthew Taylor
Women's Tennis - Kaitlin Flaherty, Katherine Meindl
Track and Field - Petros Bein, Ruby Blackwell, Kristyn Zeiler
Volleyball - Stephanie Wood, Jordan Grady