McKendree University

McKendree University senior Destiny Johnson is a 2024 recipient of the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award and a Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

MaryAnn Romagna, a senior from Eagle, Wis., was recently named this year's recipient of the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award and Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

Zane Phillips, an international relations major from Chambersburg, Ill., received the 2025 Technos International Prize on Friday, May 9 during the undergraduate commencement ceremony. The Technos International Prize is given each year by the Tanaka Ikueikai Educational Trust for outstanding academic achievement and a commitment to the cause of international understanding.

Maria Vitoria Salomao is this year's recipient of the Technos International Prize. The award was presented on Friday, May 10 during the undergraduate commencement ceremony.

McKendree University senior Brad Eston is a 2023 recipient of the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award and a Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

Peyton Osgood is this year's recipient of the Technos International Prize. The award was presented on Friday, May 12 during the undergraduate commencement ceremony.

Kyle Garrett is this year's recipient of the Technos International Prize. The award was presented on May 13 during the undergraduate commencement ceremony.

McKendree University senior Jessica Hoffmann is a 2021 recipient of the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award and a Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

McKendree University senior Breanna Sampo is a 2022 recipient of the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award and a Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

McKendree University's lacrosse program was one of 55 NCAA Division II women's lacrosse programs named an Academic Honor Squad by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) for the 2020-21 season. They surpassed the minimum 3.20 cumulative GPA threshold. Along with being named to the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll, eleven women's lacrosse players were named to the IWLCA Division II Academic Honor Roll for the 2020-21 season. To be eligible for the Academic Honor Roll, student-athletes must be a junior, senior or graduate student and have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or greater. Honorees included: Kat Albrecht, Jr., Louisville, Ky./Eastern Clara Andrews, Jr., St. Louis, Mo./Nerinx Hall Mackenzie Bemis, Sr., Eureka, Mo./Eureka Jennifer Eggert, R-Sr., Carmel, Ind./Carmel Sarah Hardin, Sr., Pacific, Mo./Pacific Oriana Johnson, Sr., Monticello, Minn./Monticello Brittany Koch, So., Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Bloomfield Hills Jess Morey, St., Loveland, Ohio/Loveland Rylee Skachenko, Sr., Oceanside, Calif./Carlsbad Kayla Smith, Gr., O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township Aly Curran, Jr., Bolton, Mass./Nashoba

McKendree University men's track and field sophomore Eugene Omalla a sophomore from Tororo, Uganda, was named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division II All-Academic Athlete team. Omalla, who was an All-American in the 400-meter dash at the 2021 NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track and Field Championships, was one of 325 Division II men named an All-Academic Athlete for the 2020-21 season. At this year's NCAA D-II National Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Omalla ran a personal-best and school record time of 46.71 in finishing as the national runner-up in the 400-meter dash. His school record time at the NCAA D-II Championships bettered the old school record of 47.26 that Omalla set at the 2021 Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships. In order to be named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete Team, a student-athlete must maintain at least 3.25 cumulative grade point average. In addition, the successful candidate must automatically or provisionally qualify for the NCAA Division II track and field national championship meet (either indoor or outdoor).

The McKendree University women's volleyball team was recognized by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) with USMC/AVCA Team Academic Awards for the 2020-21 school year. For the ninth consecutive year and 15th time in the program's history, the women's volleyball team earned the Team Academic Award, which recognizes teams who maintain at least a 3.30 cumulative team GPA on a 4.0 scale for the school year or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale. The women's squad compiled a 3.55 team grade point average. Individually, 17 student-athletes also earned Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Academic All-Conference honors, including: Brianna Binder, Fr., Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge Avery Carr, Fr., Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington Alexa Clark, Fr., Jackson, Mo./Notre Dame Regional Claire Diercks, So., Highland, Ill./Highland) Hope Gramly, Jr., Prosper, Texas/ Prosper Gracie Marr, Sr., Castle Rock, Colo./Castle View Lauren McCurley, Fr., Troy, Ill./Triad Maddie Misner, So., Makanda, Ill./Carbondale Alexandria Muschong, Jr., Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock Sarah Porter, So., Glfford, Ill./Armstrong Township Colleen Preusser, Fr., St. Charles, Mo./Lutheran McKenna Ross, Jr., Anthem, Ariz./Boulder Creek Elle Russell, Sr., Festus, Mo./St. Pius X Morgan Sterrett, Jr., Schamburg, Ill./Schamburg Alex Tinnin, Sr., Festus, Mo./Festus Amanda Tippett, So., Lake St. Louis, Mo./St. Dominic Shelbi Whitlock, Fr., Lake St. Louis, Mo./Timberland

The McKendree University men's basketball and women's bowling teams were named Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Team Award winners. The GLVC renamed its annual sportsmanship award in 2016 after Spalding, who is referenced as one of the league's two "Founding Fathers" and for his longtime service at Bellarmine. Spalding was first a basketball student-athlete at Bellarmine, who later returned to serve his alma mater as assistant basketball coach (1957-66), head basketball coach (1966-71), men's cross country/track coach (1961-75), men's tennis coach (1961-62), and men's golf coach (1967-69), before being elevated to director of athletics (1971-94). Individually, 15 male and 15 female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior, were named 2020-21 James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Individual Award winners. Jaimie Omalla, a sophomore track and field athlete from Tororo, Uganda, and Rebecca Hagerman, a sophomore women's bowler from Loves Park, Ill., were recognized from McKendree University. Each institution - through the head coach - names one award honoree in each sport sponsored, then selects one male and one female student-athlete from its season-long list of honorees to be named as James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Individual Award winners. In addition to Omalla and Hagerman, 19 other student-athletes were honored by McKendree, including: Riley Bishop, Fr., Grayslake, Ill./Warren Township, Women's Cross Country Brooke Boatman, Jr., Troy, Ill./O'Fallon Township, Women's Golf Devin Caswell, Jr., New Athens, Ill./New Athens, Men's Cross Country Jacob Donaldson, Sr., Effingham, Ill./Effingham, Men's Basketball Daniel Filipek, R.-Sr., Warrenton, Mo./Warrenton, Men's Wrestling Kaelyn Froebe, R.-So., Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln, Women's Basketball Kenneth Glidden, Jr., George Town, Cayman Islands/Stingray Swim Club, Men's Swimming & Diving Regan Gubera, Fr., Jamestown, Ind., Women's Swimming & Diving Sarah Hardin, Sr., Pacific, Mo./Eureka, Women's Lacrosse Emily Kettering, So., Bloomington, Ill., Normal Community West, Women's Tennis Danielle Knutson, Sr., Maryville, Ill./Collinsville, Women's Soccer Caitlyn Lowry, Gr., St. Louis, Mo./Notre Dame, Softball Lauren McCurley, Fr., Troy, Ill./Triad, Women's Volleyball Devon Myles, Jr., Chicago, Ill./Westinghouse College Prep, Football Brett Niedzwiecki, Sr., Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville, Men's Soccer Will Postlethwaite, Sr., Carlisle, U.K./William Howard School, Men's Golf Julappagari Reddy, So., Dubai, United Arab Emirates/CBSE School Nationals, Men's Tennis Jared Timmermann, Gr., New Baden, Ill./Wesclin, Baseball Kayla Tirey, Jr., Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville, Women's Track and Field

Twenty four McKendree University student-athletes earned the Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award from the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). Named after Brother James Gaffney FSC, former President of Lewis University for over 28 years and two-term Chair of the GLVC Council of Presidents, the award is presented annually to student-athletes competing in GLVC-sponsored sports who achieve a 4.0 grade point average during the course of the academic year. The honorees for the 2020-21 GLVC Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award are listed below: Clara Andrews, Jr., St. Louis, Mo./Nerinx Hall, Women's Lacrosse Morgan Andrews, So., Creal Springs, Ill./Marion, Softball Abby Behlmann, So., O'Fallon, Mo./Liberty, Softball Mackenzie Bemis, Sr., Eureka, Mo./Eureka, Women's Lacrosse Brianna Binder, So. Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge, Women's Volleyball Viola Cipriani, So., Arezzo, Italy/Liceo Classico Francesco Petrarca, Women's Tennis Hallie Dixon, Jr., Jeffersonville, Ind./Jeffersonville, Women's Swimming & Diving Noah Fishel, So., Indianapolis, Ind./Southside Indy Aquatics, Men's Swimming & Diving Leonardo Frederico, So., Tijucas-Santa Cantrina, Brazil/Colegio De Aplicacao Univali, Men's Tennis Ryan Haynes, Fr., Pekin, Ill./Pekin Community, Men's Wrestling Jessica Hoffman, Jr., Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic, Women's Soccer Jenny Homann, Sr., Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg, Softball Destiny Johnson, Fr., Maryville, Ill./Collinsville, Women's Soccer Maddie Misner, Jr., Makanda, Ill./Carbondale, Women's Volleyball Molly Muennich, So., Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart Academy, Women's Lacrosse Noah Pierce, Jr., Tuscola, Ill./Tuscola Community, Baseball Will Postlethwaite, Sr., Carlisle, U.K./William Howard School, Men's Golf Haley Rey, Jr., Columbia, Ill./Flyers Aquatic Swim Team, Women's Swimming & Diving Vincenzo Scaletta, R.-Sr., Harwood Heights, Ill./Ridgewood, Men's Wrestling Evan Spears, Sr., Eureka, Mo./Eureka, Baseball Jordan Sprycha, Fr., Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn Community, Football Lauren Stolzman, So., Hudson, Wis./Hudson, Women's Basketball Shelby Summer, Sr., Washington, Ill./Washington, Softball Kenny Tomason, R.-Jr., Ludlow, Ill./Paxton-Buckley-Loda, Football

McKendree University had 37 student-athletes earn the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Council of Presidents' Academic Excellence Award for the 2020-21 academic year. The recipients of the GLVC Council of Presidents' Academic Excellence Award exemplify the outstanding student-athletes of the league. Each honoree has exhausted his or her eligibility in the intercollegiate sport in which they participated and maintained at least a 3.5 grade-point average throughout their academic career. In addition, to be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must have competed in the GLVC for a minimum of two years and completed 96 credit hours. A student-athlete can only earn the distinguished honor one time in his or her career. A total of 16 students from seven member institutions met the highest standard of academic excellence by concluding their collegiate careers with an unblemished 4.0 cumulative grade-point average. That exclusive list includes four individuals from McKendree: Miranda Gajewski, Sr., Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest, Softball Margaret Schnoeker, Sr., Coulterville, Ill./Okawville, Women's Golf Caleb Shipley, Sr., Centralia, Ill./Centralia, Football Shelby Summer, Sr., Washington, Ill./Washington, Softball Other GLVC Council of Presidents' Academic Excellence Award honorees included: Natasha Ainsley-Thomas, Sr., Middleton, England/Sponne School, Women's Golf Brian Baggette, Sr., Glen Carbon, Ill./Edwardsville YMCA Breakers, Men's Swimming & Diving Mackenzie Bemis, Sr., Eureka, Mo./Eureka, Women's Lacrosse Isabella Correa Sarmiento, Sr., Cali, Colombia/Colegio Leonistico La Merced. Women's Bowling Jacob Donaldson, Sr., Effingham, Ill./Effingham, Men's Basketball Jennifer Eggert, R. Sr., Carmel, Ind./Carmel, Women's Lacrosse Sarah Hardin, Sr., Pacific, Mo./Eureka, Women's Lacrosse Morgan Hollenbeck, Eureka, Mo./Eureka, Women's Soccer Jenny Homann, Sr., Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg, Softball Karley Kaimann, Sr., Old Monroe, Mo./Winfield, Women's Soccer Sara Kalkenova, Gr., Astana, Kazakhstan/Zerde School No. 9, Women's Tennis Macy Kuhnke, Gr., Marion, Ill./Marion, Women's Golf Alli Liske, Sr., Ashley, Ill./Nashville, Softball Caitlyn Lowry, Gr., St. Louis, Mo./Notre Dame, Softball Gracie Marr, Sr., Castle Rock, Colo./Castle View, Women's Volleyball Jess Morey, Sr., Loveland, Ohio/Loveland, Women's Lacrosse Alex Muschong, R. Jr., Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock, Women's Volleyball A'ja Nauden, Sr., Park Forest, Ill., Rich East, Women's Track & Field Brett Niedzwiecki, Sr., Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville, Men's Soccer Alynnah O'Leary, Sr., Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville, Women's Soccer McKenzie Pirtle, Sr., Sullivan, Ind./Sullivan, Softball Callie Pohlman, Sr., Appleton, Wis./Appleton North, Women's Basketball Jacob Reinkenmyer, Sr., Wildwood, Mo./Eureka, Baseball Victoria Sananikone, Sr., Cedar Park, Texas/Lost Creek Aquatics, Women's Swimming & Diving Hayden Schaffer, Sr., O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township, Baseball Rylee Skachenko, Sr., Oceanside, Calif./Carlsbad, Women's Lacrosse Kayla Smith, Gr., O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township, Women's Lacrosse McKenzie Smith, Sr., Smithton, Ill./Freeburg, Women's Bowling Mac Thomalla, Sr., Reading, England/Football Academy Bisham, Men's Soccer Jared Timmermann, Gr., New Baden, Ill./Wesclin, Baseball Craig Tompkins, Sr., Edmond, Okla./King Marlin Swim Club, Men's Swimming & Diving Nikola Uskokovic, Sr., Johannesburg, South Africa/Lycee Francais Jules Verne, Men's Golf Mya Watson-Blake, Sr., O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township, Women's Track & Field

Eleven McKendree University women's water polo players were recently named to the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Conference All-Academic Team for the 2020-21 school year. To qualify for the WWPA All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must have participated in at least 50 percent of games during the 2020-21 season, carry a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, classified as a full time student and have completed at least one semester or two quarters at their institution. Honorees included: Maddy Bolton, Jr., Alta Loma, Calif./Los Osos Abigail Burton, Jr., (Chino, Calif./Chino Alivia Garcia, So., Buena Park, Calif./Kennedy Alaina Johnson, Sr., Mason, Ohio/William Mason Kaitlyn Kasper, Fr., Thomasville, Ga./Thomasville Carley Manuel, Jr., Lantana, Texas/Guyer Nicky Rafalo, So., Chicago, Ill./Maine South Katelyn Rodrigue, So., Brentwood, Calif./Heritage Isabella Strimling, Sr., Brentwood, Calif./Heritage Rio Tomlinson, Fr., Okemos, Mich./Okemos Emily Westlove, Sr., Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central

Nine McKendree University women's water polo players were recently named to the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches and Collegiate Water Polo Association (ACWPA) All-Academic Team for the 2020-21 school year. Nominees for ACWPA All-Academic Team honors must achieve a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or higher during the 2020-21 school year to be eligible for the award. Student-athletes are recognized in three levels - 3.2 to 3.4 (Excellent), 3.41 to 3.7 (Superior) and 3.71 to 4.0 (Outstanding). Honorees included: Excellent (3.2-3.4) Maddy Bolton, Jr., Alta Loma, Calif./Los Osos Alivia Garcia, So., Buena Park, Calif./Kennedy Superior (3.41-3.7) Abigail Burton, Jr., (Chino, Calif./Chino Alaina Johnson, Sr., Mason, Ohio/William Mason Carley Manuel, Jr., Lantana, Texas/Guyer Isabella Strimling, Sr., Brentwood, Calif./Heritage Rio Tomlinson, Fr., Okemos, Mich./Okemos Emily Westlove, Sr., Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central Outstanding (3.71-4.0) Kaitlyn Kasper, Fr., Thomasville, Ga./Thomasville The women's program also earned team-wide recognition of overall excellence as they achieved a 3.04 cumulative GPA.

Eight McKendree University women's wrestlers were named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NCWA) Scholar All-America Team during the 2020-21 season. This season, the NCWA had a total of 101 individuals represented by 16 different institutions on the 2021 Individual Scholar All-American Teams. Honorees included: Emma Bruntil, So., Acme, Wash./Mount Baker Senior Pauline Granados, R-So., Rialto, Calif./Carter Cameron Guerin, Fr., Yakima, Wash./A.C. Davis Joye Levendusky, Jr., Avon, N.Y./Avon Emmily Patneaud, Fr., Newark, Calif./Gilory Natalie Reyna, Jr., Hesperia, Calif./Whittier Payton Stroud, So., Buckley, Wash./White River Felicity Taylor, Jr., Spillville, Iowa/South Winneshiek The Bearcat team also recorded the second highest team GPA among the Top 10 teams recognized, with a team GPA of 3.720.

Seven McKendree University women's hockey players were recently named Academic All-Americans by the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) for the 2020-21 school year. In order to be considered for Academic All-American honors from the ACHA, the student-athletes from ACHA programs have to be classified as a junior, senior or graduate student and have a 3.2 GPA or higher. Honorees included: Elia Burbidge, Sr., Tottenham, Ontario/The Hill Academy Laurynn Davey, Sr., Owens Cross Roads, Ala./Huntsville Chase Hallemann, Sr., Ballwin, Mo./Marquette Callie Hoadley, Sr., Hanover, Mass./Hanover Brittany Koch, Jr., Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Bloomfield Hills Naomi Leasck, Jr., St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh Paris Suzuki, Sr., Covina, Calif./Covina

Ten McKendree University women's bowlers earned National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) All-Academic Team honors during the 2020-21 season. In order for a student-athlete to earn NTCA All-Academic honors, a student-athlete must have had a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher for the 2020-21 academic year to qualify. Honorees included: Isabel Allen, Fr., Tamworth, England Alyson Burns, Fr., Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic Isabella Correa Sarmiento, Sr., Cali, Colombia/Colegio Leonistico La Merced Rhian Dobinson, Fr., Farnborough, England Dominique Donegan, Fr., Midlothian, Ill./Breman Brianna Evans, So., Topeka, Kan./Seaman Hope Gramly, Jr., Prosper, Texas/Prosper Rebecca Hagerman, So., Loves Parks, Ill./Harlem Britaney Myers, Sr., Mechanicsville, N.Y./Stillwater Maranda Pattison, So., Redwood Valley, Calif./Ukiah Independent In addition, the women's bowling program was recognized by NTCA for its success in the classroom during the 2020-21 season. McKendree was one of a record 59 teams to earn an NTCA All-Academic Team honor as the Bearcats finished the year with a 3.32 team grade point average. In order to earn a NTCA Team All-Academic Award, a team must have achieved a team GPA of 3.2 or higher.

The McKendree University men's volleyball program earned several academic awards for the 2020-21 school year. The team earned a United States Marine Corps (USMC) / American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award and was one of seven men's collegiate volleyball programs to earn the Team Academic Honor Roll, which represents the highest scholarly achievement for the Top 20 percent of team GPAs from each division. Twenty players were also selected to the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) All-Academic Team, including: Ethan Carroll, R-Sr., OH, Barrington, Ill./Barrington Kolten Christenson, Fr., OH, Phoenix, Ariz./O'Connor Francisco Comas, Jr., Libero, Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley Wyatt Dimke, Gr., MB, Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine Daniel Duggan, R-So., MB, Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North Brendon Dunn, R-Jr., OH, Sherman Oaks, Calif./Notre Dame Cameron Fimbres, Fr, OH, Tucson, Ariz./Pueblo Hayden Frear, So., OH, Colorado Springs, Colo./Vanguard Lucas Galifos, Gr., OH, Mokena, Ill./Lincoln Way East Jacob Gall, R-So., MB, Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic Evan Gebert, Gr., OPP, Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider Chris Kissling, Fr., Lib., La Habra, Calif./Los Altos Tommy McGrath, R-Jr., MB, MB, Paradise Valley, Ariz./Brophy College Prep Niklas Oltmanns, Fr., MB, Duluth, Minn./Duluth East Tyler Poulsen, So., S, Gilbert, Ariz./Campo Verde Patrick Ross, Sr., OH, Anthem, Ariz./O'Connor Zach Schnittker, Gr., Opp., Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove Ryan Serrano, R-Jr., S, Phoenix, Ariz./Boulder Creek Kyle Wilson, R-Fr., OH, Nassau, Bahamas/Queen's College Nikos Xydakis, Fr., Opp., Roscoe, Ill./Boylan Catholic

Six McKendree University men's wrestlers were named National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division II Scholar All-Americans for the 2020-21 school year. In order for a student-athlete to be nominated to the Division II Scholar All-American Team, he must have a minimum 3.4 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale, with that benchmark at 3.25 for those who qualified for the 2020 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. Below are this year's McKendree University men's wrestling Scholar All-Americans: Ryan Haynes, Fr., Pekin, Ill./Pekin Community Logan Kvien, R-Fr., Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein Josh Ramos, R-Fr., Plainfield, Ill./Providence Catholic Nate Smalling, Gr., Belleville, Ill./Belleville West Robbie Snellenberger, R-So., St. Charles, Mo./Lutheran Kevin Zange, R-Sr., Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock

McKendree University senior Caleb Shipley has received the 2020 Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award as a Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

Mitch Deleel, an award-winning debater who made his mark at McKendree University and on the national stage, has received the 2021 Technos International Prize.

Jessica Morey is the 2021 McKendree University School of Business Outstanding Student of the Year, sponsored by Northwestern Mutual.

A McKendree University Class of 2020 graduate with an adventurous spirit, a thirst to discover the world and a desire to help others, has received this year's Technos International Prize.

McKendree University senior Emily Berry has received the state's highest student honor, The Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, from the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

Awarded each year at comencement to a graduatiing senior, the Technos International Prize recognizes outstanding academic performance and a commitment to international understanding.

The Technos International College Prize is given each year to a graduating senior chosen by the faculty for outstanding academic performance and a commitment to international understanding.

The Lincoln Academy of Illinois presented McKendree University senior Andrew Wagner with The Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, the state's highest student honor.