Started in 2008 Eastern Illinois Athletics began recognizing its top senior performers based on their athletic performance, academic performance and community service. In 2012 the Athletic Director's Award was added taking the place of the former Scholar-Athlete and Extend-A-Paw Award winners. The Athletic Director Award finalists are named at the Academic/Senior Banquet held each April. Starting in 2015 the newly created Newcomer of the Year Award and the Athlete of the Year ** award will be selected and announced during the summer after all athletic competition has been completed. Listed below are the past winners in each category (former awards/winners are listed at the bottom of the page).
** After not selecting winners for awards in 2019-20 due to COVID-19, the Male and Female Athlete of the Year were adjusted to be awarded to the top performing athlete for that competition year, regardless of academic class (previously was awarded to the top senior athlete). The Athletic Director's Award will now be awarded to the top Senior Male & Female Athlete based on their career performance in athletics, academics and community service.
The Eastern Panthers In The Community Award (EPIC) was started in 2009 by the EIU athletic department to promote student-athlete involvement in the community and the campus as well as strive for overall personal development. Each team is awarded points on a varying scale throughout the year based on community service, academic excellence, and season accomplishments.
The Dr. Gail Richard Sportsmanship Award was created during the 2023-24 academic year and is presented annually to a top student-athlete that portrays all aspects of sportsmanship in their sport, in the classroom and in their community. Nominations for this award are generated by the head coaches of EIU's Athletic Teams.
Senior Male Athlete |
Senior Female Athlete |
Athletic Director Award |
Newcomer Awards |
EPIC Trophy |
Dr. Gail Richard Sportsmanship |
Discontinued Awards |
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR **
2025 - Cooper Willman, Football
2024 - Ramsey Hunt, Track & Field & Adam Swanson, Cross Country / Track & Field
2023 - Ryan Ignoffo, Baseball
2022 - Dustin Hatfield, Cross Country / Track & Field
2021 - Trey Sweeney, Baseball
2020 - Not awarded due to COVID-19
2019 - Alexander Hollins, Football
2018 - Mike Novotny, Soccer
2017 - Riley McInerney, Cross Country / Track & Field
2016 - Dino Fanti, Football
2015 - Collin Seibert, Football
2014 - Jimmy Garoppolo, Football
2013 - Dominique Hall, Track & Field
2012 - Zye Boey, Track & Field
2011 - Tyler Arnholt, Track & Field
2010 - Chaz Millard, Football
2009 - Brett Nommensen, Baseball
2008 - Donald Thomas, Football
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR **
2025 - Macy McGlone, Basketball
2024 - Giovana Larregui Lopez, Volleyball & Macy McGlone, Basketball
2023 - Olivia Price, Softball
2022 - Lindsey Carlson, Cross Country / Track & Field
2021 - Megan Burton, Softball
2020 - Not awarded due to COVID-19
2019 - Taylor Smith, Volleyball
2018 - Haleigh Knapp, Track & Field
2017 - Bryn Buckwalter, Track & Field
2016 - Janie Howse, Track & Field
2015 - Sabina Oroszova, Basketball
2014 - Reynae Hutchinson, Volleyball/Softball
2013 - Ta'Kenya Nixon, Basketball
2012 - Megan Gingerich, Track & Field
2011 - Amber May, Softball
2010 - Kandace Arnold, Track & Field
2009 - Rachel Galligan, Basketball
2008 - Sandra Sasidharan, Tennis
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR'S AWARD
2025 - Ramsey Hunt, Track & Field
- Briana Gonzalez, Softball
2024 - Chad Strickland, Football
- Rachel Kaufman, Softball
2023 - Dustin Hatfield, Cross Country / Track & Field
- Akiya Kollore, Track & Field
2022 - Jaime Marcos, Cross Country / Track & Field
- Megan Burton, Softball
2021 - Josiah Wallace, Men's Basketball
- Haley Mitchell, Softball
2020 - Not awarded due to COVID-19
2019 - Srishti Slaria, Women's Tennis
2018 - Maria Baldwin, Cross Country / Track & Field
2017 - Riley McInerney, Track & Field / Cross Country
2016 - Nick Smith, Soccer
2015 - Will Butler, Soccer
2014 - Cameron Berra, Football/Baseball
2013 - Abby Wood, Softball
2012 - Bridget Sanchez, Track & Field
MALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR AWARD
2025 - Abraham Johnson, Track & Field
2024 - MJ Flowers, Football
2023 -
Not awarded
2022 - Chris Worcester, Baseball
2021 - Richie Jacobo, Cross Country / Track & Field
2020 - Not awarded due to COVID-19
2019 - Josiah Wallace, Basketball
2018 - Mark Williams, Football
2017 - Muusa Dama, Basketball
2016 - Devin Church, Football
2015 - Cornell Johnston, Basketball
FEMALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR AWARD
2025 - Kiyley Flowers - Basketball
2024 - McKenzie Oslanzi - Softball
2023 - Giovana Larregui Lopez - Volleyball
2022 - Jaylen Prichard, Softball
2021 - Kennedy Darensbourg, Swimming
2020 - Not awarded due to COVID-19
2019 - Abby Wahl, Basketball
2018 - Daphne Chang, Golf
2017 - Haley Mitchell, Softball
2016 - Taylor Smith, Volleyball
2015 - Maria Baldwin, Cross Country/Track
EPIC TROPHY AWARD WINNERS
2025 - Women's Basketball
2024 - Women's Basketball
2023 - Women's Basketball
2022 - Women's Soccer
2021 - Women's Soccer
2020 - Men's Soccer
2019 - Women's Basketball
2018 - Men's Soccer
2017 - Women's Soccer
2016 - Men's Soccer
2015 - Women's Swimming
2014 - Women's Swimming
2013 - Softball
2012 - Men's Track
2011 - Softball
2010 - Women's Track
DR. GAIL RICHARD SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
2024-25 - Corinne Staneart, women's swimming
2023-24 - Peyton Gill, women's soccer
DISCONTINUED SENIOR AWARDS (WINNERS)
MALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
2011 - Alain Marcelin, Football
2010 - Jeff Rutherford, Tennis
2009 - Brian Morrell, Baseball
2008 - Jake Byrne, Basketball
FEMALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
2011 - Kaylin Lorbert, Soccer
2010 - Katie Imburgia, Golf
2009 - Michelle Anderson, Golf
2008 - Meghan Ryon, Soccer
MALE EXTEND-A-PAW AWARD
2011 - Matt Dettloff, Cross Country
2010 - Ousmane Cisse, Basketball
FEMALE EXTEND-A-PAW AWARD
2011 - Alex Zwettler, Volleyball
2010 - Erin O'Grady, Cross Country/Track
EXTEND-A-PAW AWARD
2009 - Adam Gartner, Men's Soccer
2008 - Micah Rucker, Football
