EIU Award Winner List

Eastern Illinois senior softball player Rachel Kaufman has been named the winner of the 2023-24 EIU Athletic Director's Award.
 
The award was created it in 2012 top recognize a top EIU student-athlete based on their career performance in athletics, academics and community service.  After not presenting awards during the 2019-20 COVID year, the Male & Female Athlete of the Year was adjusted to recognize the top athletic performance for the year regardless of class.  The EIU Athletic Director's Award was then adjusted to recognize a top Senior Male & Female Athlete based on their career performance in athletics, academics, community service and leadership.
 
Kaufman wrapped up her final season at EIU earning first team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors at first base.  A two-player throughout her career, Kaufman had earned second team All-OVC honors as a designated player/utility player the previous season.  She helped lead EIU to the OVC Tournament title and schools first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023 before they won the OVC regular season crown this past year.  This past year she hit .346 at the plate leading the OVC with 47 RBI while ranking second in the conference in home runs.  Last season as a two-way player Kaufman was third in the OVC in earned run average at 2.17 posting nine wins with one save.  At the plate she hit .323 with seven home runs.  Kaufman finished her EIU career tenth in home runs and ninth in slugging percentage. 
 
In the classroom Kaufman earned both a bachelor's and master's degree during her time on the softball diamond posting a 4.00 GPA in Business Administration.  She was a multiple time Academic All-District selection, OVC Medal of Honor winner and NFCA Scholar-Athlete.  She was actively involved as a team leader and in community service projects through the Panther softball team and athletic department.

Kaufman was one of three nominees for the award which were all announced at the EIU Senior Awards Reception in the spring.  The other two nominees were Christina Martinez Mundo (volleyball / beach volleyball) and Clayre Shaver (track & field).
 
EIU will wrap up the release of its end-of-year awards on Thursday with the Male Athletic Director's Award.  McKenzie Oslanzi from softball was named the Female Newcomer of the Year and MJ Flowers from football was named the Male Newcomer of the Year last week.  Giovanna Larregui Lopez from volleyball and Macy McGlone from basketball were named the Female co-Athletes of the Week on Monday.  Ramsey Hunt from track & field and Adam Swanson from cross country/track & field were named the Male co-Athletes of the Week on Tuesday.