Event Program  |  Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

Eastern Illinois Athletics held its annual end of year award's ceremony with the inaugural Billy's Athletic Award ceremony which takes the place of the Panthers former Senior Student-Athlete Awards Reception.
 
The inaugural Billy's took place on Monday night (April 28) at the Doudna Performing Arts Center with awards presented to each team along with department academic, athletic, sportsmanship and senior awards.
 
The event included the nomination of finalists for the EIU Athletic Director Award which is presented to a senior student-athlete who has excelled in their career at EIU in their sport, in the classroom, in the community and represented what it means to be a Panther.   Finalists were also named for the Male & Female Athlete of the Year along with Male & Female Newcomer of the Year.
 
The second annual Dr. Gail J. Richard Sportsmanship Award was presented which featured eight finalists.
 
The night included the recognition of 18 University Academic Award winners (cumulative GPA of 3.50 to 3.69) and 35 Presidential Academic Award winners (cumulative GPA of 3.70 to 4.0).
 
Senior student-athletes were presented with their senior portrait, a hand-drawn framed pencil drawing from their time as an athlete at EIU by artist Jon Schubert.
 
New this year for the inaugural Billy's were team awards with each team selecting a Team MVP and a Coaches Award.  EIU baseball and softball teams elected to present their winners of these awards following their season of competition later this spring while the EIU Cheer Team and EIU Pink Panthers Dance teams presented a Coaches Award.
 
Award Finalists & Sport Team Winners
Male AD Award Finalists: Rodolfo Bolis (Basketball), Conner Colston (Swimming), Ramsey Hunt (Track & Field), Nicholas Oliveira-Chace (Football), Chad Smith (Soccer)
Female AD Award Finalists: Briana Gonzalez (Softball), Avery Richardson (Soccer), Corinne Staneart (Swimming), Hallee Thomas (Track & Field)
Male Athlete of Year Finalists: Dismas Dillon (Swimming), Ramsey Hunt (Track & Field), Daniel Lacy (Track & Field), Nakyel Shelton (Basketball), Cooper Willman (Football)
Female Athlete of Year Finalists: Kendall Grover (Softball), Macy McGlone (Basketball), Abby Reinl (Soccer), Corinne Staneart (Swimming)
Male Newcomer of the Year Finalists: Cole Jaworski (Golf), Abraham Johnson (Track & Field), Tyler Kapraun (Baseball)
Female Newcomer of the Year Finalists: Colleen Bauer (Soccer), Kiyley Flowers (Basketball), Alisha Frederick (Softball)
 
Dr. Gail J. Richard Sportsmanship Award Winner: Corinne Staneart
Dr. Richard Sportsmanship Award Finalists: Rodolfo Bolis (M Basketball), Ellie Colson (W Basketball), Elkhanan Tanelus (Football), Hillary Springer (Softball), Corinne Staneart (W Swimming), Avery Richardson (W Soccer), Tyler Carlin (M Tennis), Porter Conroy (M Track & Field)
 
Sport Specific Award Winners:
Men's Basketball – Nakyel Shelton (MVP), Rodolfo Bolis (Coaches)
Women's Basketball – Macy McGlone (MVP), Ellie Colson (Coaches)
Men's Cross Country – Richie Jacobo (MVP), Sam Cruz (Coaches)
Women's Cross Country – Mackenzie Aldridge (MVP), Kylie Haacke (Coaches)
Football Offense – Pierce Holley (MVP), Elkhanan Tanelus (Coaches)
Football Defense – Nicholas Oliveira-Chace (MVP), Tienne Fridge (Coaches)
Men's Golf – Cole Jaworski (MVP), Alex Siatos (Coaches)
Women's Golf – Meera Upadhyay (MVP), Mya Mirocha (Coaches)
Men's Soccer – Sam Eccles (MVP), David Brown (Coaches)
Women's Soccer – Avery Richardson (MVP), Abby Reinl (Coaches)
Men's Swimming – Dismas Dillon (MVP), Conner Colson (Coaches)
Women's Swimming – Corinne Staneart (MVP), Genevieve Biberdorf (Coaches)
Men's Tennis – Alex Aldaz (MVP), Tyler Carlin (Coaches)
Women's Tennis – Aleyla Wooten (MVP), Luisa Renovales Salazar (Coaches)
Men's Track & Field – Abraham Johnson (MVP), Porter Conroy (Coaches)
Women's Track & Field – Isabella Fabrizo (MVP), Hallee Thomas (Coaches)
Volleyball – Kaitlyn Flynn (MVP), Sylvia Hasz (Coaches)
Cheer Team – Katie Frankovich (Coaches)
Pink Panther Dance Team – Sarah McEvers

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