EIU Holds Billy's Award Ceremony End of year ceremony honors academic and athletic accomplishments 4/29/2026 8:25:00 AM Photo Gallery (by Sandy King) Eastern Illinois Athletics concluded its second Billy's Award ceremony on Tuesday night as the culmination of success for Panther student-athletes for the 2025-26 academic year. During the night nominees were announced for the Panthers three major department end of year athletic awards – AD Award, Athlete of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Brett Galletti was named the Dr. Gail Richard Sportsmanship Award winner as with Genevieve Biberdorf, Liz Galvin and Shawn Lacy the other finalists. University (3.50 to 3.74 cumulative GPA) and Presidential (3.75 to 4.0 GPA) Academic Awards were presented to seniors meeting the above listed academic requirements. Senior student-athletes that have exhausted their eligibility and have previously earned or will earn their academic degree this spring were presented with a senior portrait. In addition each sport recognized a winner of its team Coach's Award and Team MVP Award. Male Athletic Director Award Nominees Michael Atkins - Cross Country / Track & Field Tyler Conklin - Baseball Brett Galletti - Football Kooper Jacobi - Basketball Casey Welage - Soccer Female Athletic Director Award Nominees Lilli Amettis - Volleyball / Beach Volleyball Genevieve Biberdorf - Swimming Kate Germano - Soccer Karlie McKenzie - Softball Brenda Torres - Cross Country / Track & Field Male Athlete of the Year Nominees Zion Fruster - Basketball Daniel Lacy - Track & Field Mason Miller - Football Bryce Riggs - Baseball Chris Worcester - Baseball Female Athlete of the Year Nominees Ella Kratochvil - Soccer Catalina Rochaix - Volleyball Lizzie Stiverson - Softball Alex Tetteh - Soccer Brenda Torres - Cross Country / Track & Field Abby Venhaus - Track & Field Male Newcomer of the Year Nominees Rahfeeq Katumbusi - Football Mason Miller - Football Yuki Nakamura - Soccer Machi Nelson - Track & Field Alex Sadowski - Swimming Luke Watson - Men's Golf Female Newcomer of the Year Nominees Layla Bonilla - Track & Field Sophia Buswell - Swimming Ashlyn Denney - Cross Country / Track & Field Rylan Gick - Softball Alanys Nieves - Beach Volleyball Ava Stoller - Women's Basketball A successful night at @EIU_Panthers The Billy's Congrats to all our award winners and nominees for end of year awards pic.twitter.com/kZ2d1Qy3fk— Eastern Illinois Athletics (@EIU_Panthers) April 29, 2026 Print Friendly Version