Rochester, Mich. ???C Seniors Ryan Bissell (Vassar, Mich.) and Danielle Ward (Brighton, Mich.) were name the 2002 recipients of the Hollie Lepley Senior Scholar Athlete Awards the Oakland University athletics department has announced today. The award recognizes the top senior scholar athletes for overall excellence in academic achievement, athletic achievement and service activities. The awards are named in honor of the founder of Oakland University athletics, Hollie Lepley. The awards exemplify his commitment to education, human service and his quality of leadership and personal character. A four-year member and three-year captain of the cross country team, Bissell capped off his career in the fall by helping to lead Oakland to its first-ever Mid-Continent cross country championship with a ninth place finish, earning himself second team All-Mid-Con honors. A four-year letterwinner, he was a three-time academic all-conference selection. A finance major at Oakland, Bissell is a Top Scholars recipient at OU as well as a Student Life Scholarship recipient. He has been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council for three and a half years as well as being a member of Alpha Kappa Psi (co-ed business fraternity), Beta Gamma Sigma (honorary business fraternity) and the International Honor Society. A four-year letterwinner for the women???s swimming and diving team, Ward is the school record holder in the 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle events. She has also been a member of the 200 medley, 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relay teams that have also established new school marks. A four-time All-Mid-Con selection, she was the conference???s Newcomer of the Year in 2000 and holds the conference marks in the 200, 500 and 1650 freestyle events. An eight-time Mid-Con swimmer of the week, she capped off her career this season by qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 100 freestyle. Ward is a Dean???s List student in elementary education and has received academic commendation for four semesters at Oakland. Active in the community, she has worked with Special Olympics, the Bookfield Academy and the Pontiac Food Bank.