Rochester, Mich. (Apr. 16, 2005) ???C Seniors Laura Cowham (Caledonia, Mich.) of Oakland???s women???s soccer team and Ryan Rzepka (Novi, Mich.) of the men???s soccer team and were name the 2004-05 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-time letterwinner for the Golden Grizzlies, Cowham, was a member of three Mid-Con Champion teams in her four years with the soccer squad playing as a key member of Oakland???s defense her final three seasons after starting her OU career as a goalkeeper. An elementary education major with endorsements in math and language arts, received the top student athlete scholar award from the OU Athletics Department, Golden Grizzlies Excellence in Academics Award and the Metro Detroit Ford Dealers Female Scholar Athlete Award for 2005. She was named to the Mid-Continent Conference All-Academic Team, Mid-Con All-Tournament team and the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District IV University Division women???s soccer team. Cowham also served as the team captain of the Golden Grizzly women???s soccer team and is the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council. Rzepka served as captain of the OU soccer team during the 2004 season and was a member of the 2004 ESPN Academic All-American first team. One of the top defenders in the Mid-Con and the Great Lakes Region, Rzepka anchored a defense that ranked as high as second in the NCAA in goals against average as well as second in shutout percentage in 2004. Used up front on corner kick situations for Oakland, he scored the game-tying goal versus #2 UCLA on Sept. 3 to send the match into overtime. He recorded three goals and two assists this year to rank third on the team with eight points. Also during his career, Rzepka has been on Soccer America???s Team of the Week (9/22/03), a Mid-Con Defensive Player of the Week (10/25/03), on the 2002 Mid-Con All-Tournament team and helped lead Oakland to two straight College Cup appearances in 2002 and ???03.