April 27, 2009
GALLERY
ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Oakland University Department of Athletics held its annual Graduates and Champions banquet on Friday, April 24 in the Athletics Center O'Rena. The department honored its seniors and student-athlete performances over the course of the 2008-09 seasons.
Several awards were given out and included the following:
The Hollie L. Lepley Award
The most prestigious award handed out by the Department of Athletics, these award-winners are nominated by their coaches and rewarded to the student-athletes who have accomplished the highest athletic achievement, academic achievement and community service.
Male Winner: Taylor Traub (Baseball)
Female Winner: Tara Baxter (Women's Swimming and Diving)
2009 NCAA National Development Conference Awards
The Oakland University Department of Athletics nominated four student-athletes to participate in the 2009 NCAA National Development Conference, a leadership conference for student-athletes that will take place from May 24-27 in Orlando, Fla. at the Walt Disney World Coronado Spring Resort. The NCAA chooses one student-athlete from the four nominees to attend.
Winner: Pat Downing (Men's Swimming and Diving)
Nominees: Sharise Calhoun (Women's Basketball), Josh Bennett (Men's Soccer), Sarah Ludema (Women's Swimming and Diving)
The Team Spirit Award
In addition to community service, OU's athletic teams are awarded spirit points for attending athletic events throughout the 2008-09 seasons, showing Golden Grizzly pride for all sports. This award is given to the team that accumulated the most spirit points for the year.
Winner: Women's Swimming and Diving
The 2008-09 Most Outstanding Team Community Service Award
This award is bestowed upon the team that participates in the highest amount of community service throughout the athletic year.
Winner: Baseball
The Grizz Rock Video Award Winner
Oakland's teams had the option of creating a music video of Oakland University athletics and the three entries were shown throughout the Graduates and Champions banquet. Those in attendance voted on which one should win.
Winner: Men's Soccer
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