May 18, 2016
INDIANAPOLIS - Oakland senior guard Elena Popkey was named the inaugural recipient of the Horizon League's Bobby Fong Award announced by the league office on Wednesday. Named for the late Dr. Bobby Fong who was the former President at Butler from 2001-2011, candidates for the award must be current Horizon League student-athletes or teams within the competitive year and embody the League's core values of integrity, respect and stewardship.
"Winning an award is always a great honor, but being the first person to ever win the Bobby Fong Award is a very special accomplishment for Elena," said head coach Jeff Tungate. "Being first means she has set the standard for future winners of this prestigious award. I know one thing, she has set a very high standard."
Popkey, a native of Warren, Mich., finished career tied with Ann Serra (1988-90) for the most career assists in program history (483) while ranking sixth all-time in program history in 3-pointers made (184). She was named to the 2016 Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) College Academic-Athletic Team, is a two-time nominee for the Allstate (Women's Basketball Coaches Association) WBCA Good Works Team and was nominated for the prestigious Oakland University Matilda R. Wilson award.
In the classroom, Popkey was a two-time Academic All-Horizon League selection graduating with a degree in marketing and is currently working towards a master's in counseling with a 3.75 GPA. Off the court, she has an outstanding commitment to community service volunteering at numerous events such as Make a Difference Day setting up service organizations around campus and Fleece and Thank You making colorful fleece blankets for children in the hospital. Popkey also worked with Arise Detroit Neighborhoods Day to fix inner city schools in Detroit; Rainbow Connection assisting in games and activities for kids with chronic illnesses; Women in Sports Day empowering young women to get involved in sports and Kids Against Hunger filling bags with dry foods to send to third world countries.
Dr. Bobby Fong, whose decade as the President of Butler University was marked by a new core curriculum and improved campus-community relationships. Under his watch, Butler sustained an athletic program distinguished by its balance between academic achievement and competitive excellence. As Butler's President, Dr. Fong served on the Horizon League Board of Directors from 2001-2011, including a term as its chairman.

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