Senior volleyball athletes Maria Yoder and R.J. Ocampo, with President Susan Schultz Huxman, are the 2019 recipients of ²ÝÝ®ÉçÇøâ€™s President’s Award. (Photos by Savannah Bontrager)

Yoder and Ocampo win President’s Awards at EMU Athletics Honors Banquet

Seniors and were the 2019 recipients of ²ÝÝ®ÉçÇø’s highest student-athlete honor, the President’s Award. The recipients most exemplified the values of the athletic department through academic achievement, athletic contribution, Christian commitment, leadership, campus involvement and service.

They accepted their awards at the April 25 banquet, an event which celebrates EMU’s senior student-athletes and also includes awards for Academic Achievement, Freshman of the Year and Athlete of the Year.

Yoder, a volleyball player from Manheim, Pennsylvania, is a biology major with minors in honors and psychology. Her academic and athletic honors include the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team (2018); Blue Jay Classic All-Tournament Team (2018); EMU Academic Achievement Award for the highest GPA on the women’s volleyball team; CoSIDA Academic All-District Team (2017); ODAC All-Academic Team (2016-17); ODAC All-Academic Team (2015-16); and two Royals Athlete of the Week awards in 2016 and

Laurie Serrell, EMU’s 2019 Female Athlete of the Year, with Coach Bob Hepler.

Ocampo, a volleyball player from Virginia Beach, Virginia, is a biology major with minors in chemistry and psychology. Ocampo is also a 2019 Cords of Distinction honoree, the most prestigious recognition EMU awards. He played on the , and was named to the CVC All-Academic Team three consecutive years from 2016-18.

Athlete of the Year

, a nursing and Spanish major from Harrisonburg, Virginia, was Female Athlete of the Year. She was All-ODAC Second Team in cross country and All-ODAC Third Team Outdoor 4x400m Relay in 2018. She was also Royals .

Grant Amoateng, EMU’s 2019 Male Athlete of the Year, with Coach Erick Camodeca

, a social work major from Bristow, Virginia, was Male Athlete of the Year. A triple jumper, Amoateng’s outdoor track season continues. He was All-ODAC Third Team Outdoor Triple Jump and ODAC Field Athlete of the Week (April 1-7, 2019) for the current season. In indoor track, he finished 11th in NCAA indoor nationals, and was All-South/Southeast Region Indoor Triple Jump,  ODAC Champion and All-ODAC First Team Indoor Triple Jump, and ODAC Field Athlete of the Week (Nov. 26 – Dec. 2, 2018). He was as well.

Freshman of the Year

, a field hockey player from Smithfield, Virginia, was named Female Freshman of the Year. The elementary education major was All-ODAC Third Team for the 2018 season.

Skylar Hedgepath, Freshman Athlete of the Year, with Coach Ashley Kishorn

, a track and field athlete from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was named Male Freshman of the Year. The graphic design major specializes in the sprints.

Academic Achievement Awards

The following athletes earned academic achievement awards for top GPA on each athletic team:

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Men’s Basketball: , senior, and , senior

Women’s Basketball: , junior

Women’s Cross Country: , junior

Alijah Johnson, Freshman Athlete of the Year, with Coach Erick Camodeca.

Men’s Cross Country: , junior

Field Hockey: , junior, and , junior

Men’s Golf: , senior

Women’s Golf: , junior

Men’s Soccer: , senior

Women’s Soccer: , senior

Softball: , senior

Men’s Track & Field: , junior

Women’s Track & Field: , junior

Men’s Volleyball: , senior

Women’s Volleyball: , junior

 

Academic Achievement Award recipients. Top row, from left: Austin Sachs, Justin Odom, Madeline Mast, R.J. Ocampo, Travis Clower, Bailey Hall, Christian Hansen. Front: Kate Kauffman, Rachel Musselman, Sylvia Mast, Chrissy Delawder, Olyvia Longacre, Beck Hoskins, Erik Peachey. Not pictured: Elizabeth Nisly and Megan Good.