University of Tennessee Athletics
KARA LAWSON WINS WOODY HAYES NATIONAL SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD
February 07, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2004
The University & Northwest Sertoma Club of Columbus today announced the six winners of the 17th Annual Woody Hayes National Scholar Athlete Awards: John Standeford (D.1. man), Purdue University; Kara Lawson (D.1. woman), University of Tennessee; Keith Heckendorf (D.2. man), St. Cloud State University; Cheryl Balogh (D.2. woman), Mt. Vernon Nazarene College; Jesse Harris (D.3. man), Simpson College; and Melissa Roberts (D.3. woman), Emory University. The awards will be presented on February 6 during a banquet at the Villa Milano Restaurant, 1620 Schrock Rd., Columbus, OH
The six winners hold a total of 63 All-Conference, All-Region, All-American titles and a combined GPA of 3.8 in neurosciences, biology, history, political science, physical education exercise management, elementary education and finance. More than 65 community- and university-based organizations have benefited from their community service activities.
Larry Kehres, coach of Mt. Union College's seven-time NCAA Division III national championship football teams, will address the winners, families and friends of the Sertoma Club.
"Once again, our class is a strong group of nominees of which Woody would have been very proud," said Eric Parks, awards co-chair."Our future leaders are well-rounded and well-prepared for what lies ahead."
During the banquet, the Larry Larson Awards will also be presented to two high schoolers for similar high achievements.This year's winners are Erik Haw of Independence High School and Marie Crocker of Dublin Coffman High School.
MELISSA ROBERTS
Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Softball Outfield Division III Woman
Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology GPA 3.88
Athletic Achievement:
Melissa played outfield in softball. She finished 16th in the nation for most doubles in 2003, and she holds nine Emory school career records, including most doubles and RBIs. She is a four-time All-Region honoree, four-time All-Conference honoree and a Conference MVP. She helped to lead her team to final rankings of Number 3 in 2002 and Number 4 in 2003.
Academic Achievement:
Melissa has a 3.88 GPA in her dual neuroscience and behavioral biology major. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary, as well as both Alpha Epsilon Delta (pre-medicine honorary) and Nu Rho Psi (neuroscience and behavioral biology honorary). She was on the Dean's List every semester. She has also received numerous scholar-athlete awards at All-American, All-District, and Conference levels. She received the Bobby Jones Scholar Award, which allows her to study abroad at St. Andrew's University in Scotland.
Community Service and Leadership:
Melissa is a member of the Outdoor Emory Organization that organizes outdoor recreational group activities. She volunteers at Egleston Children's Hospital, where she visits and plays with the patients. She tutors in biology, chemistry, and physics. Melissa is a member of the Emory Hillel. She has been a senior resident advisor, in charge of supervising resident advisors in campus housing. Melissa is also the president of the Varsity Athletes Club and the student representative to the Athletics Policy Committee.
JESSE HARRIS
Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa
Basketball Forward Division III Man
History & Political Science GPA 3.97
Athletic Achievement:
Jesse was a Finalist for the Josten's Trophy, emblematic of the Division III Player of the Year, in both 2002 and 2003. He was First Team All-Conference in 2001, 2002 and 2003. And, Jesse finished his career fifth in career scoring with 1,572 points.
Academic Achievement:
Jesse has a 3.97 in history and political science. He is a winner of a 2003 NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship. He was 2003 First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American, 2002 First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American and 2001 First Team CoSIDA Academic All-Region VII. He was on the Simpson College President's List (4.0) for five semesters and on the Dean's List (3.75) for three semesters. He is a state finalist for a Rhodes Scholarship and has been named a Simpson College Presidential Scholar.
Community Service and Leadership:
Jesse was a Central Iowa Special Need Basketball Counselor/ Coach from 1999 through 2002. He was also a Heartland Special Needs Swimming Counselor from 2000 through 2003. From 1999 through 2001, he was a staff writer for the college school newspaper and an editor of the opinion section during 2000-2001. In 2002, he was a summer intern in the office of Iowa Congressman Leonard Boswell. He has been a field organizer for the John Edward for President Campaign in Iowa since fall 2003.
CHERYL BALOGH
Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Mount Vernon, Ohio
Soccer Defender Division II Woman
Exercise Studies & Sports Management GPA 3.94
Athletic Achievement:
As a four-year member and three-year captain on the women's soccer team, Cheryl has been a quality leader of the fledgling program that began as a varsity sport the year she arrived. The team posted a successful 59-28-2 record during her career, qualifying for the NAIA postseason and National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament three times. They won one AMC South Division Crown and one NCCAA National Tournament. Cheryl is a two-time NCCAA First Team All-American and winner of 2003 Michelle Akers/Wittnauer Award. She anchored a backline that posted 37 shutouts during her four years. In her senior year, the defense allowed just 12 goals in 24 matches and posted 15 shutouts.
Academic Achievement:
Cheryl has a 3.94 GPA with a double major in exercise studies and sports management. She was on the Dean's List every semester. She is a two-time NAIA and NCCAA All-American Scholar Athlete and she earned CoSIDA Academic All-American Second Team honors during her senior year.
Community Service and Leadership:
Cheryl was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and her home church as a Vacation Bible School teacher. She has worked at a group home for the chronically mentally ill. She also helped with a youth soccer clinic as part of the 2003 NCCAA National Tournament.
KEITH HECKENDORF
St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota
Football Quarterback Division II Man
Physical Education GPA 3.59
Athletic Achievement:
Keith was team captain during 2002 and 2003. He holds team records for career passing yards (9,695), pass completions (761), pass attempts (1,307), touchdown passes (101) and total offense (9,967). He has Conference records in career touchdown passes and total offense per game. His 101 career touchdown passes place him fourth in the NCAA Division II records. Keith was all-conference in 2002 and 2003. He was also a top three finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy (NCAA Division II top football player) in 2002 and 2003.
Academic Achievement:
In 2003, Keith was one of two NCAA Division II football players to receive a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete award. He was CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-America College Division and first-team CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2003. Keith is on the Dean's List and was a St. Cloud State University Presidential Scholarship recipient during1999-2002 and Renslow Scholarship recipient in 2002-2003.
Community Service and Leadership:
Keith is an Athletes in Action tutor and assistant director at the campus study center. He served as a mentor to a Native American college athlete and also as a volunteer reader at a nearby elementary school. He has been a United Way volunteer and helped with fundraising efforts. Keith has also worked at youth football camps.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
Women's Basketball Guard Division I Woman
Finance GPA 3.76
Athletic Achievement:
Kara was the College Sports Network Player of the Year and the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award and Wade Trophy winner during her senior year. She is a two-year USWBA First Team All-American and a Kodak/WBCA First Team All-American. She holds school records in 3-point field goals attempted (617), 3-point field goals made (256), and free throw percentage (84.7%). Kara was also First-Team Coaches All-SEC Conference for four years.
Academic Achievement:
Kara has a 3.76 in Finance and was a Torchbearer Winner, the highest honor for an undergraduate at Tennessee. In her senior year, she was the NACDA Director's Cup Division I winner. She was named a Verizon First-Team Academic All-American. Kara was also was named Verizon District Academic All-American for three years and Academic All-SEC for two years.
Community Service and Leadership:
Kara is a member of Athletes in Action and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She has been a member of the Southeastern Conference Good Works Team. She volunteered weekly to cook at serve at the Love Kitchen, to assist with reading and library skills at West Hills Elementary School and to help in all aspects at the Sam E. Hill Elementary School. She also was involved in many other volunteer activities and speaking engagements for service organizations and charities.
JOHN STANDEFORD
Purdue University, West Lafayette
Football Wide Receiver Division I Man
Elementary Education GPA 3.65
Athletic Achievement:
John is the all-time Big Ten career leader with 266 receptions and 3,787 receiving yards. He was first team All-Big Ten in 2002 and second team in 2003. He was fourth team All-American and a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award (for the nation's outstanding receiver) during 2002. John was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 2002 and holds numerous Purdue receiving records.
Academic Achievement:
John has a 3.65 GPA in elementary education. He is a two-time first-team Academic All-American for 2002 and 2003, and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. He was also team nominee for the Purdue Red Mackey Award. John was a finalist for the 2004 Socrates Award (for excellence in academics, athletics, and citizenship).
Community Service and Leadership:
John has been active in the Fellowship for Christian Athletes. He was a two-time recipient of Purdue's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award (2002 and 2003) and also received the team's Kiwanis Citizenship Award in 2003. In addition, he was the team coordinator of the Gentle Giants program, which is a group of players who make weekly visits to area elementary schools.
