The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Athletics student-athletes honored for academic success
04.19.2004 | Texas Athletics
AUSTIN, Texas -- In an event designed to recognize student-athletes success off the playing field during the 2003 academic year, nearly 200 student-athletes and support staff members were honored at the Eighth Annual Men's Athletics Academic Awards Presentation on Monday at the Lone Star Room of the Frank Erwin Special Events Center.
Isabella C. M. Cunningham, the Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial Professor in Communication at UT, served as the featured speaker for the event. Cunningham has been a professor at UT since 1974 and has authored and co-authored several books and articles. She served as the Chair of the Women's Athletics Council for seven years.
Longhorn tennis player Joe Morris (Amarillo, Texas/Tascosa HS) claimed the Texas Exes Leadership Award, an honor bestowed upon a student-athlete who best embodies the attributes that are valued in alumni leadership. Morris was recommended for the honor by Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds and approved by UT President Larry Faulkner. The award includes a Life Membership to the Texas Exes and is funded by the President's Leadership Award Endowment, which was created by UT benefactor Frank Denius in 1985. Morris, a finance major, served as the evenings featured speaker for the student-athletes, responding on behalf of the honorees. A 6-1, 170-pound senior, he has helped the UT tennis team reach the NCAA Round of 16 in each of the last two seasons and is 32-21 in career singles matches. The Longhorns tennis squad travels to Dallas to face SMU this Saturday at 1 p.m.
Texas football player Brett Robin (Austin, Texas/Westlake HS) received the second of the night's top honors, claiming the Academic Services Student-Athlete Award. Robin, a 5-11, 200-pound senior running back, was a four-year lettermen, two-time Academic All-District VI selection and four-time first-team Academic All-Big 12 pick during his football career. The kinesiology/pre-med major also earned a spot on UT's Academic Honor Roll in each of his eight semesters and helped the Horns post nine (or more) victories and rank among the nation's Top 12 in each of his four seasons. Texas posted a 41-10 record, most victories by a four-year class since freshman became eligible in 1972, during Robin's career in Austin.
Robin and Morris also earned the Lan Hewlett Awards for their respective teams. That award recognizes the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA for their sports in 2003. Senior distance runner (track & field) Kevin Barra (Katy Texas/Taylor HS), senior swimmer (swimming & diving) Tony Diers (Houston, Texas/Mayde Creek HS) and senior golfer Rusty Kennedy (Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy College Prep) also claimed Lan Hewlett Awards for academic achievement in their sports.
Thirteen Longhorn student-athletes and three support staffers earned Provost Awards for posting a 4.0 grade point average during the 2003 academic year. They were: Trey Bates (Football), Lance Bernard (student athletics trainer), Christian Bland (track & field), Tomer Feingold (swimming & diving), James Fike (swimming & diving), Colin Gaffney (swimming & diving), Ryan Grammier (student equipment manager), Andrew Mack (tennis), Brandon McFarling (track & field), Karim Meijer (Football), Kyle Morrison (track & field), Paul Morrison (track & field), Phillip Scott (student athletics trainer), Matt Timberlake (swimming & diving), Jon Von Letscher (track & field) and Jose Zarhi (tennis).
In addition to the Provost Award honorees, 142 student-athletes and 24 support staffers received Athletic Director's Awards for posting a 3.0 grade point average during the 2003 academic year.
ACADEMIC AWARDS DESCRIPTIONS
» The PROVOST award is presented to student-athletes who have achieved a 4.0 grade point average in either of the preceding two semesters.
» The ATHLETICS DIRECTOR'S award is presented to student-athletes who have achieved a 3.0 or better grade point average in either of the preceding two semesters.
» The Lan Hewlett award is presented to the student-athletes who have the highest cumulative grade point average on their respective teams. The individual must be a letter winner and be of junior or senior year status.
Lan Hewlett was an Honorary Academic Counselor at The University of Texas from 1957 - 1977. Coach Darrell Royal hired him as the nation's first football academic counselor. He served as liaison between faculty and athletics department and was nicknamed the "Brain Coach." Hewlett helped initiate compulsory study hall for freshman athletes. The award was established in his honor by the National Association of Academic Counselors. Hewlett is also listed in the Hall of Honor.
» The ACADEMIC SERVICES STUDENT-ATHLETE AWARD is presented to one student-athlete, chosen by the Academic Services Staff, who best exemplifies excellence and balance both on the field of athletic competition and in the classroom.
» The TEXAS EXES LEADERSHIP award is presented annually to recognize an athlete in men's intercollegiate athletics at The University of Texas at Austin who embodies the attributes that are valued in alumni leadership. Such attributes include academic excellence, unselfish team play, desire to excel, service to the community, and respected leadership.
The award will be a Life Membership in the Texas Exes, funded by the President's Leadership Award Endowment created by Frank Denius in 1985.
Recipients are recommended by the Directors of Intercollegiate Athletics for Men and approved by the Texas Exes President.
ACADEMIC AWARDS RECIPIENTS
BASEBALL
Adrian Alaniz, Freshman - Sinton (Sinton), Texas
Randy Boone, Freshman - Yoakum (Yoakum), Texas
Eugene Espineli, Senior - Katy (Taylor), Texas
Shawn Ferguson, Sophomore - Houston (Lamar), Texas
Kevin Frizzell, Senior - Georgetown (Round Rock), Texas
Matthew Goodson, Junior - Galveston (Ball/Galveston College), Texas
Michael Hollimon, Junior - Dallas (Jesuit College Prep), Texas
Seth Johnston, Junior - Fair Oaks Ranch (Boerne), Texas
Carson Kainer, Freshman - Tomball (Tomball), Texas
Kyle McCullough, Freshman - Houston (Bellaire), Texas
Dooley Prince, Junior - Sulphur (Sulphur/McNeese State), Louisiana
Chris Scofield, Junior - Ft. Worth, Texas
Justin Simmons, Senior - DeSoto (Duncanville), Texas
Drew Stubbs, Freshman - Atlanta (Atlanta), Texas
Garrett White, Sophomore - Round Rock (Round Rock), Texas
Kyle Yates, Junior - Kerrville (Tivy/Midland College), Texas
BASKETBALL
Brian Boddicker, Senior - Duncanville (Duncanville), Texas
Drew Gressett, Senior - Austin (Westlake), Texas
Chris Ogden, Senior - Seminole (Seminole), Texas
FOOTBALL
Beau Baker, Senior - Seminole (Seminole), Texas
Trey Bates*, Senior - Missouri City (Elkins), Texas
Cedric Benson, Junior - Midland (Lee), Texas
Reed Boyd, Senior - New Braunfels (Canyon), Texas
Dustin Bruce, Junior - Magnolia (Magnolia), Texas
Xang Chareunsab, Junior - Houston (Aldine MacArthur), Texas
Robert Crawley, Sophomore - Denison (Denison), Texas
Chris Depuma, Freshman - Portland, Texas
Scott Derry, Freshman, Pearland (Pearland), Texas
Brock Edwards, Senior - Bedford (Ft. Worth Christian), Texas
Brandon Foster, Freshman - Arlington (Bowie), Texas
Adair Fragoso, Sophomore - El Paso (Faith Christian Academy), Texas
Mike Garcia, Sophomore - Houston (Galena Park), Texas
Phillip Geiggar, Junior - Shreveport (Evangel Christian), Louisiana
Jason Glynn, Senior - Richardson (Berkner), Texas
Dallas Griffin, Freshman - Katy (Taylor), Texas
Brandon Hedgecock, Senior - El Paso (Socorro), Texas
Steven Hogan, Freshman - Sugarland (Strake Jesuit), Texas
Tillman Holloway, Senior - Basalt (Faith Christian Academy), Colorado
Michael Huff, Sophomore - Irving (Nimitz), Texas
Tully Janszen, Sophomore - Keller (Keller), Texas
Stevie Lee, Junior - Shreveport (Evangel Christian), Louisiana
Cullen Loeffler, Senior - Ingram (Tom Moore), Texas
Dustin Mangum, Junior - Mesquite (Mesquite), Texas
C. J. Martin, Senior - Rockwall (Heath), Texas
Richmond McGee, Sophomore, Garland (Garland), Texas
Karim Meijer*, Senior - Katy (Taylor), Texas
Robert Mitchell, Senior - San Antonio (Marshall/UTSA), Texas
Chance Mock, Junior - The Woodlands (The Woodlands), Texas
Marcus Myers, Sophomore - Austin (Connally), Texas
Tien Nguyen, Senior - Rockport (Fulton), Texas
Matt Nordgren, Sophomore - Dallas (Bishop Lynch), Texas
Yomi Odunsi, Junior - Sugarland (Clements), Texas
Jason Perez, Sophomore - San Angelo (Central), Texas
Kyle Phillips, Sophomore - Cypress (Cy-Fair), Texas
Brad Poronsky, Sophomore - Sanger (Air Force Academy), Texas
Brad Price, Senior - Copperas Cove (Copperas Cove), Texas
Cory Redding, Senior - Houston, Texas
Brett Robin, Senior - Austin (Westlake), Texas
Nick Schroeder, Senior - The Woodlands (The Woodlands), Texas
Jonathan Scott, Junior - Dallas (Carter), Texas
Lyle Sendlein, Sophomore - Scottsdale (Chaparral), Arizona
Justin Smith, Senior - Midland (Midland), Texas
Cody Stavig, Junior - Clackamas (Clackamas), Oregon
Stevie Stigall, Senior - Lone Oak (Rains), Texas
Anthony Strong, Junior - Houston (Aldine MacArthur), Texas
Kasey Studdard, Sophomore - Littleton (Highland Ranch), Colorado
Kalen Thornton, Senior - Dallas (St. Mark's), Texas
Jason Tran, Senior - Port Jefferson (E.L. Vandermeulen), New York
Neale Tweedie, Sophomore - Lucas (Allen), Texas
Michael Ungar, Senior - Fort Worth (Trinity Valley), Texas
Nathan Vasher, Senior - Texarkana (Texas), Texas
Keith Virdell, Senior - Marble Falls (Marble Falls), Texas
Corey Weideman, Senior - Caddo Mills (Caddo Mills), Texas
Ivan Williams, Senior - Cleveland (Cleveland), Texas
Jerren Wright, Junior - Houston (Jersey Village), Texas
Vincent Young, Sophomore - Houston (Madison), Texas
GOLF
Jeff Bell, Sophomore - Plano (Plano West), Texas
Justin Cohen, Sophomore - Dallas, Texas
Hubert Diaz-Ceballos, Freshman - Morelos, Mexico (Bradenton Academy)
Robert Kennedy, Senior - Phoenix, Arizona (University of Virginia)
Matt Rosenfeld, Sophomore - Plano (Greenhill School), Texas
Russell Surber, Senior - La Canada (Flintridge Prep), California
J. J. Wall, Senior - San Antonio (Churchill), Texas
SWIMMING & DIVING
Ross Binkley, Senior - Austin (McCallum), Texas
Blake Copple, Freshman - Boise (Bishop Kelly), Idaho
Shamus Crosby, Junior - Houston (Strake Jesuit), Texas
Anthony Diers, Senior - Houston (Mayde Creek), Texas
Daniel DiToro, Junior - Scottsdale (Chapparral), Arizona
Tomer Feingold*, Senior - Haifa (Hareali), Israel
James Fike*, Senior - Germantown (St. Anselm's Abbey), Maryland
Colin Gaffney*, Sophomore - Phoenix (Brophy College Prep), Arizona
David Kahn, Sophomore - Port Jefferson (Earl Vandermeulen), New York
Wade Kelley, Sophomore - Marietta (Walton), Georgia
Rainer Kendrick, Junior - Birmingham (Homewood), Alabama
Austin McAnally, Senior - Sherman (McKinney), Texas
Matthew Molnar, Sophomore, Auburn (Auburn), Alabama
John Nabors, Junior - Spring (Oakridge), Texas
Nathan O'Brien, Junior - Sammamish (Eastlake), Washington
Tyler O'Halloran, Freshman - Boardman (Boardman), Ohio
John Patterson, Sophomore - Houston (Cypress Falls), Texas
Aaron Peirsol, Sophomore - Irvine (Newport Harbor), California
Cooper Phillips, Senior - Houston (Clear Lake), Texas
Poston Pritchett, Freshman - Durham (Riverside), North Carolina
Richard Rauch, Senior - Houston (Cypress Creek), Texas
William Sarosdy, Freshman - Austin (Westlake), Texas
Mark Shattuck, Sophomore - Derby United Kingdom (The Sheffield College)
John Suchand, Senior - Highland Village (Flower Mound), Texas
Matt Timberlake*, Senior - The Woodlands (The Woodlands), Texas
Paul Wallace, Senior - Kirby (Judson), Texas
TENNIS
Hubert Chodkiewicz, Freshman - Corpus Christi (St. Stephen's - Austin), Texas
William Clinton, Senior - Dallas (Highland Park), Texas
Roger Gubser, Junior - Laredo (St. Stephen's-Austin), Texas
Andrew Hoskins, Junior - Los Alamitos (St. Stephen's - Austin), California
Alastair Jenkin, Senior- Boca Raton (Boca Prep), Florida
Andrew Mack*, Freshman - Plano (Plano West), Texas
Joe Morris, Senior - Amarillo (Tascosa), Texas
Antonio Ruiz, Sophomore - Monterrey (Monterrey Institute of Technology), Mexico
Tas Tobias, Freshman - Budapest (Gymnasium), Hungary
Jose Zarhi*, Senior - Santiago, Chile (Saddlebrook Prep)
TRACK & FIELD
Kevin Barra, Senior - Katy (Taylor), Texas
Scott Beckmen, Junior - Seattle (Bishop Blanchete), Washington
Russell Benke, Senior - The Woodlands (The Woodlands), Texas
Jonathan Birt, Junior - San Antonio (Boerne), Texas
Christian Bland*, Graduated - Seabrook (Clear Lake), Texas
Tim Brown, Senior - The Woodlands (The Woodlands/Florida State), Texas
Matt Caterisano, Junior - Plano (Plano East), Texas
Brendan Christian, Sophomore - Austin (Reagan), Texas
Graham Clark, Freshman - Southlake, Texas
Aaron Collins, Sophomore - New Orleans (Clark), Louisiana
Ashton Collins, Sophomore - New Orleans (Clark), Louisiana
Jeffrey Cutrer, Sophomore - Nederland (Nederland), Texas
Benjamin Dawson, Senior - Flower Mound (Lewisville), Texas
Tomas Finol, Sophomore - Spring (Klein), Texas
Mark Floreani, Junior - Chicago (St. Ignatius), Illinois
James Fuquay, Junior - Arlington (Martin), Texas
Patrick Halberg, Senior - Joyce (Crescent), Washington
Nicholas Johnson, Sophomore - Ft. Worth, Texas
Cameron Keel, Senior - Spring (Klein), Texas
Donovan Kilmartin, Frshman - Eagle (Eagle), Idaho
Charles Kourvelas, Freshman - Dallas (J.J. Pearce), Texas
Stephen Martin, Sophomore - Kingwood (Kingwood), Texas
Tyler McCollum, Junior - Kingwood (Kingwood), Texas
Brandon McFarling*, Sophomore - College Station (A & M Consolidated), Texas
Carlos Mendoza, Sophomore - Bensonville (Bensonville/Western State College), Illinois
Stephen Metting, Junior - San Antonio (Clark), Texas
Kyle Morrison*, Senior - Dallas (Highland Park), Texas
Paul Morrison*, Graduated - Chatham, Canada (Bishop's College/Princeton
John Rainbolt, Sophomore - Sugarland (Kempner), Texas
Gregg Schmedes, Junior - Austin (Westwood), Texas
Nicholas Talley, Senior - Amarillo (Tascosa), Texas
Andrew Terry, Sophomore - Austin (McNeil), Texas
Joseph Thorne, Sophomore - Chamblee (Lakeside), Georgia
Jon Von Letscher*, Junior - Austin (McCallum), Texas
Ryan Wilson, Freshman - Wichita (Wichita Heights), Kansas
Zachary Zeller, Junior - Flower Mound (Marcus), Texas
MANAGERS
Darren Damewood
Kyle Folts
Ryan Grammier*
Jason Hamm
Cody Kelso
Lauren Mayer
Erin Hicks
George Reid
Aaron Scott
Jeremy Smith
Anthony Tarantino
TRAINERS
Lance Bernard *
Martha Bosquez
Randal Camarillo
Suzanne Dillard
Genaro Garcia
Erin Hicks
John Horsley
Danielle Muckleroy
Donald Nguyen
Dana Quinterro
Austin Reynolds
Marlene Rios
Kaleena Risley
Phillip Scott *
Hanna Silverman
Crystal Tomlinson
Hanson Yang
Jennifer Zinn
*Denotes 4.0 GPA
Lan Hewlett AWARD
Kevin Barra - Track & Field
Tony Diers - Swimming & Diving
Robert Kennedy - Golf
Joe Morris - Tennis
Brett Robin - Football
