Husker All-Americans John Welk and Jessie DeZiel were named Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year on April 12. The awards were presented during the Huskers’ 25th annual awards banquet.
Welk, a track athlete, is a two-time All-American on the 4x100-meter relay team, a two-time academic All-Big Ten selection and a two-time NCAA Elite 89 award winner. The senior nutrition science major from Bismark, North Dakota, is the fifth consecutive track and field athlete to earn the Nebraska Male Student-Athlete of the Year award.
As a Husker gymnast, DeZiel is a seven-time All-American entering the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships this weekend. The senior nutrition and health sciences major from Rogers, Minnesota, is a three-time NCAA Regional vault champion and a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection.
DeZiel is the sixth Husker women’s gymnast to win the Nebraska Female Student-Athlete of the Year award.
Deziel and Welk also received the Big Ten Medal of Honor, which are presented to the top male and female athlete from the graduating class of each conference university. The award, which started in 1915 and is the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics, honors student-athletes who have “attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work.” Jim Delany, commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, presented the awards.
The Huskers also added a pair of new honors to recognize the top athletic achievements of its student-athletes.
The first award, Nebraska’s best male and best female athlete, went to hurdler Miles Ukaoma and bowler Liz Kuhlkin, respectively.
Ukaoma won the 2014 NCAA outdoor championship in the 400-meter hurdles. He also won Big Ten crowns in the event in 2012 and 2014, and as a member of the 4x400-meter relay team in 2013.
Kuhlkin led the Huskers bowling team to its second NCAA team title in the last three seasons during the weekend of April 10-12. Kuhlkin is also the 2015 National Tenpin Coaches Association Player of the Year, a three-time first-team NTCA All-American and a two-time academic All-Big Ten selection.
The other first time honor, the Outstanding Scholar Award, went to Welk, Will Lohman (track and field), Mark Hilderbrand (track and field), Josh Reinertson (men’s golf), Amanda Lauer (women’s gymnastics) and Jennifer Lauer (women’s gymnastics).
The women’s swimming and diving team won the Herman Team Grade-Point Average Award with a combined GPA of 3.568. The tennis team earned the men’s award with a 3.51 GPA.
The Herman Team Grade-Point Average awards, which began in 1994, are funded by a contribution from Dick and Dale Herman. Dick, who has been a generous contributor across many levels of Husker athletics, especially to the academic support facilities and academic recognition events, was presented a special Lifetime Achievement Award at the event.
The men’s gymnastics team and women’s soccer team won the Life Skills Awards of Excellence for their commitment to UNL’s Life Skills program and community engagement.
Heart and Soul Awards, presented to individual athletes for commitment to Life Skills and community engagement, were presented to Samantha Areman (soccer), Devandrew Johnson (track and field), Rebekah Land (swimming and diving), Ian Ousley (wrestling) and Desire’ Stephens (women’s gymnastics).
Life Skills also presented 35 of UNL’s top all-around student-athletes with Nebraska Student-Athlete Hero Leadership awards (see list below).
Overall, 269 Huskers earned academic medallions during the banquet at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Gold medallions (68) were presented for highest academic honors (3.75 to 4.0 GPA); silver medallions (61) were awarded for high honors (3.5 to 3.749 GPA); and bronze medallions (140) went to student-athletes with honors (3.0 to 3.499 GPA).
Student-athletes (listed by sport) who earned the Nebraska Student-Athlete Hero Leadership awards were:
Baseball — Blake Headley
Bowling — Briana Zabierek
Cross Country — Alney Tobias; Jessica Wright
Football — Freedom Akinmoladun; Byerson Cockrell; Joey Felici; Trey Foster; Chris Long; De’Mornay Pierson-El
Men’s Basketball — Kye Kurkowski
Men’s Golf — Cameron Palmer
Men’s Gymnastics — Ethan Lottman; Coleman Tokar
Men’s Tennis — Chris Schindler
Rifle — Alex Lorentz
Soccer — Jourden Casey; Hannah Dittmar
Softball — Lotte Sjulin; Kiki Stokes
Swimming and Diving — Ciara Jenkins; Jacqueline Juffer;
Track and Field — Landon Bartel; Davon Clark; Sarah Firestone; Levi Gipson; Will Lohman; Siera Rohde; Tristen Sharp
Volleyball — Kelsey Fien
Women’s Basketball — Esther Ramacieri
Women’s Golf — Cassie Deeg
Women’s Gymnastics — Jennie Laeng
Women’s Tennis — Mackenna Maddox
Wrestling — Collin Jensen
