Big Ten Medal of Honor History | Spirit Award History | Banquet Program
URBANA, ILL. – Illinois rising senior center Joe Spencer earned the male Fighting Illini Spirit Award, which is given to the athlete who best exemplifies the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini, Monday night at the annual Fighting Illini All-Sport Celebration. Spencer is the fourth football player in the last five years to earn the spirit award, joining Nathan Scheelhaase (2012), Corey Lewis (2013) and Reilly O'Toole (2015).
Spencer has been involved in numerous community service and leadership efforts, including serving as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and chapter president of Uplifting Athletes. He was chosen by the coaching staff for the Illini Leadership Academy, takes part in the Freshman Athlete Mentor program, has helped organize events such as the student-athlete variety show that has raised more than $80,000 for charity over the last five years, and is a "Big" at the local Big Brothers Big Sisters. Spencer also spearheaded the Leadership Summit for local middle school students and leads the Illini's Thanksgiving Basketball Program.
Spencer takes part in all the Illini's team community service events he can be a part of, reaching thousands of people in Central Illinois. He has visited nearly every elementary school in Champaign-Urbana and has made serveral visits to the pediatric unit of the local hospital and nursing homes in the area. He has also volunteered at places such as Boys & Girls Club and the Special Olympics, among others.
Monheim Earns B1G Postgrad Scholarship
Two Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarships were awarded at the All-Sport Celebration, including senior linebacker Mason Monheim (Orrville, Ohio) and swimmer Stephanie Hein (Hartland, Wis.). Both receive $7,500 scholarships to be utilized at their graduate schools. Monheim will attend Ohio State University dental school.
Fejedelem a Finalist for Eddleman Athlete of the Year
Outgoing senior safety Clayton Fejedelem was named a finalist for the 2015-16 Dike Eddleman Male Athlete of the Year Award. Fejedelem led the Big Ten in tackles in 2015, making 140 stops on the season. The Eddleman winners will not be selected until the conclusion of the spring sports season in June.
All Student-Athlete Awards and Finalists from the All-Sports Celebration are listed below. | Full Release
Awarded to one female and male student-athlete from the graduating class at each conference institution who has demonstrated excellence on and off the field
Senior Allie Bauch (Schaumburg, Ill.), Softball
Senior Charlie Danielson (Osceola, Wis.), Golf
Fighting Illini Spirit Award Winners | Award History
Athletes who exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
Junior Taylore Peterson (Portage, Mich.), Soccer
Junior Joe Spencer (Mason, Ohio) Football
Leadership Academy Awards
Athletes who exemplify leadership skills and service in the community
Leader of Distinction
Junior David Kendziera (Mount Prospect, Ill.), Track & Field
Leader of Merit
Junior Katie Stadick (Watertown, Wis.) Volleyball
Fighting Illini Outstanding Team GPA Awards
Highest cumulative grade point average for a team over the last two semesters
Women's Cross Country - 3.57 GPA, Coach Scott Jones
Men's Cross Country - 3.40 GPA, Coach Jake Stewart
Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award Winners
Female and male student-athletes with the highest grade-point average in each class of school
Sophomore Olivia Schmitt (Naperville, Ill.), Soccer, 3.93 GPA, journalism
Sophomore Annie Flemming (Chillicothe, Ill.), Softball, 3.93 GPA, kinesiology
Sophomore Zack Smith (Downers Grove, Ill.), Track/Cross Country, 4.0 GPA, accountancy
Junior Alia Abu-Douleh (Marion, Ill.), Soccer, 3.96 GPA, architectural studies
Junior Michael Hyc (Chicago, Ill.), Track & Field, 4.0 GPA, accountancy
Senior Allison Palmer (Laguna Beach, Calif.), Volleyball, 3.96 GPA, accountancy
Senior Jared Hiltzik (Wilmette, Ill.), Tennis, 3.76 GPA, communication
Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
Senior Stephanie Hein (Hartland, Wis.), Swimming
Senior Mason Monheim (Orrville, Ohio), Football
Life Skills Team Competition Award
Women's Gymnastics, Coach Kim Landrus
Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year Finalists | Award History
Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports
Senior Alyssa Schneider (Bartlett, Ill.), Cross Country
Senior Jannelle Flaws (Glenview, Ill.), Soccer
Sophomore Pedrya Seymour (Nassau, Bahamas), Track & Field
Senior Jocelynn Birks (Willow Springs, Ill.), Volleyball
Dike Eddleman Male Athlete of the Year Finalists | Award History
Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports
Junior Malcolm Hill (Fairview Heights, Ill.), Basketball
Junior Dylan Lafond (Manchester, N.H.), Cross Country
Senior Clayton Fejedelem (Lemont, Ill.), Football
Senior Charlie Danielson (Osceola, Wis.), Golf
Sophomore Brandon Ngai (Sacramento, Calif.), Gymnastics
Senior Jared Hiltzik (Wilmette, Ill.), Tennis
Sophomore Jonathan Wells (Fox Lake, Ill.), Track & Field
Sophomore Isaiah Martinez (Lemoore, Calif.), Wrestling
Female Newcomer of the Year Finalists | Award History
Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports
Freshman Alex Wittinger (Delano, Minn.), Basketball
Freshman Bing Singhsumalee (Naperville, Ill.), Golf
Freshman Lizzy LeDuc (Dallas, Texas), Gymnastics
Freshman Morgan Maroney (Castle Rock, Colo.), Soccer
Freshman Ines Vias (Germantown, Md.), Tennis
Freshman Jordyn Poulter (Aurora, Colo.), Volleyball
Male Newcomer of the Year Finalists | Award History
Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports
Freshman Cole Bellair (Lockport, Ill.), Baseball
Freshman Jalen Coleman-Lands (Indianapolis, Ind.), Basketball
Freshman Jesse Reiser (McHenry, Ill.), Cross Country
Freshman Alex Diab (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), Gymnastics
Freshman Devin Quinn (Punta Gorda, Fla.), Track & Field
Fighting Illini Female Spirit Award Finalists | Award History
Athletes who exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
Senior Kyley Simmons (Council Bluffs, Iowa), Basketball
Junior Taylore Peterson (Portage, Mich.), Soccer *WINNER*
Senior Allie Bauch (Schaumburg, Ill.), Softball
Senior Sloane McDermott (Mokena, Ill.), Swimming
Junior Madie Baillon (Champaign, Ill.), Tennis
Fighting Illini Male Spirit Award Finalists | Award History
Athletes who exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
Sophomore Grey Schultz (Champaign, Ill.), Baseball
Senior Mike Thorne Jr. (Fayetteville, N.C.), Basketball
Junior Joe Spencer (Mason, Ohio), Football *WINNER*
Senior Alex Burge (Bloomington, Ill.), Golf
Senior Ben Dodds (Champaign, Ill.), Track & Field
Senior Jeff Koepke (Prospect Heights, Ill.), Wrestling
