April 30, 2015 Article from GOBLUERAIDERS.COM


FOURTH ANNUAL RCA AWARDS SHOWCASES TALENTED RAIDERS

GASQUE, HAWKINS, MORAES TAKE TOP AWARD
@MTAthletics

photoMURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Football's Leighton Gasque and women's soccer player Tori Hawkins and women's tennis record holder Nayara Moraes were the big winners at the Fourth Annual Raiders Choice Awards on Thursday night at Tucker Theatre. The year-end "Academy Awards"-style show highlighted all the academic and athletic accomplishments of the Blue Raider student-athletes in their second year of competition in Conference USA.

Gasque, Hawkins, and Moraes were honored with the True Blue President's Award, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a current MT student-athlete who epitomizes all that is good in intercollegiate athletics. Presented annually to one male and one female senior student-athlete, the President's Award recognizes outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments, University/community service and leadership. This year's female award went to co-winners.

Gasque and Hawkins both have excelled in the Business and Aerospace program, while Moraes is a Business Administration major. Gasque completed an internship with NASA last summer and ranks second all-time in quarterback sacks for the Blue Raiders. Hawkins, from nearby Siegel High School, has started every game of her career and has a passion for being an astronaut one day, while Moraes has a 3.42 GPA in business administration.

"This is always the highlight of the year when we can recognize the accomplishments of our student-athletes both in the classroom and in their respective sport," said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. "This was another special night and I want to thank everyone involved."

Academically, the Student-Athlete Enhancement Center award went to Darius Johnson (football) and India Hammond (track). The highest team GPA award was won by women's soccer for spring 2014 and women's golf for the fall.

In the individual categories, baseball standout Ronnie Jebavy was voted the Male Athlete of the Year while women's golf star Avery George was honored as the Female Athlete of the Year.

The Male and Female Newcomer of the Year awards went to Hannah Maina of women's cross country and track's John Ampomah. Maina became just the second female in MT history to advance to the NCAA Championships while leading her team to a C-USA title (first in school history). Ampomah broke a 32-year old javelin record and is currently ranked No. 1 in the NCAA.

The Most Improved Player awards went to Ty Petty (women's basketball) and Jacque Rozier (men's basketball). Petty started 31 games this past season and averaged 11.6 points and 4.4 assists per contest in helping lead MT to a 24-10 record. Rozier earned 32 starts his senior year and averaged 7.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and shot 50.3 percent from the field.

Middle Tennessee Head Women's Tennis Coach Shelley Godwin was awarded the Make a Difference Award for her trip to the Dominican Republic last summer where she took 12 student-athletes to an all-girls orphanage. The group also visited a shelter for women trying to escape a life of prostitution in the impoverished parts of Santo Domingo.

Presenting the Make a Difference Award was two-time Nascar Camping World Truck Series Champion Matt Crafton. Crafton made his appearance by driving his truck into the theatre.

Fans determined the winners of the Play of the Year, Performance of the Year, and the Game/Event of the Year by voting on GoBlueRaiders.com. The Play of the Year was soccer player Grace Summers' game-winning goal in overtime as MT defeated host Charlotte in the C-USA Tournament. Baseball's Ronnie Jebavy won the Performance of the Year award for reaching base all six times in a game to help the Blue Raiders clinch the series at No. 19 FAU. The Game/Event of the Year was the Blue Raider football team's victory over WKU in three overtimes.

The Director's Cup Award was won by men's basketball for the third time in four years (2012, 2013). This award was created to recognize the student-athletes who go above and beyond and who demonstrate an unselfish attitude toward their team, family, and community. The team who has earned the most points throughout the year in the following areas - academic achievement, community outreach, and personal development, take home this prestigious award.

Numerous athletes were also recognized for their academic honors and All-American accolades.

2015 RAIDERS CHOICE AWARDS WINNERS

PRESIDENTS AWARD (MALE): Leighton Gasque, football
PRESIDENTS AWARD (FEMALE): Tori Hawkins, soccer; and Nayara Moraes, tennis
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Ronnie Jebavy, baseball
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Avery George, golf
MALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: John Ampomah, track
FEMALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Hannah Maina, cross country
FEMALE MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Ty Petty, women's basketball
MALE MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Jacque Rozier, men's basketball
ALL-AMERICANS: Cordairo Golden - Track (First Team All-American); Eliud Rutto - Track (First Team All-American); Trent Miller - Baseball (Third Team Louisville Slugger)
SAEC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Male: Darius Johnson, football; India Hammond, track
MAKE A DIFFERENCE AWARD: Shelley Godwin, women's tennis
DIRECTOR'S CUP: Men's Basketball
TEAM GPA AWARD/FALL 2014: Women's Golf
TEAM GPA AWARD/SPRING 2014: Women's Soccer
GAME/EVENT OF THE YEAR: Football's 3 OT win at home against WKU. 
PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: Ronnie Jebavy reached base all six times to clinch series over No. 19 FAU. Jebavy went 3-for-5 with an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. He scored the game-tying run in the ninth to force extra innings.
PLAY OF THE YEAR: Grace Summers scored the game-winning goal in overtime as Middle Tennessee defeated host Charlotte in the C-USA Soccer Tournament. The win put the Blue Raiders into the semifinals.