PHOTO GALLERY

The High Point University Athletic Department held its fifth annual Athletic Awards Ceremony presented by BB&T on Thursday night at the Hayworth Fine Arts Center. Julie Hershkowitz of the volleyball team and Karo Okiomah of the men's soccer team were voted Panther Cup winners as HPU's Athletes of the Year. Brielle Spencer of the women's soccer team earned the Tobias Award and Shawn Sloan of the men's soccer team earned the Davis Award as HPU's top scholar-athletes.

Hershkowitz was named the female Panther Cup winner after leading the HPU volleyball team to its first ever Big South title in 2010. She graduates as one of the best defenders in the history of the Big South. Her 2,416 career digs ranks second in league history and are the most of any Panther by more than 800. She is a two-time All-Big South honoree. The volleyball program posted an 89-46 record during Hershkowitz's four seasons and won its first ever Big South regular season title in 2008.

Okiomah was named the male Panther Cup winner for his outstanding season in men's soccer. The junior led his team to its best season in school history and was named Big South Player of the Year and became the first All-American in team history. He tied for the conference lead with 12 goals and finished third in the conference with 26 points in just 16 games. The men's soccer team went 16-4-1, earned its first ever national ranking and became the first team to go 8-0-0 in Big South play.

Spencer, a junior, was named HPU's top female scholar-athlete after posting a 4.0 GPA in Mathematics. She was the Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year in women's soccer and is a three-time Millis Scholar-Athlete. She is also a two-time member of the Big South Presidential honor roll. Spencer was part of a defense that allowed only eight goals in league play and recorded three straight shutouts in the Big South Tournament.

Sloan, a sophomore, has a 4.0 GPA in Chemistry, is a two-time Millis Scholar-Athlete, a member of the Big South Presidential Honor Roll and was selected as a CoSida Academic All-American. Sloan has been a first team All-Big South selection in each of his first two seasons and recorded eight goals and eight assists last season.

Mackenzie Maier of the women's basketball team and Adam Hatem of the men's soccer team were nominated for the Big South's Christenberry Award for Academic Excellence.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee named Robin Pecoraro of the women's soccer team the Sportswoman of the Year and named Hatem Sportsman of the Year. The honor, which is voted on by members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, awards the female and male student-athlete who best exemplifies sportsmanship, leadership and community service.

For the first year Iron Panthers awards were given out to recognize commitment and work ethic in the weight room and in conditioning sessions. The Female Iron Panther of the Year was Audie Gonzalez who showed dedication to the weight room while coming back from ACL surgery. Her hard work paid off as she was named the MVP of the Big South Volleyball tournament. Mikel Rodenberg of the baseball team was named the Male Iron Panther of the Year. He earned the honor for his hard work during 16 weeks of fall workouts that he primarily did on his own due to class conflicts.

Every senior received a senior ring commemorating their accomplishments as a student-athlete at HPU.

HPU's senior speakers were Hershkowitz and Murray White IV of the baseball team. Senior Spencer Andrews of the baseball team gave the invocation, and Hatem spoke about the Panther Club and Earnest Bridges of the men's basketball team gave the closing remarks. The women's soccer team won the Competition Cup.

Women's Panther Cup: Julie Hershkowitz, Volleyball
Men's Panther Cup: Karo Okiomah, Men's Soccer
Tobias Female Scholar-Athlete Award: Brielle Spencer, Women's Soccer
E. Vance Davis Male Scholar-Athlete Award: Shawn Sloan, Men's Soccer
Sportswoman of the Year: Robin Pecoraro, Women's Soccer
Sportsman of the Year: Adam Hatem, Men's Soccer
Women's Iron Panther: Audie Gonzalez, Volleyball
Men's Iron Panther: Mikel Rodenberg, Baseball

Panther Cup Women's Team MVPs
Shamia Brown, Basketball
Emily Webb, Cross Country
Jessica Neese, Golf
Grace Gaeng, Lacrosse
Janay Whittaker, Soccer
Christina Fenske, Indoor Track
Manika Gamble, Outdoor Track
Julie Hershkowitz, Volleyball

Panther Cup Men's Team MVPs
Steve Antolik, Baseball
Nick Barbour, Basketball
Neal Darmody, Cross Country
Chase Wilson, Golf
Karo Okiomah, Soccer
TJ Brancaccio, Indoor Track
Neal Darmody, Outdoor Track

Tobias Female Scholar-Athlete Award Nominees
Mackenzie Maier, Women's Basketball
Margaret Suchan, Women's Golf
Alexis Goldman, Women's Lacrosse
Brielle Spencer, Women's Soccer
Kelsey Hinchliffe, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
Molly Barlow, Volleyball

E. Vance Davis Male Scholar-Athlete Award Nominees
Spencer Andrews, Baseball
David Campbell, Men's Basketball
Ben AuYeung, Men's Track & Field
Chase Wilson, Men's Golf
Shawn Sloan, Men's Soccer

Iron Panther Team MVPs
Mikel Rodenberg, Baseball
David Campbell, Men's Basketball
Jurica Hargraves, Women's Basketball
Chase Wilson, Men's Golf
Jordan Coakley, Women's Golf
Alec Perry, Women's Lacrosse
Michael Chesler, Men's Soccer
Brielle Spencer, Women's Soccer
Jevin Monds, Men's Track
Kelsey Hinchliffe, Women's Track
Tristan Faure, Men's Field
Rachel Webb, Women's Field
Audie Gonzalez, Volleyball