• OVC Scholar-Athlete Award History
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The Ohio Valley Conference has selected six individuals to receive its prestigious Scholar-Athlete Award for 2011-12. The award is the highest individual honor that can be earned by OVC student-athletes, and is given annually to three men and three women student-athletes of junior or senior status for their accomplishments in both the classroom and athletic arena, and because of their leadership qualities.
The six winners were selected from a group of 18 finalists by a vote of OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives. Honorees must have performed athletically with distinction, earned at least a 3.25 grade point average and conducted themselves in a manner which has brought credit to the student-athlete, his or her institution, intercollegiate athletics and the OVC. The award is based on academic and athletic criteria/accomplishments achieved during the 2011-12 school year.
The 2011-12 Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete winners are:
Stephanie Arnold of Eastern Illinois (volleyball),
Sean Bailey of Austin Peay (tennis),
Kellie Cook of Tennessee Tech (basketball),
Patrick Ford of Eastern Kentucky (football),
Leah Taylor of UT Martin (softball) and
Hunter York of Murray State (golf).
Stephanie Arnold – Stephanie Arnold is in her fourth year with the Eastern Illinois volleyball team. The middle hitter ranked second in the OVC in blocks in 2009 and last year had nine block assists in a match against Jacksonville State, a mark that is tied for 10th in EIU single-match history. In the classroom Arnold has a perfect 4.0 grade point average in biological sciences with minors in Spanish and chemistry. A three-year selection to the EIU Dean’s List, Arnold is also a multi-time recipient of the OVC Medal of Honor and selection to the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll. She also earned departmental honors in biological sciences. Arnold has been active in her Resident Hall Association (RHA), including coordination of campus activities and attendance at leadership conferences. She is a member of the Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-medical honor society and has served as a biological sciences tutor. Away from campus she has been a patient liaison in the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System and served as a Charleston Christmas Parade volunteer. Arnold is a native of Oregon, Wis.
Sean Bailey – Sean Bailey is in his final year of eligibility with the Austin Peay men’s tennis team. During his junior season (2011-12) Bailey was named OVC Men’s Tennis Player of the Year as well as being APSU’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete. During the year he compiled a 19-5 regular season record including a perfect 7-0 OVC mark. In 2011 he recorded a team-best 21 singles victories including going undefeated in OVC play (6-0) and was 20-6 in doubles competition. He was a second-team All-OVC selection as a freshman. In the classroom Bailey has a 3.94 grade point average in a double major of corporate communications and French. He has been a two-time selection to the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll and a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection. Bailey was also named the 2012 Austin Peay Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He is a five-time member of the APSU President’s List and six-time Dean’s List selection. Bailey is also a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Bailey has been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), serving as both the president and vice president during his tenure with the group. He is also active in the Public Relations Society of America and the French Club. Bailey’s volunteer activities include working with the Wounded Warrior Benefit Dinner, the FCA Food Drive, the Liberty Elementary Book Fair, Austin Peay’s Kid’s Day and Govs Give Back. He is a native of Manitoba, Canada.
Kellie Cook – Kellie Cook is in her final year of eligibility with the Tennessee Tech women’s basketball team. A team captain, Cook has helped the Golden Eagles to the OVC regular season title as a sophomore and to the OVC Tournament Championship game each of the past two seasons. Her best game of the 2011-12 season came against East Tennessee where Cook scored a career-high 36 points on 9-of-12 3-point attempts and also hauling in seven rebounds and two blocks. The nine made 3-pointers set a new Preseason WNIT record. In the classroom Cook holds a 3.94 grade point average in elementary education. She has been a three-time selection to the OVC’s Commissioner Honor Roll and twice earned the OVC’s Medal of Honor award. She has been active in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at both TTU (where she serves as president) and the OVC (where she represents the OVC as the league’s NCAA Division I representative). Cook has been involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) including being on the FCA Leadership Team. Some of her numerous volunteer experience includes helping with the Purple Pride Caravan, Fall Fun Fest, Habitat for Humanity, YMCA Healthy Kids Day, Hoops for Heroes as well as speaking to numerous youth groups. Cook is a native of Madison, Ala.
Patrick Ford – Patrick Ford is in his final year of eligibility as an offensive lineman with the Eastern Kentucky football team. On the gridiron Ford has been a key member of the Colonels team that won a share of the OVC Championship and earned an at-large bid to the 2011 NCAA Division I Football Championship. Ford helped block for an All-American running back in 2011 while earning first-team All-OVC honors. Ford is currently serving as a team captain in 2012. In the classroom Ford has a 3.90 grade point average. He has already completed an undergraduate degree in construction management (with a minor in business) and is currently working on a graduate degree in applied engineering and technology. He has been a two-time selection to the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, the EKU’s Dean List and an EKU Colonel Scholar. Ford was also inducted into the EKU chapter of the Chi Alpha Sigma national athletic honor society. He is also a member of the Student Contractor’s Association. Ford’s volunteer activities include helping with Habitat for Humanity and Special Olympics as well as mentoring at a Richmond teen center and helping with reading programs and food/clothing drives. Ford is a native of Richmond, Ky.
Leah Taylor – Leah Taylor will enter her final year with the UT Martin softball team this season. Taylor was named OVC Player of the Year in 2012 after leading the Skyhawks to the OVC regular season and tournament championships. During the year she hit .386 with 77 hits, 61 runs scored and 34 RBI and went on to earn Easton Fastpitch All-American honors. Along the way she set the school record for triples (10) and stolen bases (37) in a season. In the classroom Taylor has a 3.96 grade point average in marketing. She was named a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American following the 2012 season. Taylor has been selected to the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll twice and also earned the OVC Medal of Honor twice. She is a member of the UT Martin Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). She has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and Hoops for Heroes as well as participating with numerous elementary school events. Taylor is a native of Brownsville, Tenn.
Hunter York – York is currently in his final season of competition with the Murray State men’s golf squad where he serves as a team captain. As a junior he was second on the team and 13th in the OVC in stroke average (73.9) including a low round of 68 at the FAU Spring Break Championships. He was selected to the OVC All-Newcomer Team in 2011 and finished 11th at the OVC Championships that season. In the classroom he has compiled a 3.81 grade point average in chemistry/biochemistry with a minor in biology. York serves as an academic tutor and has been a volunteer with the Murray State Junior Golf Camp. Away from school he has served on numerous golf tournament committees and is a member of the National League of Postmasters. York is a native of Hardin, Ky.
Other nominees for the Scholar-Athlete Award were:
Tabitha Beard of Austin Peay (golf),
Nick Duff of Morehead State (baseball),
Simone Hopes of Tennessee State (basketball),
Brittney Kalinoski of Southeast Missouri (volleyball),
Marisa Kamelgarn of Morehead State (golf),
Shelby Kosmecki of Murray State (softball),
Adam McLeod of Tennessee Tech (cross country),
Dominic Pagliara of Eastern Illinois (football),
Cameron Scitern of Tennessee State (golf),
Deja Tennon of Eastern Kentucky (soccer),
Dan Tobik of UT Martin (baseball) and
Max Wieser of Southeast Missouri (track and field).