The Thurston Banks Award was established to recognize an individual (e.g. academic advisor, professor, tutor, etc.), with at least five years of service at one or more OVC member institutions, for his or her outstanding contributions to OVC student-athletes’ academic success, learning and development as well for his or her overall commitment to the institution’s athletics program.
The award is named after Dr. Thurston Banks, who served the Tennessee Tech Department of Athletics for 31 of his 34 years on the faculty and served as the Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) for 25 years before stepping down in 2006. He was inducted into the OVC Hall of Fame in 2007.
All-Time Thurston Banks Award Winners
2013 - Dr. Bruce Myers, Austin Peay; Dr. Gail Richard, Eastern Illinois
2014 - Andrew Smith, Tennessee Tech; Betty Wiseman, Belmont
2015 - Dr. Gaines Hunt, Austin Peay; Peggy Osborne, Morehead State
2016 - Dr. Nell Gullett, UT Martin; Dr. Tim Rademaker, Southeast Missouri
2017 - Lawrence Baggett, Austin Peay; Dr. Janna Vice, Eastern Kentucky
2018 - Dr. Karl Hussung, Murray State; Dr. Rich Tiner, Belmont
2019 - Danelle Fabianich, UT Martin; Dr. Lance Jasitt, Tennessee Tech
2020 - Jim Wells, Morehead State; Dr. Jerry Westbrook, Southeast Missouri
2021 - Lt. Colonel Greg Lane, Austin Peay; Dr. Leveda Birdwell, Tennessee Tech
2022 - Jaci DeClue, SIUE; Dr. Rob Owens, Tennessee Tech
2023 - Cindy Almon, Eastern Illinois; Jennifer Bell, Tennessee State
2024 - Dr. Jim Davis, Eastern Illinois; Lindsey Schmidt, SIUE
2025 - Dr. Samantha Bates, Tennessee Tech; Richard Fletcher, Morehead State