The University of Arkansas hosted its inaugural 'Hogspy' awards show Thursday night at the Fayetteville Town Center.
The award show honored the best of the best among the 19 different teams that call themselves the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Athletic Director Jeff Long said, "We've been talking about it for a couple of years, finally this year our student advisory committee said we can do this."
Track athlete Terry Prentice is the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, he added, "Kentucky has the Catspy's, Tennessee has the Volscar's, Ole Miss has the Rebel Choice, so we thought the Hogspy's would be appropriate for this one."
The event was hosted by former Razorback and current ESPN basketball analyst Jimmy Dykes.
Dykes said the event was more than just honoring great play, "Not only on the field, and in the pool, and on the golf course, but in the classroom and community as well."
"There's a lot of good, a whole lot of good in Razorback athletics right now."
For some student-athletes this event could be the perfect springboard for the future.
Prentice said, "We've done some great stuff this year, and I think it bodes well for next year."
"So if somebody was to have a Hogspy around leading into next year, you know that they're the real deal."
Women's basketball player Erin Gatling agreed, "This is like a great launching pad."
"It's kind of like you celebrate and then it's time to go to work again."
The U of A released the list of winners:
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas Athletic Department celebrated the academic and athletic accomplishments of the past year with the first HOGSPY Awards ceremony Thursday at the Fayetteville Town Center.
The night included recognition of student-athletes participating in the Rookie Razorback Leadership Academy, Emerging Leaders Razorback Academy and Veteran Razorback Leadership Academy, and concluded with the presentation of senior plaques and rings.
Several individual awards were also presented with quarterback Tyler Wilson and pole vaulter Tina Sutej earning Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year honors, respectively. Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Year Jaime Pisani and baseball catcher James McCann were named Female and Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, respectively.
The Play of the Year went to Joe Adams for his punt return for a touchdown against Tennessee.
Men's and women's golf earned the Men's and Women's Academic Team of the Year awards, respectively. The top graduating senior award was shared by Sarah Howard and Lisa Lunkenheimer, both from the swimming and diving team.
The Burlsworth Award, which goes to student-athletes exhibiting Razorback character, service and achievement, went to football safety Seth Armbrust and soccer forward Kailey Anders.
The women's basketball team received the Hog Tough Award, which goes to a team creating a shift in momentum resulting in a victory in a key contest, for the 72-71 victory at Tennessee on Feb. 23.
Rookie of the Year honors went to pole vaulter Andrew Irwin from track and field, and Emily Tubert from women's golf.
Razorback Leadership Academy Distinguished Leader Awards were presented to Pisani and Genny Salvatore from gymnastics, Kendal Winston and Daniella O'Shea from soccer, Nikolas Zogaj from men's tennis and Courtney O'Grady from swimming and diving.
Awards were based on competition completed between April 1, 2011, and April 1, 2012.
"In the past year, we have witnessed national championships, Southeastern Conference championships and many memorable athletic moments along the way," Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long said. "In the classroom and in the community, we have watched Razorback student-athletes reach new academic heights, including a large number of individuals walking across the stage to receive their diplomas. In the community, our student-athletes have already volunteered more than 5,000 hours to make a difference in the lives of others. It has been an unbelievably successful journey and we are all very proud of what our student-athletes have accomplished."
The event was created and developed by the members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee with red carpet arrival to the Town Center from 6-6:45 p.m. and the ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. The event had been in the works since the spring of 2011, was made possible by a gift from Jeff Fox of the Circumference Group in Little Rock and will be hosted by ESPN's Jimmy Dykes.
Head coaches made nominations for the various awards with all voting by a selection committee. The Play of the Year was voted on by the selection committee with an additional vote from the public.
For more information regarding Razorback athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
2012 HOGSPY Award Winners
Razorback Leadership Academy Distinguished Leader Award
Jaime Pisani, gymnastics
Genny Salvatore, gymnastics
Kendal Winston, soccer
Daniella O'Shea, soccer
Nikolas Zogaj, men's tennis
Courtney O'Grady, swimming and diving
Male Rookie of the Year
Andrew Irwin, track and field
Female Rookie of the Year
Emily Tubert, golf
Top Graduating Senior
Sarah Howard & Lisa Lunkenheimer, swimming and diving
Hog Tough Award
Women's basketball for 72-71 win at Tennessee
Male Burlsworth Award
Seth Armbrust, football
Female Burlsworth Award
Kailey Anders, soccer
Male Academic Team of the Year
Men's golf
Female Academic Team of the Year
Women's golf
Male Student-Athlete of the Year
Tyler Wilson, football
Female Student-Athlete of the Year
Tina Sutej, track and field
Play of the Year
Joe Adams punt return for a touchdown against Tennessee
Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Jaime Pisani, gymnastics
Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
James McCann, baseball
-- ArkansasRazorbacks.com
The award show honored the best of the best among the 19 different teams that call themselves the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Athletic Director Jeff Long said, "We've been talking about it for a couple of years, finally this year our student advisory committee said we can do this."
Track athlete Terry Prentice is the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, he added, "Kentucky has the Catspy's, Tennessee has the Volscar's, Ole Miss has the Rebel Choice, so we thought the Hogspy's would be appropriate for this one."
The event was hosted by former Razorback and current ESPN basketball analyst Jimmy Dykes.
Dykes said the event was more than just honoring great play, "Not only on the field, and in the pool, and on the golf course, but in the classroom and community as well."
"There's a lot of good, a whole lot of good in Razorback athletics right now."
For some student-athletes this event could be the perfect springboard for the future.
Prentice said, "We've done some great stuff this year, and I think it bodes well for next year."
"So if somebody was to have a Hogspy around leading into next year, you know that they're the real deal."
Women's basketball player Erin Gatling agreed, "This is like a great launching pad."
"It's kind of like you celebrate and then it's time to go to work again."
The U of A released the list of winners:
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas Athletic Department celebrated the academic and athletic accomplishments of the past year with the first HOGSPY Awards ceremony Thursday at the Fayetteville Town Center.
The night included recognition of student-athletes participating in the Rookie Razorback Leadership Academy, Emerging Leaders Razorback Academy and Veteran Razorback Leadership Academy, and concluded with the presentation of senior plaques and rings.
Several individual awards were also presented with quarterback Tyler Wilson and pole vaulter Tina Sutej earning Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year honors, respectively. Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Year Jaime Pisani and baseball catcher James McCann were named Female and Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, respectively.
The Play of the Year went to Joe Adams for his punt return for a touchdown against Tennessee.
Men's and women's golf earned the Men's and Women's Academic Team of the Year awards, respectively. The top graduating senior award was shared by Sarah Howard and Lisa Lunkenheimer, both from the swimming and diving team.
The Burlsworth Award, which goes to student-athletes exhibiting Razorback character, service and achievement, went to football safety Seth Armbrust and soccer forward Kailey Anders.
The women's basketball team received the Hog Tough Award, which goes to a team creating a shift in momentum resulting in a victory in a key contest, for the 72-71 victory at Tennessee on Feb. 23.
Rookie of the Year honors went to pole vaulter Andrew Irwin from track and field, and Emily Tubert from women's golf.
Razorback Leadership Academy Distinguished Leader Awards were presented to Pisani and Genny Salvatore from gymnastics, Kendal Winston and Daniella O'Shea from soccer, Nikolas Zogaj from men's tennis and Courtney O'Grady from swimming and diving.
Awards were based on competition completed between April 1, 2011, and April 1, 2012.
"In the past year, we have witnessed national championships, Southeastern Conference championships and many memorable athletic moments along the way," Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long said. "In the classroom and in the community, we have watched Razorback student-athletes reach new academic heights, including a large number of individuals walking across the stage to receive their diplomas. In the community, our student-athletes have already volunteered more than 5,000 hours to make a difference in the lives of others. It has been an unbelievably successful journey and we are all very proud of what our student-athletes have accomplished."
The event was created and developed by the members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee with red carpet arrival to the Town Center from 6-6:45 p.m. and the ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. The event had been in the works since the spring of 2011, was made possible by a gift from Jeff Fox of the Circumference Group in Little Rock and will be hosted by ESPN's Jimmy Dykes.
Head coaches made nominations for the various awards with all voting by a selection committee. The Play of the Year was voted on by the selection committee with an additional vote from the public.
For more information regarding Razorback athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
2012 HOGSPY Award Winners
Razorback Leadership Academy Distinguished Leader Award
Jaime Pisani, gymnastics
Genny Salvatore, gymnastics
Kendal Winston, soccer
Daniella O'Shea, soccer
Nikolas Zogaj, men's tennis
Courtney O'Grady, swimming and diving
Male Rookie of the Year
Andrew Irwin, track and field
Female Rookie of the Year
Emily Tubert, golf
Top Graduating Senior
Sarah Howard & Lisa Lunkenheimer, swimming and diving
Hog Tough Award
Women's basketball for 72-71 win at Tennessee
Male Burlsworth Award
Seth Armbrust, football
Female Burlsworth Award
Kailey Anders, soccer
Male Academic Team of the Year
Men's golf
Female Academic Team of the Year
Women's golf
Male Student-Athlete of the Year
Tyler Wilson, football
Female Student-Athlete of the Year
Tina Sutej, track and field
Play of the Year
Joe Adams punt return for a touchdown against Tennessee
Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Jaime Pisani, gymnastics
Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
James McCann, baseball
-- ArkansasRazorbacks.com
