Oklahoma State University Athletics

Maier, Hinson-Tolchard highlight OSU Athletics Academic Awards Banquet
April 22, 2024 | General, Cowgirl Golf, Cowboy Cross Country & Track
STILLWATER – Alex Maier (men's cross country/track and field) and Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (women's golf) took home male and female scholar-athlete of the year honors to headline tonight's 2024 Oklahoma State Athletics academic awards banquet.
As the highest honor presented by the OSU Athletic Department to student-athletes, this award reflects exemplary performance in academic endeavors, athletic activities, and a commitment to community engagement. The award recognizes exceptional character of the student-athlete, leadership and a dedication to academic performance.
Maier is the third Cowboy track and field student-athlete in the last six years to earn the award, while Hinson-Tolchard is the first Cowgirl golfer since 2001 to be recognized. Previous winners on the men's side include Brandon Weeden (football), Josh Holliday (baseball) and Alan Bratton (men's golf) and on the women's side include Natalja Piliusina (track and field), Yolanda Odenyo (soccer) and Lauren Bay (softball).
Kaylie Politza (women's track and field) and Will Quintana (men's track and field) secured the Nate Fleming Academic Effort and Improvement Award and 16 student-athletes across 15 sports were honored as Director's Chair winners for maintaining balance in academics while making a difference in their sports.
Across all of OSU's sports, more than 130 student-athletes will graduate during the 2023-24 academic year, with 20 graduating with honors and three earning Senior of Significance accolades – Weston Church (men's basketball), Jaxson Crull (baseball) and Sammie Smith (cheer).
Final grades for the spring semester are yet to be determined, but the fall of 2023 marked the 18th consecutive semester that the cumulative grade point average of OSU's student-athletes across all sports exceeded 3.0.
Top honors at the 2024 OSU Athletics Academic Awards Banquet
Scholar-Athletes of the Year: Alex Maier (men's cross country/track and field) and Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (women's golf)
Nate Fleming Academic Effort and Improvement Award: Kaylie Politza (women's track and field) and Will Quintana (men's track and field)
Director's Chair winners: Jaxson Crull (baseball), Weston Church and Carson Sager (men's basketball), Lior Garzon (women's basketball), Sammie Smith (cheer), Grace McReynolds (equestrian), Cale Cabbiness (football), Dillon Stewart (men's golf), Angelica Pfefferkorn (women's golf), Landry Leming (pom), Shyanne McClary (soccer), Scotland David (softball), Ayumi Miyamoto (women's tennis), Isaac Becroft (men's tennis), Alex Maier (men's track and field), Heidi Demeo (women's track and field), Dustin Plott (wrestling)
As the highest honor presented by the OSU Athletic Department to student-athletes, this award reflects exemplary performance in academic endeavors, athletic activities, and a commitment to community engagement. The award recognizes exceptional character of the student-athlete, leadership and a dedication to academic performance.
Maier is the third Cowboy track and field student-athlete in the last six years to earn the award, while Hinson-Tolchard is the first Cowgirl golfer since 2001 to be recognized. Previous winners on the men's side include Brandon Weeden (football), Josh Holliday (baseball) and Alan Bratton (men's golf) and on the women's side include Natalja Piliusina (track and field), Yolanda Odenyo (soccer) and Lauren Bay (softball).
Kaylie Politza (women's track and field) and Will Quintana (men's track and field) secured the Nate Fleming Academic Effort and Improvement Award and 16 student-athletes across 15 sports were honored as Director's Chair winners for maintaining balance in academics while making a difference in their sports.
Across all of OSU's sports, more than 130 student-athletes will graduate during the 2023-24 academic year, with 20 graduating with honors and three earning Senior of Significance accolades – Weston Church (men's basketball), Jaxson Crull (baseball) and Sammie Smith (cheer).
Final grades for the spring semester are yet to be determined, but the fall of 2023 marked the 18th consecutive semester that the cumulative grade point average of OSU's student-athletes across all sports exceeded 3.0.
Top honors at the 2024 OSU Athletics Academic Awards Banquet
Scholar-Athletes of the Year: Alex Maier (men's cross country/track and field) and Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (women's golf)
Nate Fleming Academic Effort and Improvement Award: Kaylie Politza (women's track and field) and Will Quintana (men's track and field)
Director's Chair winners: Jaxson Crull (baseball), Weston Church and Carson Sager (men's basketball), Lior Garzon (women's basketball), Sammie Smith (cheer), Grace McReynolds (equestrian), Cale Cabbiness (football), Dillon Stewart (men's golf), Angelica Pfefferkorn (women's golf), Landry Leming (pom), Shyanne McClary (soccer), Scotland David (softball), Ayumi Miyamoto (women's tennis), Isaac Becroft (men's tennis), Alex Maier (men's track and field), Heidi Demeo (women's track and field), Dustin Plott (wrestling)
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