Ohio State Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor Finalists Announced – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | General
May 20, 2003
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Six male and six female Ohio State student-athletes have been selected as finalists for the 2003 Big Ten Medal of Honor. The male nominees are: Raj Bhavsar (Gymnastics/Houston, Texas), Derrick Butler (Track and Field/Cincinnati, Ohio), Pete Dillon (Lacrosse/Great Falls, Va.), Andy Groom (Football/Columbus, Ohio), Richard Huntwork (Gymnastics/Pickerington, Ohio) and Vincent Ng (Tennis/Broadview Heights, Ohio). The female finalists are: Victoria Bowen (Synchronized Swimming/Plano, Texas), Suzanna Hyatt (Synchronized Swimming/Indianapolis, Ind.), Krista Keir (Track and Field/Westerville, Ohio), Jennifer Link (Softball/Yorba Linda, Calif.), Jennifer Miller (Soccer/Centerville, Ohio) and Katie Virtue (Volleyball/ St. Charles, Ill.).
A male and female honoree will be awarded the 2003 Medal of Honor at the Ohio State Scholar-Athlete Banquet. In addition 413 student-athletes will be recognized as Ohio State Scholar-Athletes at the banquet, which will be held at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday (May 21) at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor Award was established by the Big Ten Conference office in 1914 and is awarded at each member institution to a student-athlete in the graduating class. An additional award for the top female was instituted in 1982. The two winners are chosen according to both academic and athletic proficiency. This honor includes a postgraduate scholarship for the recipients who would like to pursue a graduate or professional program at Ohio State.
Raj Bhavsar
Raj Bhavsar comes to Ohio State from Houston, Texas, and is a member of the men’s gymnastics team. He is an outstanding scholar and athlete, as his achievements show. Bhavsar is a 10-time NCAA All-American, a two-time NCAA individual champion, a three-time Big Ten individual champion and a three-time All-Big Ten honoree. The team won two Big Ten team championship and the 2001 NCAA national championship while Bhavsar was a member. He was the 2000 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the 2002 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year and the 2002 Ohio State Male Athlete of the Year. Bhavsar was the 2002-03 team captain and a 2003 Nissen-Emery Award finalist. He has the honor of being a member of the U.S. National Team, has competed in the World Championships and hopes to compete in the 2004 Olympics in Greece.
Bhavsar has had many scholastic successes as well. He is a four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete, a three-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient and a five-time Dean’s List honoree. He is a Verizon Academic All-District Team member and was nominated for the Pace Setter’s Award through the Fisher College of Business. Bhavsar also has participated in the Make-A-Wish foundation and Read Across America. Eventually, he plans to pursue an MBA and succeed in the business world.
Derrick Butler
A chemical engineering major from Cincinnati, Ohio, Derrick Butler has achieved excellence in the classroom as well as on the track and field and cross country teams. His numerous athletic awards reflect his drive to succeed in his sport. He was the 2001 Jesse Owens Track Classic 3K Champion, the 2002 Ohio Division I Cross Country Runner of the Year and is the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium 10K record holder. Butler is a two-time NCAA cross country championship participant, a 2003 NCAA Track & Field Championship 10K provisional qualifier and the 2003 Rod McCravy Memorial 3K champion. His team went to the 2002 Big Ten and All-District cross country meets, is the reigning All-Ohio team champion for outdoor track and field and cross country and is a two-time Big Ten Championship runner-up for outdoor track and field and cross country.
Butler’s academic success parallels his athletic achievements. He is an Academic All-Big Ten honoree, a four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete, an 11-time Dean’s List honoree and a two-time Minority Engineering Program Eminent Scholar. He received the President’s Salute to Undergraduate Achievement Award, the Chemical Engineering Sophomore of the Year Award and the Lambda Psi Member of the Year Award. He also was Vice President of the Lambda Psi Honorary as well as a member of the Tau Beta Pi Honorary. He is a National Achievement Scholar and a Verizon Academic All-District Team member. He also has been quite involved in Special Olympics and charity runs. He serves as a mentor for freshman minority engineering majors and teaches math to second graders in the Columbus Public Schools. Derrick wishes to pursue a Ph.D. in chemical engineering or bioengineering or an MBA.
Peter Dillon
Originally from Ft. Bragg, N.C., Peter Dillon is a member of Ohio State’s men’s lacrosse team. Dillon has led his team as captain for three years and has started for four years in three different positions. He has received the team’s Sportsmanship Award and is a four-time varsity letterwinner. He was a member of the 1999 and 2003 GWLL championship teams.
Dillon’s scholarly achievements are evident in all the awards he has received. He is a five-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete, a three-time Academic Big Ten honoree, a Mortar Board Trustees Scholar and a Scarlet and Gray Scholar. In 2001, Dillon received the Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award. He is a member of Mortar Board, Alpha Lambda Delta Honorary as a well as Phi Beta Sigma Honorary. He received the Forbes Leadership Award and has been active in the Student-Athlete Advisory Board and various community activities. A food science and nutrition major, Dillon’s future plans include pursuing a career in medicine.
Andy Groom
A native of Groveport, Ohio, Andy Groom has had an outstanding college career. Athletically, he has persevered on the football team, starting as a walk-on and then as a scholarship athlete. The list of achievements goes on. He was 2001 Special Teams Player of the Year, 2002 First Team All-Big Ten and 2002 Football Writer’s Association First Team All-American. In 2002, the team won the Big Ten Conference title as well as the national championship. Groom is a five-time OSU Player of the Week, a two-time Big Ten Player of the Week and a four-time varsity letterwinner. He also won the Award of Distinction from the Touchdown Club of Columbus.
Groom’s achievements off the field are admirable as well. He is a four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient. He has the distinction of being a National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete and has received a NACDA Scholarship. Groom also has been active in his family business, has visited hospitals and nursing homes and has done numerous public speaking engagements. Groom hopes to play in the NFL and get a master’s degree in business, eventually working in the business field.
Richard Huntwork
According to his coach, Richard Huntwork understood “Champions Bleed Scarlet and Gray,” long before he ever wore those colors in competition. It was Huntwork’s dream to compete at The Ohio State University. A native of Pickerington, Ohio, he has fulfilled that dream during his career as a member of the men’s gymnastics team. While he has been a part of his favorite team, the Buckeyes have won the 2001 NCAA national championship, as well as back-to-back Big Ten Conference team titles and two Windy City championships. Huntwork is a team captain and has been the emotional backbone of his team. He is a four-time varsity letterwinner and two-time recipient of the team’s Most Improved Award. Huntwork also highlighted his career by being named a 2002 All-American on floor exercise.
A sports and leisure studies major, Huntwork is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and a three-time OSU Scholar-Athlete. He has been on the Dean’s List three times and served for two years as the representative for men’s gymnastics on the Student-Athlete Advisory Board. A clinic coach in the NCAA First Program, Huntwork plans to use his education and experience to teach as well as coach gymnastics, both at the collegiate and Olympic levels.
Vincent Ng
Vincent Ng came to Ohio State from Broadview Heights, Ohio. Ng’s tennis coach has high praise for him as “the ultimate scholar-athlete.” His hard work both on and off the court has earned this praise. He is the winningest player in Ohio State tennis history and he helped the team to the NCAA team championship for the first time as a freshman. He was a member of the 2001 Big Ten Tournament championship team and was named to the 2003 All-Big Ten team. Ng was the 2002-03 Big Ten Indoor Singles Champion, the 2003 Big Ten Conference Athlete of the Year, the 2003 Milwaukee Tennis Classic Champion and is the Ohio State all-time career singles wins leader. He was the 2002-03 co-captain and a four-time varsity letterwinner.
Ng’s successes are as impressive off the court. He was a Verizon Academic All-America Men’s Second Team honoree and a Verizon District IV Academic All-District Second Team member. He was a 2002-03 Socrates Award finalist and an invitee to the Presidential Salute to Undergraduate Academic Achievement. He also was the recipient of the 2003 Colleges of the Arts and Sciences Award for Excellence in Scholarship. He is a seven-time Dean’s List honoree, a three-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient and a three-time OSU Scholar-Athlete. Ng is a biology major and has been conditionally accepted to the Ohio State University College of Medicine.
Victoria Bowen
Venturing from her home in Plano, Texas, Victoria Bowen has made her mark as an integral part of the nationally prominent synchronized swimming team. Bowen made her first big splash as a freshman when she topped an undefeated soloist in the final event of the collegiate national championships to help the Buckeyes regain the National Collegiate team title in 2000. Since that freshman year, she has been one of the consistent factors in Ohio State winning Collegiate National championships in each of her four years, competing as a soloist and as part of the four-time team event winners. Her three-time Collegiate All-American titles reflect outstanding performances as a three-time U.S. Open Champion in solo, duet and figures and three South Zone Championships in solo, duet, team and figures. Receiving All-Collegiate Division I Honors and seven U.S. Synchronized Swimming All-America recognitions, Bowen capped her collegiate career as the Collegiate National solo and element champion and High Point Scorer at the 2003 Collegiate Nationals.
Named to the Dean’s List eight times, Bowen is a student in the Fisher College of Business majoring in finance. Her academic achievements have garnered her three Academic All-Big Ten awards and four Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and Synchronized Swimming Academic All-American honors. Bowen’s dedication, positive attitude, strong work ethic and quiet leadership are appreciated and well respected by her coach and teammates as she was named co-captain her senior year. Her leadership is extended in service as a member of the Finance Committee for United States Synchronized Swimming and Golden Key International Honor Society. She also is the North Regional athletes representative for synchronized swimming and volunteers at Daffron Elementary School. Bowen’s career plans include pursuing an MBA, gaining experience in commercial banking and helping individuals, families and businesses manage finances and investments so they can achieve their goals and dreams.
Suzanna Hyatt
Suzanna Hyatt, a member of the Ohio State synchronized wwimming team, is a student-athlete whose continual pursuit of excellence is evident in her academic, athletic and leadership accomplishments. An Indianapolis, Ind., native, Hyatt came to OSU as a walk-on for a very talented team and ended her career as a four-year varsity award winner, captain and part of a class claiming four Collegiate National team championships. She was a part of the ‘A’ team that won three Collegiate National team event championships, earned three Collegiate All-America honors and was a member of the United States National Team II three times. Hyatt also was recognized as a United States National Team II bronze medalist and a Second Team All-American twice. Providing tremendous leadership her senior year to an inexperienced team that claimed the Collegiate National title, Hyatt also had a banner individual season as the 2003 national duet champion, trio bronze medallist, United States National Team II captain and Olympic Trials qualifier. Hyatt also was voted 2003 United States Synchronized Swimming Collegiate of the Year.
A member of Golden Key National Honor Society, Hyatt, a Spanish major, was on the College of Humanities Dean’s List six times. She earned recognition as Academic All-Big Ten, Academic All-American and Ohio State Scholar-Athlete each of her eligible years. Suzanna’s active leadership and involvement did not end when she left the pool at Larkins Hall. She was a Student-Athlete Advisory Board representative, serving as the social chair in 2001-2002, and traveled to Europe as part of the U.S. National Team. Immersing herself in the Hispanic and Spanish community to improve her Spanish speaking skills, she is an aide for a first grade class at the Spanish Immersion Academy of Columbus and serves as the student liaison for a Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Columbus program she initiated mentoring children who are not native speakers at Stiles Elementary School. Hyatt plans to pursue a master’s degree in education and continue the positive impact she has on others as a teacher in an urban public school environment.
Krista Keir
“Krista (Keir) is fulfilling her potential and has learned along the way what it takes to overcome obstacles in life.” These are the words of her coach and her achievements ring true in this statement. As a member of the track & field team, Keir was the 2002 Outdoor Big Ten Discus Champion and she placed third in discus at the NCAA outdoor championships. In 2003, she placed second in the shot put at the Big Ten indoor championships. She also is a two-time varsity letterwinner.
Keir has achieved off the field as well. Academically, she has a 4.0 GPA, has been on the Dean’s List eight times and has been an Academic All-Big Ten honoree. This is her second time as an OSU Scholar-Athlete. She is active in her home community of Westerville, Ohio, with the Jaycees and was a coach for high school volleyball in autumn 2002. She also is certified as a track official and high school volleyball official and will become a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Krista has two passions-teaching and coaching-and plans to continue her education in sport and exercise education.
Jennifer Link
Jennifer Link has an impressive list of athletic achievements, including being named a 2002 NCAA Division I All-American in softball. She also was a 2002 All-Great Lakes Region selection, a three-time All-Big Ten honoree and a four-time varsity letterwinner. She was named OSU’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2000, the Offensive Player of the Year in 2001 and is the team captain this year. In 2002, Link received the Coaches’ Award and was honored to participate in a softball tournament hosted by the Japanese government in Osaka, Japan.
Link’s softball coach says, “She is a hard-working achiever and she delivers results.” This is true on and off the field. Link is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, a National Fastpitch Coaches Association Academic All-American, a three-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and a four-time Dean’s List honoree. Link is a social work major and was awarded the Medhurst Scholarship and Social Welfare Award for high academic achievement. She is an active member of the Social Work Student Organization, the Student-Athlete Advisory Board and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Link also is very involved with the community as a team leader for Adopt-A-Classroom Project at Windsor Urban Academy and as an intern at the Ohio Youth Advocate Program. She plans to return to her home state of California to obtain a master’s degree in counseling from California State University, Fullerton, where she has been offered a graduate assistantship in the department of athletics. This will give her the experience she needs to achieve her ultimate goal of becoming an athletic academic counselor.
Jennifer Miller
Jennifer Miller is a Columbus native and a member of the women’s soccer team. Her coach hails her as the epitome of the term ‘student-athlete,’ summing up her achievements at OSU: “Jen is the first individual in our program’s short history to be named both Academic All-American and Athletic All-Big Ten.” As co-captain, Miller led her team to the Big Ten tournament championship and a first-time appearance in the NCAA tournament. She was the 2001-02 Team MVP, the 2002 Big Ten Tournament Defensive MVP and a two-time Team Defensive MVP. She is a four-time letterwinner and ranks third in OSU history in career assists.
Miller is a mechanical engineering major, with minors in business and nuclear engineering. She received the Engineering Dean’s Scholarship, the 2001-02 Lockheed-Martin Women in Engineering Academic Award and the 2001-02 Academic All-Ohio Award. She is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient and a four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete. In 2002, she was a Verizon District IV Academic All-American, a NCAA postgraduate award recipient and a member of the NSCAA All-Academic Second Team. She is active in the Women in Engineering program at Ohio State and plans to pursue a higher degree in her field and work in a technical position that combines her expertise with management and leadership.
Katie Virtue
Katie Virtue, from St. Charles, Ill., is a four-year starter and letterwinner and two-time All-Big Ten honoree at the setter position on Ohio State’s women’s volleyball team. Making an impact in her sport from the beginning of her career as quarterback of the team, Virtue took the top spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team, earning the title Freshman of the Year. She also was named to the Asics/Volleyball Magazine Freshman All-America team. Her sophomore campaign earned her recognition on the AVCA All-Midwest Region team and in her junior season, she was listed as Honorable Mention All-American along with being the national statistical champion in assists per game. Reflecting her all-around dedication to being the best in her sport, Virtue was named to the Buckeye Power Club twice and is a National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American. She capped her senior season by etching her name in the record books as Ohio State’s career assists leader.
Described by her coach as ‘an example of the collegiate athlete that can do it all’, Virtue, a marketing major in the Fisher College of Business, is a four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. On the College Dean’s List numerous times, she also is a member of the prestigious SPHINX Senior Class Honorary. Being an active leader and part of a team are important values Katie displays through her involvement as treasurer of SPHINX and tireless efforts as team representative, then chair, of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board. She has been an outstanding representative for all student-athletes as a member of the Athletic Council’s Academic Progress and Eligibility and Equity and Student-Athlete Welfare Committees. During this past year, Virtue also served as a valuable student-athlete voice on the NCAA Certification Steering Committee as well as the Governance and Commitment to Rules Compliance Sub-Committee. After pursuing a professional volleyball experience in Europe, Virtue plans to continue her education in preparation for a teaching, coaching and administrative career in which she no doubt will continue to make a positive impact on those around her.
