Ohio State Announces 2006 Big Ten Medal of Honor Finalists – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
May 22, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Five male and five female Ohio State senior student-athletes have been selected as finalists for the 2006 Big Ten Medal of Honor. The male nominees are: Andrew Bender (Lacrosse/Wooster, Ohio), Boaz Ellis (Fencing/ Moshav Zippori, Israel), Scott Green (Tennis/North Canton, Ohio), Brian Olinger (Cross Country and Track and Field/Fresno, Ohio) and Jason Rogers (Fencing/Los Angeles, Calif.). The female finalists are: Danielle Dietrich (Soccer/Cincinnati, Ohio), Carly Grimshaw (Synchronized Swimming/Markham, Ontario), Ninett Kossowsky (Rowing/ Taucha, Germany), Keturah Lofton (Track and Field/Zanesville, Ohio) and Elizabeth Tompkins (Rowing/Westerville, Ohio).
A male and female honoree will be awarded the 2006 Big Ten Medal of Honor at the Ohio State Scholar-Athlete Dinner. In addition, 434 student-athletes will be recognized as Ohio State Scholar-Athletes at the banquet, which will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Terrace Ballroom at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Over $80,000 in postgraduate scholarships will be awarded at the banquet as well. The complete list of 2006 Ohio State Scholar-Athletes is attached.
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.
Andrew Bender, Men’s Lacrosse
Wooster, Ohio/Wooster
Major: Finance
Future Plans: Relocating to Chicago for a position with a middle market investment bank and then returning to Ohio State to earn a MBA
OSU Dean’s List Four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete Two-timeAcademic All-Big Ten Conference 2002-2003 Alpha Lambda DeltaNational Freshman Academic Honor Society Phi Epsilon Sigma NationalHonor Society 2005 NCAA Leadership Conference Four-time varsityletterwinner 2003 Ohio State Men’s Lacrosse Freshman of the Year2003 and 2004 Great Western Lacrosse League Champions 2005 OSUMen’s Lacrosse Team MVP 2005 and 2006 Second Team All-Great WesternLacrosse League
Boaz Ellis, Men’s Fencing
Moshav Zippori, Israel/ Chaklai Nahalal
Major: Finance
Future Plans: Work in finance for two or three years while preparing to represent Israel in the 2008 Olympics, then pursuing a MBA in finance
Three-time OSU Scholar-Athlete Two-time Academic All-Big TenConference Ohio State Dean’s List Three-time NCAA Foil NationalChampion (2004-2006) Three-time First Team All-American 2004-2005OSU Fencer of the Year 2004 North American Cup Winner 2006 Big TenSportsmanship Award
Scott Green, Men’s Tennis
North Canton, Ohio/Hoover
Major: Accounting
Future Plans: Work in Dayton, Ohio, as a financial analyst and will pursue a MBA in the future
Four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete Three-time AcademicAll-Big Ten Conference Ohio State Dean’s List Current No. 1 rankingin doubles by the ITA Two-Time Intercollegiate Tennis AssociationAll-American National Doubles Champions (First back-to-back titles)2004 Ralph Lauren Polo National Doubles Champion 2005 NCAAAll-American 2006 Big Ten Conference Champions 2006 Best TeamRanking in School History (Fourth) 2005, 2006 Team Captain 2004,2005, 2006 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
Brian Olinger, Men’s Cross Country and Track and Field Fresno, Ohio/Ridgewood
Major: Human Dev. & Family Science
Future Plans: Continue to train to earn a spot on future World Championship and Olympic teams, pursue a graduate degree in teacher education for licensure to become a middle school math or social studies teacher
2006 Ohio State Scholar-Athlete OSU Deans List 2004, 2005, 2006Cross Country Team Captain 2005 NCAA Regional Athlete of the Year(First in Ohio State history) 2004, 2005 NCAA Cross CountryAll-Region Selection 2006 Big Ten Conference Champion (Outdoor 10K)2004 Big Ten Conference Champion (Outdoor 5K) Four-Time NCAAAll-American in cross country and track and field Ohio State recordholder in indoor 5K and outdoor 10K 2004 Ohio Cross Country Runnerof the Year 2005 RunOhio Magazine Athlete of the Year
Jason Rogers, Men’s Fencing
Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood
Major: Psychology
Future Plans: Remain in Columbus to train for the next Olympics while working in business and then pursue a law or business graduate degree
Three-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete Alpha Lambda Delta HonorSociety for Freshmen Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society 2003Second Team Academic All-American Golden Key International HonorSociety Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society National Society of CollegiateScholars 2005 ESPN the Magazine First Team Academic All-American2006 President’s Salute to Undergraduate Academic AchievementInvitee 2006 College of Arts & Sciences Certificate forExcellence in Outstanding Scholarship 2006 Rhodes ScholarshipFinalist Bronze Medalist at 2002, 2003 and 2006 NCAA ChampionshipsMember of 2004 U.S. Olympic Team 2005 Second Place Team – NCAAChampionships 2006 Third Place Team – NCAA Championships
Danielle Dietrich, Women’s Soccer
Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills High School
Major: Speech & Hearing
Future Plans: Continue working as an ABA therapist with autistic children and eventually attend graduate school for speech pathology.
Ohio State Dean’s List Three-time Ohio State Scholar-AthleteThree-time Academic All-Big Ten Conference 2002 Big Ten ConferenceAll-Freshman Team 2002 Soccer Buzz Great Lakes Region All-FreshmanTeam 2002 All-Ohio Soccer Association Team 2004 Soccer BuzzAll-Great Lakes Region Third Team 2002 & 2004 Big TenConference Tournament Champions 2005 Team MVP Award
Carly Grimshaw, Synchronized Swimming
Markham, Ontario/Markham District
Major: Sociology
Future Plans: Obtain a job related to the field of law, possibly at the Supreme Court of Ohio, and then attend Ohio State’s law school to become an attorney.
Four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete Ohio State Dean’s ListThree-time Academic All-Big Ten Conference Four-time AcademicAll-American Four-time Honorary All-American Four-time varsityletterwinner 2004 Buckeye Power Club Award 2003 & 2004 NationalCollegiate Champions 2004 Olympic Qualifier – British National Team2005 & 2006 National Collegiate Runners Up 2006 Team Captain
Ninett Kossowsky, Women’s Rowing
Taucha, Germany/ Sportgymnasium Leipzig
Major: Accounting
Future Plans: Graduate in June 2007 from Fisher College of Business, earn a master’s degree to become a certified public accountant.
Four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete Two-time Academic All-BigTen Conference Three-time varsity letterwinner Four-time CentralRegion Champions 2005 Second Team All-Big Ten Conference 2005Second Team All-Region 2005 Fourth Place – NCAA Championships 2006Big Ten Rowing Athlete of the Year 2006 First Team All-Big Ten 2006Big Ten Champions Six-time member of Big Ten Boat of the Weekrecipient
Keturah Lofton, Women’s Track and Field
Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville
Major: Sociology (2nd degree)
Future Plans: Obtain a job as a dental hygienist while competing and training for the 2008 Olympics, then attend dental school to become a periodontist.
Five-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete Three-time AcademicAll-Big Ten Conference Ohio State Dean’s List 2005 Graduate -Dental Hygiene Three-time All-American Five-time All-Big TenConference Team Two-time Big Ten Athlete of the Week 2004 Big TenConference Champion in both hammer (outdoor) and weight throw(indoor) Ohio State indoor weight throw record 2006 second in BigTen indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer Ohio State outdoorhammer throw record
Beth Tompkins, Women’s Rowing
Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South
Major: Biology (Second degree)
Future Plans: Attending The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine beginning fall of 2006 to prepare for a practice that deals with agricultural and companion animals and work in the community with volunteer time devoted to public education and animal shelters.
Five-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete Ohio State Dean’s ListTwo-time National Dean’s List Two-time Academic All-Big TenConference College of Arts & Sciences Certificate forExcellence in Scholarship 2005 National Scholar Athlete NationalSociety of Collegiate Scholars Golden Key International HonorSociety 2005 Magna Cum Laude Graduate – Zoology Two-time Member ofBig Ten Boat of the Week Three-time varsity letterwinner Four-timeCentral Region Champions 2005 fourth place – NCAA Championships2006 First Team All-Big Ten 2006 Big Ten Champions
