Ohio State Male Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor Finalists Announced – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | General
May 13, 2002
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Five Ohio State senior male student-athletes have been selected as finalists for the 2002 Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor. The nominees are Collis Boyce (Lacrosse/Butler, Md.), Daryl Brazeau (Soccer/Hanover Park, Ill.), J.J. O’Rielly (Cross country and track/Dover, Ohio), Kevin Stephan (lacrosse/Massapequa, N.Y.) and Tyson Walter (Football/Bainbridge, Ohio). The female nominees for the award will be announced Tuesday.
A male and female honoree will be awarded the 2002 Medal of Honor at the Ohio State Scholar-Athlete Banquet. In addition 366 student-athletes will be recognized as Ohio State Scholar-Athletes at the banquet, which will be held at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 22 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.
Collis Boyce
Lacrosse
Collis Boyce, a member of the lacrosse team, came to Ohio State from Butler, Md., to play alongside his brother, Sandy. A five-sport athlete in high school, Boyce channeled his energy into one sport in college and became a four-year letterwinner. In 2000 he won 24 faceoffs, placing him second on the team in face-offs won. He also was a key contributor in winning the Great Western Lacrosse League title in 1999. This season, he appeared in all 14 games, scooping up 22 groundballs.
His coaches said, “Collis is a tireless worker who quietly succeeds in all facets of the college experience.” Boyce believes his ability to manage his time efficiently in college has been the key component for his success as a student and athlete at Ohio State. A finance major, Boyce is a four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. He was named to the Dean’s List numerous times. As an avid stock market observer and Wall Street Journal reader, Boyce’s future plans are to work in the business world and become an investment banker.
Daryl Brazeau
Soccer
Daryl Brazeau, originally from Hanover Park, Ill. and a transfer student from Drake University, was a major presence on defense for the Buckeye soccer team. Ohio State head coach John Bluem said Brazeau “is absolutely one of the hardest trainers I’ve ever had; he raised the standard of OSU soccer sessions.” Brazeau was a member of the 2000 All-Big Ten First Team. He was named to the Penn State/NIKE Classic All-Tournament Team in 2000 for outstanding defensive play in a 0-0 tie with then-ninth ranked Virginia Commonwealth. Even though he missed several games during his senior season with a knee injury, Brazeau earned Second Team All-Big Ten and First Team All-Ohio honors in 2001.
Brazeau’s hard work ethic is just as evident in the classroom where he is a family resource management major in the College of Human Ecology. Brazeau is a two-time Ohio State Scholar- Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Since 1998, Brazeau has spent his summers playing for the semi-professional Des Moines Menace as well as working with youth in various soccer camps. He plans to pursue opportunities in professional soccer but eventually would like to earn an MBA and establish a career in finance or investments.
J.J. O’Rielly
Cross Country/Track
J.J. O’Rielly, a native of Dover, Ohio, is a four-year letterwinner and true leader of the Buckeye track and field team. Named captain for the 2001-2002 season, O’Rielly led the cross country team at the 2001 Big Ten Championships, finishing eighth in the 8K race. In the 2002 outdoor season, O’Rielly finished seventh at the prestigious Penn Relays and second at the TCU Invitational in the steeplechase. As a junior O’Rielly was a part of the OSU cross country team that qualified for the national championships for the first time in over 50 years and was selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team. As a senior, O’Rielly individually qualified for the NCAA championships and was selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team for the second-consecutive year.
O’Rielly’s drive and endurance are evident in the classroom as well. He is a civil engineering major who has attended the scholar- athlete banquet every year since coming to Ohio State. He is a member of the Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honorary, which is reserved for students in the top third of the department. Last year he was the recipient of the William E. Quicksall memorial scholarship for engineering. He also has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and is an Academic All-American. O’Rielly’s goal after graduation is to pass the fundamentals of engineering exam so he can become a licensed professional engineer.
Kevin Stephan
Lacrosse
Kevin Stephan, of Massapequa Park, N.Y., has been a key leader and role model both athletically and academically for the lacrosse team. Stephan’s leadership is evident from the recognition given to him by his team, as he received the 1999 Outstanding Freshman Award, the 2001 Sportsmanship Award and was elected team captain for both the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Stephan’s consistent and solid performance as a midfielder was a large factor in his team winning the 1999 Great Western Lacrosse League Championship.
Stephan’s leadership and character transcend into the academic realm as well. A marketing major in the College of Business, he has earned Dean’s List honors and is a member of both the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Golden Key Honor Society. He was awarded the National Buckeye Scholarship and the Trustees Scholarship. He is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete. Stephan is an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board as a team representative and as editor of the student-athlete newsletter. He has been involved in numerous community service activities, including participating in the mentor program and reading to elementary children. Stephan’s academic and career plans include work in the sports marketing industry before attending graduate school to earn a MBA.
Tyson Walter
Football
As an offensive lineman at left tackle for the football team, Tyson Walter started an impressive 37 consecutive games prior to the 2001 season. Earning four varsity letters, Walter was a member of the 1997 Big Ten and Rose Bowl championship team, the 1998 Sugar Bowl championship team and was selected as Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in 1998 by the coaches and the media. He was a First Team All-Big Ten honoree in 2001.
A Bainbridge, Ohio native, Walter’s academic achievements are commendable as well. He is completing a degree in business administration with majors in finance, economics and risk management. Walter was named to the Dean’s List, earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and is a four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete. His volunteer experiences are extensive, as he has spoken to various elementary schools, Christian groups, local hospitals and D.A.R.E. groups. Walter was drafted in the ninth round of the NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys and is looking forward to pursuing a career in the National Football League.
