By At the 6th annual Halo Awards on Sunday, April 16, Carroll College recognized and celebrated its student-athletes who have competed for the school. The awards recognize student-athletes’ achievements within athletics, academics, and the community.
The awards distributed were Highest Team Grade Point Average, Top Individual Grade Point Average, Fighting Saints Spirit Award, Director’s Award, Newcomer of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Performance of the Year, Most Impressive Team, Most Supportive Professor, Servant Leadership Award, Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Athlete of the Year, and the St. Sebastian Award.
“It’s always so awesome seeing the best athletes at our school get recognized for their talents on the field and in the classroom,” said Emily Funseth, a representative of the women’s soccer team in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), majoring in sociology criminology. “It’s definitely a fun and important tradition we do here at Carroll College. As a member of the SAAC, this year’s Halos event was definitely a success, and it couldn’t have happened without the help from every person involved.”
The St. Sebastian Award is named after St. Sebastian, the patron saint of archers, athletes, and of those who desire a saintly death. The award is given to the male and female who best represented the Fighting Saints spirit through their efforts within their sports, tenacious hard work, athletic performance, academic performance, and their faith. This year’s winners were Javier Rodriguez (men’s soccer) and Kylie Kackman (volleyball).
“I am very honored to receive the St. Sebastian award because I am surrounded by so many outstanding people and athletes here at Carroll,” said Kackman, a senior majoring in business management and marketing. “This award is important to me because it shows the type of person I try to be every day. It is certainly a testament to my mentors who have taught me to have integrity and I’m humbled to be recognized for it.”
Below is the full list of all award winners:
- Team High GPA: Volleyball – 3.66
- Highest Individual GPA:
- Brendan Temple (Men’s Basketball)
- Erica Nessan (Women’s Basketball)
- Kaden Gardner (Football)
- Natalie Brown (Women’s Soccer)
- Javier Rodriguez (Men’s Soccer)
- Katherine McEuen (Volleyball)
- Elias Hill (Men’s Track)
- Katelyn McKay (Women’s Track)
- James Normandeau (Men’s Cross Country)
- Nicole Morgen (Cross Country)
- Whitney Durocher (Softball)
- Rex Irby (Men’s Golf)
- Echo Anderson (Women’s Golf)
- Lucas Coulter (Cheerleading)
- Bridget Kaldor (Band)
- Fighting Saints Spirit Award: Mekenzie Arnold (Cheer)
- Director’s Award: Bridget Kaldor (Band)
- Newcomer of the Year:
- Male: Brycen Gardner (Cross Country and Track & Field)
- Female: Kyndall Keller (Women’s Basketball) and Hannah Sempf (Cross Country)
- Comeback Player of the Year:
- Male: Matt Burgess (Football)
- Female: Brooklyn Purcell (Cheer)
- Performance of the Year: Kamden Hilborn (Women’s Basketball)
- Most Impressive Team: Women’s Basketball
- Most Supportive Professors: Kathy Gilboy and Chrissie Carpenter
Servant Leadership Award: Janet Riis
Scholar-Athlete:
Male: Kaden Gardner (Football)
Female: Blair Stapleton (Soccer)
Athlete of the Year:
Male: Garrett Kocab (Football)
Female: Jamie Pickens (Basketball)
St. Sebastian Awards:
Male: Javier Rodriguez (Men’s Soccer)
Female: Kylie Kackman (Volleyball)
