Kent State's Highest Honors Given at Devine Dinner
5/2/2019 3:23:00 PM | General, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer, Men's Track & Field
Academic, athletic and community achievements among Kent State students were recognized Sunday, April 28 at the 36th Judith K. Devine Academic Honors Dinner inside the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
The Judith K. Devine Excellence in Leadership Award, recognizing a senior student-athlete exhibiting leadership in all facets of a student-athlete's life, including team, department, collegial unit and community, went to softball's Hunter Brancifort and women's basketball player Alexa Golden. Brancifort, a team captain, is a two-time Academic All-MAC selection and three-time Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athlete. In January, she traveled with a group of student-athletes on a service trip to Costa Rica. Brancifort will graduate in May with a degree in finance, carrying a 3.893 grade point average.
Golden is a two-year captain and three-time Academic All-MAC representative. As a senior she finished 19th in the nation in steals. She finished her undergraduate degree in criminology and justice studies in only five semesters with a 3.882 GPA. In May, Golden will earn a master's degree in sport and recreation management with a 3.962 cumulative GPA.
The Janet Bachna Award, recognizing a graduating female student-athlete demonstrating the most exceptional combined qualities of leadership, positive image, athletic ability and academic performance, was presented to soccer's Paige Culver. In 2017, Culver became the first soccer player in Kent State's history to earn both All-American and Academic All-American honors. The MAC Defensive Player of the Year made 80 career starts, the second most in program history. Culver will graduate in May with a finance degree and a 3.569 GPA.
The Merle Wagoner Award, recognizing a graduating male student-athlete who has demonstrated the most exceptional combined qualities of leadership, positive image, athletic ability and academic performance, went to track & field's Samory Fraga. The current Kent State record holder in both the indoor and outdoor long jump, Fraga is a five-time Academic All-MAC recipient. He was a 2018 South American U23 gold medalist. The Brazil native volunteers with Kent State's Office of Global Education and cane be seen at area airports serving as a greeter for arriving international students. Fraga will graduate in May with a degree in international relations with a 3.368 cumulative GPA.
The Kennedy Award, honoring the team which not only demonstrates excellence in competition, in the classroom and in the community, went to women's golf. The 2018 Kent State women's golf team finished fifth at the NCAA Championships. This season, the Golden Flashes claimed their 21st consecutive MAC Championship. In the classroom, they maintain above a 3.5 team GPA. In the community the Flashes spend time with the Ben Curtis Foundation and the Salvation Army.
Kent State University Provost Dr. Todd Diacon, who will become Kent State's 13th president in July, gave the evening's opening remarks. Volleyball's Amy Kober served as the senior student-athlete speaker.
Devine, who dedicated decades of her life to Kent State in numerous roles, returned to campus for the event. Â Part of her lasting legacy includes an endowment she created to allow the awards banquet to become a first-class annual celebration.
Players Mentioned
