COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Kelli Benjamin received the President’s Award Monday evening during Texas A&M Athletics’ second-annual Building Champions Awards held in Reed Arena. Aggie student-athletes were treated to a maroon carpet entrance to the gala with awards presented for various academic, service, leadership and athletic endeavors.
“Tonight is an opportunity for us to salute our outstanding student-athletes and our mission of ‘Building Champions’ here at Texas A&M,” Athletics Director Eric Hyman said. “We are extremely proud of their achievements during their athletic careers. More importantly, we are appreciative of the way they have represented our university, not only in competition, but in the classroom and in the community.”
The President’s Award is the highest award that is presented to a student-athlete at Texas A&M by the Athletics Department. The individual receiving this award is someone who displays extraordinary talents in areas of athletics, scholarship, leadership and service.
Hyman and Tom Adair, Faculty Athletics Representative, presented the President’s Award to Benjamin from the swimming & diving team.
Benjamin, a senior swimmer from Gilbert, Ariz., finished her career as a five-time All-American and a school record holder with the 200-yard medley relay and the 800 freestyle relay. An involved student, Benjamin served as the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in 2014-15 and was named to the SEC Community Service Team in 2014. She was also recognized for her efforts in the community and her academic achievement by being named the National “Playmaker of the Month” by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports in March of 2015.
Benjamin received a 2015 Buck Weirus Spirit Award from Texas A&M for demonstrating high involvement, creating positive experiences throughout the Aggie community, impacting student life at Texas A&M and enhancing the Aggie Spirit. Benjamin was also named to the 2015 Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.
Texas A&M’s Female Athlete of the Year was soccer’s Shea Groom, a two-year All-American who led the Aggies to five conference championships, four NCAA tournaments and the school’s first-ever College Cup appearance.
Groom, who owns a 3.57 grade-point average in Recreation, Park and Tourism Science, garnered Capital One Academic All-America distinction from the College Sports Information Directors of America in 2014 and was selected Scholar All-America First-Team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) as a junior and senior. Most recently she was bestowed with the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.
An NSCAA All-America First Team selection and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2014, she finished her senior season with 39 points on 16 goals and seven assists. In 2013, Groom was named to the NSCAA All-America Third Team. She is a three-time All-SEC selection and has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. For her career, Groom appeared in 85 matches, including 80 starts. Her 41 goals and 107 points both rank sixth on Texas A&M’s career charts.
The Male Athlete of the Year honor was bestowed upon track & field’s Deon Lendore
After sharing the men’s athlete of the year honor at the BCAs last season, Lendore captured the Bowerman Award as the top collegiate track and field athlete for the 2014 season. His accomplishments on the track included sweeping the SEC and NCAA Outdoor titles in the 400 meters as Lendore completed an undefeated season in the event.
Lendore bettered the A&M school record of 44.67 set in 1969 by Curtis Mills with a 44.36 victory at the 2014 SEC Outdoor Championships. He also anchored Aggie school record efforts in the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400 relays.
An injury this season during the 2015 SEC Indoor Championships prevented Lendore from claiming a fourth consecutive title at the indoor conference meet, but he rebounded to finish fourth at the NCAA Indoor meet two weeks later and anchor the Aggies to a collegiate record victory in the 4×400 relay. It’s the third collegiate indoor record A&M has achieved in the 4×400 over the past two seasons.
Honors presented during the Building Champions Awards included:
President’s Award – The President’s Award is the highest award that is presented to a student-athlete at Texas A&M by the Athletics Department. The individual receiving this award is someone who displays extraordinary talents in areas of athletics, scholarship, leadership and service.
Kelli Benjamin, swimming & diving
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Athletes of the Year – Awarded to the top male and female student-athletes based upon athletic excellence and team leadership.
Male: Deon Lendore, track & field
Female: Shea Groom, soccer
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Bill Erwin Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award – Named for longtime Texas A&M athletics supporter and local philanthropist Bill Erwin, the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is given to a male and female student-athlete who is in their final year of athletic eligibility and demonstrated outstanding academic and athletic performance.
Male: Josh Lambo, football
Female: Emily Neubert, swimming & diving
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Newcomer of the Year – Presented annually to a male and female student-athlete who has made significant athletic contributions during his or her initial year at Texas A&M. These student-athletes must exhibit the core values of integrity, loyalty and respect while excelling at their sports.
Male: Myles Garrett, football, & Danuel House, basketball
Female: Beryl Gastaldello, swimming & diving
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Lohman Inspiration Award – Recognizes the student-athlete at Texas A&M who has demonstrated integrity, and most importantly, perseverance in overcoming incredible challenges in pursuit of his or her education. This person is a role model for others who have faced adversity in their own lives and thought about giving up.
Leah Chenelle, equestrian
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Brad Davis SEC Community Service Post-graduate Scholarship – Presented to a senior male and female with exceptional community service accomplishments during their student-athlete career and recipients of a $5,000 post-graduate scholarship from the Southeastern Conference.
Male: Hayden Duplechain, swimming & diving
Female: Kelli Benjamin, swimming & diving
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NCAA Women’s & Ethnic Minority Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarships – Developed by the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics and the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee. The NCAA awards $7,500 to a female college graduate who is seeking a career in intercollegiate athletics.
Kelli Benjamin, swimming & diving, & Olivia Ekpone’, track & field
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NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship (Fall) – Created in 1964 to promote and encourage postgraduate education by rewarding the Association’s most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports. Athletics and academic achievements, campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership are evaluated, and each season (fall, winter, spring) the NCAA awards 29 males and 29 females with a $7,500 postgraduate scholarship.
Shea Groom, Soccer
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Team GPA – Recognizes the Texas A&M athletics team with the highest cumulative GPA.
Soccer
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Maroon Award – The most distinguished and highest honor given to a member of the 12th Man. It symbolizes passion and devotion for Aggie Athletics. Established to recognize an individual for their outstanding service and dedication to Texas A&M, the award pays tribute to the recipient for unwavering loyalty, sacrifice and commitment to the building of a championship program.
Jim Wilson `81