Gardner-Webb Swimmers Receive Academic Honors
April 30, 2014 | Swimming
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Four Gardner-Webb swimmers were honored at the University's Academic Awards program in receiving awards in their respective fields of interest.
Jordan Denmark, a senior from Raleigh, N.C., received the Alpha Psi Award for Excellence in Technical Theater.
Kristen Ellison, a junior from Cary, N.C., received the International Business Award.
Taft Kallam, a senior from Randleman, N.C., received Gardner-Web's Sociology Award.
Cody Meyers, a senior from Mobile, Ala., received the Paul J. Stacy Biology Award.
Additionally, five Gardner-Webb swimmers have received recognition from the University. Senior Biology major Kristina Grayson (Charlotte, N.C.) was named the Volunteer of the Year and received GWU's Biology Service award. Freshman Connor Bos (Holland, Mich.) was sworn in as SGA Treasurer, Jordan Denmark was awarded the Presidential Associates Recognition.
Junior Mary O'Doherty (Charlotte, N.C.), who participated in the Miss Gardner-Webb contest earlier this year, was named Miss Photogenic and Miss Congeniality. Senior Faith Kempf (Sterling, Kan.) received the high honor of being named in "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges."
Gardner-Webb swimming also held its annual beam banquet recently, honoring members of both its men's and women's swimming teams for their role in a breakthrough 2013-14 season.
Standout Nathan Lile (Waynesville, N.C.), who fought through an injured wrist to establish school records in the 50, 100, and 200 free at 2014 CCSA Championships, was voted as the Men's Team MVP. Fellow sophomore Giorgie Graves (Riverview, Fla.), who added to her already impressive collegiate career with an All-CCSA and school record performance in the 100 fly, was voted as the Women's Team MVP.
Freshmen Josh Hanson (Acworth, Ga.) and Adél Kiss (Székesfehérvár, Hungary) were voted Most Improved on the men's and women's sides, respectively, and the I am Third honors went to juniors Joe MacGregor (Brooksville, Fla.) and Charity Byrum (Winston-Salem, N.C.).
Rookies Connor Bos and Maria Seward (Winston-Salem, N.C.) received the Freshman Award, while senior Taft Kallam and sophomore Taylor Schwartz (Westerville, Ohio) received the Runnin' Bulldogs' Teammate Award.
Hanson's 100 breast and Graves' 100 fly were voted as the Most Inspirational Performances from this year's Conference meet. Seniors Cody Meyers and Faith Kempf (Sterling, Kan.) received the Team Spirit Award for their role in Gardner-Webb's success this season and sophomores Luke Denman (Greenville, S.C.) and Christina Clayton (Brentwood, Tenn.) received the Extra Mile Award for their hard word and dedication to the team.
