Concordia Irvine Athletics

CUI Announces 2019 Senior Awards

Apr 28 | 7:40 PM

By Ben Rosehart

IRVINE, Calif. – The Concordia University Irvine athletics department proudly announced the 2019 Senior Award winners during Sunday's annual senior banquet.
 
Six Eagles were recognized for their outstanding performances athletically, academically and in the community as well as for the remarkable legacy they will leave at Concordia.
 
Male Scholar Athlete of the Year – Hunter Howell – Men's Volleyball
 
A business administration major with an emphasis in Sports Management and a minor in marketing, Howell is the all-time leader at Concordia in total blocks, solo blocks, block assists, sets played and matches played.  Howell also finished in the Top 5 in school history in career kills, aces and attack percentage.  As a junior, he helped the Eagles win their first-ever MPSF Conference Tournament game and this year, CUI defeated ranked programs such as BYU and Stanford as well as local rival UC-Irvine for the first time in school history.
 
The Male Scholar Athlete of the Year Award is given to a CUI male student-athlete who has excelled not only on the field/court but specifically in the classroom. This is based on overall grade point average, academic performance over the course of the student's time at Concordia, and embodiment of the mission of the Institution.
 
Female Scholar Athlete of the Year – Marleigh Aulis – Women's Swimming & Diving
 
Marleigh Aulis is majoring in behavorial sciences with an emphasis in psychology and minoring in law and politics. Aulis earned a 3.91 GPA and was the first swimmer at Concordia to make an NCAA National cut. During her four years at CUI, she was the top distance female swimmer and she is one of four Eagles that hold the school record in the 4x200 free relay.  Aulis earned a spot on the PCSC All-Conference Team on multiple occasions and was CoSIDA Academic All-District as a junior. She plans to attend law school after graduation.
 
The Female Scholar Athlete of the Year Award is given to a CUI female student-athlete who has excelled not only on the field/court but specifically in the classroom. This is based on overall grade point average, academic performance over the course of the student's time at Concordia, and embodiment of the mission of the Institution.
 
Co-Male Athlete of the Year – Connor Gordon – Men's Soccer
 
The next set of awards are meant to highlight some of our most talented student-athletes. Our Athlete of the Year recipients were selected based on the following criteria: They have outstanding athletic achievements, represent the mission of the institution, displayed Christ-like character, participated in community and campus engagements, and excelled academically.
 
This year, we had two standout male athletes who had undeniable success throughout their careers. They broke records and helped make history here at CUI which is why they were both more than deserving of this award. 
 
Named a Third-Team All-American by the D2CCA, Connor Gordon capped off his illustrious career by tying the school record with his 50th goal in his final game in a Concordia uniform.  Gordon led both his team and the entire PacWest Conference in goals this past season and was named First-Team All-West Region and All-PacWest.  All this after sitting out the majority of last season with an ankle injury.  He ranks fourth all-time in school history in assists. After earning his degree in biology this past December, Gordon signed a professional contract with the Orange County Soccer Club.
 
Co-Male Athlete of the Year - Brian Chambers - Men's Basketball
 
A communications major with a minor in coaching, Brian Chambers led the Eagles this past season in points, assists, rebounds, steals, and free-throw percentage.  Chambers was named First-Team All-Region and All-PacWest and set the school-record with 17 assists in a home victory over Hawai'i Hilo.  He led the entire PacWest conference with 5.2 assists and 2.7 steals per contest while also finishing third in the league in scoring at 17.8 points per game. On top of that, he shot a ridiculous 90 percent from the free throw line during the regular season. Chambers was also a member of the first CUI men's basketball team in school history to make the NCAA DII men's basketball tournament, where the Eagles faced St. Martin's in the first round of the West Regional.
 
Female Athlete of Year – Sarah Herron – Women's Track & Field
 
Sarah Herron is majoring in kinesiology and carries a 3.76 GPA. A two-year team captain, she has represented Concordia twice at indoor nationals, placing 11^th and 16^th in the nation in the long jump as an upperclassmen.  Herron set the meet record, facility record and school record in the long jump at the "Big Meet" hosted by Grand Valley State.  Her performance that day was the second-best long jump in the nation at the time.  During her CUI career, the women's track and field team earned its highest NCAA D2 ranking in program history at No. 12.
 
Eagle Award – MacKenzie Feeken – Cheer & Stunt
 
An English major with a minor in psychology, MacKenzie Feeken holds a 3.7 GPA. A four-year captain, she was named a First-Team All-American as a junior after suffering a concussion her sophomore year.  Feeken was such a factor in the success of the team that one of her nicknames was "Franchise." Her senior year she helped Concordia rise to No. 4 in the national rankings and consistently competed in 12 of the 17 levels on the mat.
 
The Eagle Award is unique to CUI in that it embodies the mission and vision of our institution.  This honor is given to the individual who excelled in the classroom and athletically, but most importantly was a living example of what it means to be a Concordia University Irvine student and athlete. The Eagle Award was created to recognize the person who best embodies the spirit of CUI and represents not only athletics but the institution well into the community.
 
For a look back at the 2018 CUI Senior Award winners, click here.