IRVINE, Calif. - The Concordia University Irvine athletics department celebrated the graduating class of 2022 and also announced the annual Senior Awards during Sunday's Senior Legacy Banquet.

Six student-athletes were honored for their outstanding performances athletically, academically and in the community as well as for the remarkable legacy they will leave behind. 

This is also the first time in the six-year history of this tradition that two student-athletes were recognized as Eagle Award winners.

Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Hector Arteaga – Men's Track and Field

• 3.64 GPA – Business Administration
• Served as team captain for the last four years
• Indoor Track & Field All-Region Selection in 2021
• Finished in Top 30 twice at PacWest Conference Cross Country Championships
• Helped CUI place 4^th in 2019 – highest finish for men's cross country
• D2ADA Academic Award Recipient
• Academic All-PacWest selection every year

 
Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
McKenna Wilson - Women's Track and Field

• 3.94 GPA – Graduating with a bachelor's in kinesiology with minors in psychology and pre-physical therapy.
• Fought through injuries her entire career & finished 6th in the steeplechase at last year's PacWest Championships.
• Made 3 Academic All-Region Teams for BOTH Track and XC
• She has been accepted into Army-Baylor and will be pursuing a doctorate of physical therapy
• Has worked in various roles on campus including during the summer
• Member of CUI women's track and field team that earned most Academic All-PacWest selections out of any PacWest program on 2 occasions
• D2ADA Academic Award Recipient
• Academic All-PacWest every year

 
Male Athlete of the Year
Kyle Benjamin – Men's Swimming & Diving

• First CUI men's swimmer to compete at the NCAA Championships (twice!)
• NCAA Second Team All-American in the 400 IM as a Freshman
• Helped Concordia win TWO conference titles – his freshman year in 2019 and as a senior in 2022
• Owns Four School Records: the 500 Free, 1650 Free, the 400 IM (Individual Medley) and this year he set the new mark in the men's 100 IM.
• Over his career – He Won 10 individual Races at Conference Meets – including the 1650 free by nearly 30 seconds as a senior!
• Named PCSC Athlete of the Week a school-record Seven times
• 3.33 GPA and SAAC representative

 
Female Athlete of the Year
Michaela VanderKlugt - Women's Basketball

• First Concordia women's basketball player to be a D2CCA All-American and West Region Player of the Year
• First CUI women's basketball player with both 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds
• D2CCA First Team All-Region
• Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-PacWest
• Set school record and PacWest Conference record for career rebounds
• Ranks second all-time at CUI in career points
• Named PacWest Player of the Week a league-record 14 times
• Averaged a double-double during her final season
  • 18.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game
  • Shot nearly 50 % from the field & 36 % on 3 pointers
• Started every possible game over her 5-year career
• 4.0 GPA as a grad student & Academic All-PacWest selection every year

 
Eagle Award Winners
Jeff Runyan - Men's Water Polo

• ACWPC First Team All-American and Honorable Mention All-Conference in first full season with the Eagles
• Leading scorer on team with over 80 goals this past season
• Scored game-winning goal in sudden death overtime on Senior Day to stun Fresno Pacific
• Founding member of Athlete Bible Study (ABS)
• Helps promote CUI Athletics as a broadcaster on our video live stream for a number of sports including home games featuring women's water polo, softball, baseball, and soccer
• Sociology major & SAAC representative

Veronica Wood - Beach Volleyball

• 3.34 GPA – Majoring in Behavorial Sciences - Psychology
• SAAC representative and first SAAC Mental Health Coordinator helping teach her team about mental health practices
• Member of the most successful CUI beach volleyball team in program history that earned a school-record 21 wins in 2022
• CUI made the Semifinals at AVCA National Tournament in Florida for first time in program history
• Team Captain for multiple seasons
• Started "The Pit Crew" on the sidelines of Beach Volleyball matches to support teammates & keep everyone engaged
• Student-worker with CUI Athletics since freshman year – specifically helping on the scorer's table for indoor volleyball games
• D2ADA Academic Award Recipient

The Eagle Award is unique to CUI in that it embodies the mission and vision of our institution.  This honor is given to individuals who excelled in the classroom and athletically, but most importantly were a living example of what it means to be a Concordia University Irvine student and athlete. The Eagle Award was created to recognize a select group who best embodies the spirit of CUI and represents not only athletics but the institution well into the community.

Congrats to all our seniors and we thank them for their dedication to our university, their teams and their faith.  We are honored to have you join our alumni!

Links to previous CUI Senior Award Winners:
2021 Senior Awards
2020 Senior Awards
2019 Senior Awards
2017 & 2018 Senior Awards