Mid-American Conference

CLEVELAND, OHIO – Kyle Smith (track and field) of Central Michigan and Lindsey Butterfield (volleyball) of Bowling Green have been named the recipients of the 2014 Bob James Memorial Award by the Mid-American Conference Faculty Athletics Representatives as announced by the league office today.

In its 26th year, the Bob James Memorial Award recognizes one female and one male student-athlete who have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.50, and have displayed good character, leadership and citizenship. The student-athletes are nominated during the year in which they complete their final season of eligibility. The $5,000 post-graduate scholarship is awarded in honor Bob James, the second commissioner in Mid-American Conference history (1964-71).

Smith earned Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in May, 2014 and was on the Dean’s List and President’s List all eight semesters and finished graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA.   Smith was a three-time Academic All-MAC selection (2011, 2012, 2014) and was named the Pat Podoll Award Winner, given annually to the highest GPA among graduating Central Michigan student-athletes.  He was also recognized as a four-time Central Michigan Scholar-Athlete Award Winner for Outstanding Academic Achievement (2010-2014).

Smith began his collegiate career as a quarterback and strong safety on the football team for three seasons (2010-12) and was appointed to the Football Leadership Committee.  In addition to football, Smith also competed as a member of the track and field team for his first three seasons and following a career ending football injury, was able to continue to compete in track and field for the remainder of his collegiate career.  He earned NCAA All-American in the javelin in 2014 and was the MAC Outdoor Championships runner-up in the javelin in both 2011 and 2014.

Through his undergraduate research, Smith has already had a paper published in the annual conference of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society and another paper published in the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) North Central Section Conference.  During his time in Mount Pleasant he also worked with the Dow Chemical Company and completed a summer internship at the FDA regulated Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Manufacturing site for Bayer Health Care.

A native of Leola, Pa., Smith will pursue law school at the University of Virginia School of Law.

Butterfield graduated from Bowling Green in December of 2013 with a major in biology and minor in chemistry with a 3.82 GPA.  Butterfield was a four-year varsity member of the volleyball team, was named captain for her final three seasons and was named the school’s Senior Scholar-Athlete Award winner.

Butterfield was a member of the 2012 MAC Tournament Championship Team and the first NCAA Tournament victory in program history.  She was named a two-time All-MAC First-Team honoree and Academic All-MAC selection in both 2012 and 2013.  Butterfield was named Capital One First Team Academic All-District in 2013 and was one of 30 named a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award in 2013. 

Aside from the court, Butterfield spent three years as a research team member with the Bowling Green Department of Biological Sciences where she studied the molecular genetics of E.coli and its protein biochemistry.  She also volunteered on campus as a volunteer coach for the ‘Lil Falcons’ volleyball camp and Perrysburg Heights Community Association volleyball programs for underprivileged youth, collected donations for the Battered Women’s Shelter, assisted in the MLK Day of Service and was part of Bowling Green’s Open House welcome crew to greet prospective students and campus tours.

A native of Springfield, Ohio, Butterfield will pursue her graduate degree at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry.

2014 Bob James Memorial Award Female Nominees:
Whitney Graff, Akron (golf)
Mallory Miles, Ball State (swimming & diving)
Courtney Gross, Buffalo (soccer)
Simone Lazar, Central Michigan (field hockey)
Stephanie Clarke, Eastern Michigan (soccer)
Jessacca Gironda, Kent State (soccer and softball)
Christina Raymond, Miami (tennis)
Kim Gotlund, Northern Illinois (gymnastics)
Katherine Fenzel, Ohio (field hockey)
Ellen Dzierzak, Toledo (swimming & diving)

2014 Bob James Memorial Award Male Nominees:
Nico Caponi, Akron (football)
Andrew Tharp, Ball State (swimming & diving)
Brandon Silva, Bowling Green (soccer)
Cy Maughmer, Eastern Michigan (football)
Brandon O’Malley, Ohio (cross country)
James Miglin, Toledo (baseball)

Past Bob James Award Winners
2014 Kyle Smith, Central Michigan (track & field); Lindsey Butterfield, Bowling Green (volleyball)
2013 Nabal Jefferson, Northern Illinois (football); Skylar Chew, Ball State (women’s soccer)
2012 Kristin Hoffman, Northern Illinois (volleyball); Briggs Orsbon, Ball State (football)
2011 Jon Edgington, Miami (Baseball); Christine Chiricosta, Bowling Green (Tennis)
2010 Tim Hiller, Western Michigan (Football); Megan Chronister, Bowling Green (Gymnastics)
2009 Gonzalo Barinaga, Ball State (Football); Jillian Wolosiansky, Eastern Michigan (Volleyball)
2008 Wynn Michalak, Central Michigan (Wrestling); Stephanie Swiger, Bowling Green (Volleyball)
2007 Matt Lefeld, Bowling Green (Basketball); Jody Yednock, Northern Illinois (Gymnastics)
2006 David Mitchell, Miami (Cross Country/Track & Field); Marie Zidek, Northern Illinois (Volleyball)
2005 Burke Badenhop, Bowling Green (Baseball); Robin Davidson, Toledo (Soccer)
2004 Travis Barclay, Ball State (Football); Andrea Kremer, Miami (Track & Field)
2003 Brett Faustman, Central Michigan (Wrestling) and Katrina Kerns, Bowling Green (Track & Field)
2002 Anthony Malik, Bowling Green (Soccer); Kate Miller, Kent State (Basketball)
2001 Nick Iagulli, Miami (Track & Field); Jennifer Jarjosa, Bowling Green (Swimming)
2000 Cato Coleman, Miami (Track & Field); Laura Szczepanski, Ball State (Gymnastics)
1999 Justin Millard, Akron (Soccer); Wendy Feldman, Central Michigan (Volleyball)
1998 Desmond Johnston, Akron (Soccer); Janelle Tranquillo, Ball State (Field Hockey)
1997 Joseph Burch, Bowling Green (Soccer); Sarah Mikrut, Ball State (Gymnastics)
1996 Dustin Swinehart, Miami (Soccer); Kristin Gaddis, Bowling Green (Cross Country/Track)
1995 Stephen Fetyko, Eastern Michigan (Swimming); Dana Drew, Toledo (Basketball)
1994 Bob Dudley, Bowling Green (Football); Kris Parks, Ohio (Cross Country/Track)
1993 Sander Scott, Central Michigan (Basketball); Kelly Weir, Ohio (Basketball)
1992 Jeff Bender, Central Michigan (Football); Julie Young, Western Michigan (Volleyball)
1991 Pat Jackson, Bowling Green (Football); Kristin McDaniel, Kent State (Track & Field)
1990 Danny Rieman, Ball State (Baseball); Linda Popovich, Bowling Green (Volleyball)
1989 Rick Winegardner, Ball State (Swimming); Kim Keenan, Kent State (Cross Country/Track)