Mid-American Conference

Kelsi White (Miami) & Tanner Barton (Ball State) Recipients of the 2017 Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award
Kelsi White and Tanner Barton each to receive $5,000 post-graduate scholarship
 
CLEVELAND, OHIO – Kelsi White (women’s field hockey) of Miami and Tanner Barton (men’s swimming & diving) of Ball State have been named the recipients of the 2017 Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award by the Mid-American Conference Faculty Athletics Representatives as announced by the league office today.
 
In its 29th year, the Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award recognizes one female and one male student who have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.50 and have displayed good character, leadership and citizenship. The students are nominated during the year in which they complete their final season of eligibility. The $5,000 post-graduate scholarship is awarded in honor of Bob James, the second commissioner in Mid-American Conference history (1964-71).
 
Kelsi White graduated Summa Cum Laude from Miami University in May of 2017 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in both political science and east Asian languages & culture. During her time at Miami, she maintained a 4.0 GPA and was a part of the President’s List (top 3% of student body) for all eight semesters. Along with being a regional Rhodes Scholar candidate in 2016, White earned both the Engel Prize for outstanding promise in the field of law and the David S. McLellan Award for outstanding overall academic record.  
 
White is a two-time Academic All-MAC selection (2015, 2016), received the 2017 MAC Commissioner’s Award, and was named to the Collegiate Scholar of Distinction & National Academic Squad three years in a row for achieving a 3.90 GPA or higher as a student athlete (2014, 2015, 2016).
 
White was a key part of many committees during her time as a RedHawk. She was the Vice Chair of the NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Committee in 2016, the President of the MAC Council of Students, and served a role in a College Ambassador Program to help incoming students learn about the university.
 
As a four-year letterwinner on the Miami University field hockey team, White was a part of two conference championship squads and had the chance to participate in the NCAA tournament. She was a part of a team that garnered national rankings of No. 22, No. 29, and No. 35 in the country during her tenure, and was recognized as a leadership team member beginning in the 2015 season.
 
Off the field, White participated in Greek life as a part of Pi Sigma Alpha, and Phi Betta Kappa during her time as an undergrad. She also dedicated her time to the Booker T. Washington Community Center where she would volunteer as a tutor and homework aid. White would also volunteer for Habitat for Humanity during the spring seasons.
 
A native of Louisville, Ky., White will pursue her dream of becoming an international lawyer by attending law school at the University of Denver beginning in the Fall of 2017. She hopes to become a candidate for law review during her time in Denver, and aims to work as a part of the Denver Journal of International Law and Policy in order to spread awareness of the refugee crisis as well as other issues.
 
Tanner Barton will graduate Summa Cum Laude from Ball State University in May of 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both health science and Spanish while maintaining a 4.0 cumulative GPA.  He has made the Dean’s List all eight semesters at Ball State and received the 2017 Provost’s Prize given to an outstanding graduating senior for excellence in the classroom and in the community. 
 
Throughout his career at Ball State, Barton was a part of many collegiate committees. He was a part of the MAC Council of Student-Athletes, an executive board member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, and served as both the Vice President and Treasurer of the Spanish Club during his tenure at Ball State. 
 
Barton is a three-time Academic All-MAC recipient and was also a three-time MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete (2015, 2016, 2017). In the pool, Tanner was a two-time team captain, and recorded 60 individual top three finishes throughout his career. He was the three-time top team scorer in butterfly events for the Cardinals, and holds the second-best time for a 200-yard butterfly in school history.
 
Outside of the classroom and the pool, Barton often donated his time to charitable events on campus and around the world. For example, he is the co-founder of the College Diabetes Network at Ball State, which serves as a community for all students dealing with Diabetes. He was also specially invited to be the keynote speaker at Novo Nordisk’s World Diabetes Day in Denmark in 2015.
 
A native of Dublin, Ohio, Barton has high hopes for his future. In the fall of 2017, Tanner will attend Ball State to receive his Master’s degree in exercise science in hopes to eventually become a Certified Diabetes Educator to help diabetic athletes manage their disease.  
 
Additional Female 2017 Bob James Memorial Award Nominees:
Hannah Plybon, Akron (Women’s Basketball)
Gabrielle Veldman, Ball State (Women’s Soccer)
Madeline Garda, Bowling Green (Volleyball)
Christen Leigh Chiesa, Central Michigan (Women’s Soccer)
Sydney McEachern, Eastern Michigan (Gymnastics)
Mary Grace Kelly, Northern Illinois (Volleyball)
Hannah Wishart, Ohio (Women’s Track & Field)
Sophie Reecher, Toledo (Women’s Basketball)
 
Additional Male 2017 Bob James Memorial Award Nominees:
Tyler Sanda, Akron (Men’s Soccer)
Joe Sullivan, Bowling Green (Men’s Soccer)
Barrett Kemp, Buffalo (Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field)
Richard Hall, Northern Illinois (Men’s Soccer)
Joel Shump, Ohio (Wrestling)
Josh Cales, Toledo (Baseball)
 
Past Bob James Award Winners
2017  Kelsi White, Miami (Field Hockey); Tanner Barton, Ball State (Swimming & Diving)
2016  Julia Lombardi, Eastern Michigan (Soccer); Jordan Italiano, Kent State (Football)
2015  Stephanie Haugh, Kent State (Soccer); Dustin Page, Northern Illinois (Soccer)
2014  Lindsey Butterfield, Bowling Green (Volleyball); Kyle Smith, Central Michigan (Track & Field)
2013  Skylar Chew, Ball State (Soccer); Nabal Jefferson, Northern Illinois (Football)
2012  Kristin Hoffman, Northern Illinois (Volleyball); Briggs Orsbon, Ball State (Football)
2011  Christine Chiricosta, Bowling Green (Tennis); Jon Edgington, Miami (Baseball)
2010  Megan Chronister, Bowling Green (Gymnastics); Tim Hiller, Western Michigan (Football)
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  Wendy Feldman, Central Michigan (Volleyball); Justin Millard, Akron (Soccer)
1998  Desmond Johnston, Akron (Soccer); Janelle Tranquillo, Ball State (Field Hockey)
1997  Joseph Burch, Bowling Green (Soccer); Sarah Mikrut, Ball State (Gymnastics)
1996  Kristin Gaddis, Bowling Green (Cross Country/Track); Dustin Swinehart, Miami (Soccer)
1995  Dana Drew, Toledo (Basketball); Stephen Fetyko, Eastern Michigan (Swimming)
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  Linda Popovich, Bowling Green (Volleyball); Danny Rieman, Ball State (Baseball)
1989  Kim Keenan, Kent State (Cross Country/Track); Rick Winegardner, Ball State (Swimming)