CLEVELAND, Ohio – Central Michigan's Emily Paupore (cross country/track & field) and Toledo's Jamie Butler (men's golf) have been named the recipients of the 2025 Bob James Memorial Scholarship Award by the Mid-American Conference Faculty Athletics Representatives as announced by the league office today.
In its 37th 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).
A native of Negaunee, Paupore is pursuing a bachelor of science in education degree and carries a 3.91 grade point average. Paupore is the first CMU student-athlete to receive the award since basketball player John McCarty in 2018 and the first female CMU student-athlete to be so honored since volleyball player Wendy Feldman in 1999. Paupore is a three-time United State Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic honoree and was 10 times named Academic All-MAC throughout her CMU career.
She earned First Team All-MAC honors five times in her career and three times she earned second team all-conference honors. She holds CMU program records in both the 5K and 6K in cross country along with the indoor track and field 3,000- and 5,000-meter marks and the outdoor 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000-meter run. Paupore finished 11th in the steeplechase to earn All-America honors at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships after winning the event, and the 5,000-meter run for the second straight year, at the MAC Championships. She also captured the MAC indoor 5,000-meter title in 2024.
"Emily truly represents the best of our student-athlete culture at Central Michigan,” Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Director Amy Folan said. “She is a shining example of what a student-athlete should strive to be and she leaves an unprecedented legacy at CMU and we thrilled for her to have been recognized by the conference with this prestigious honor. She has reached tremendous heights at CMU and it’s only the beginning for her. We can’t wait to see her shine in the future.”
A Kildare, Ireland native, Butler graduated last spring with a 3.949 grade-point average in accounting. He was also one of 21 male Spring sport student-athletes nationwide to receive a $10,000 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in July. Butler will be pursuing his master's degree in accounting at UT and is just the third Rocket to receive the scholarship since it was first awarded in 1989.
“Jamie exemplifies everything we strive for at Toledo—academic excellence, leadership, and a deep commitment to character and community,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair. “Receiving the Bob James Memorial Scholarship as well as the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship is a testament to his hard work, integrity, and the impact he’s made both on and off the course. We are incredibly proud of Jamie, and the way he represents our University.”
Additional Female 2025 Bob James Memorial Award Nominees:
Gianna Antonio, Eastern Michigan University, Women’s Gymnastics
Kami Baker, Bowling Green State University, Women’s Track & Field
Abby Daniel, The University of Akron, Women’s Swim and Dive
Bridget Dunn, Kent State University, Women’s Basketball
Marialis Kwak, University at Buffalo, Women’s Swim and Dive
Sidney McCrea, Northern Illinois University, Women’s Basketball
Samantha Mikonowicz, The University of Toledo, Women’s Basketball
Sarah Moravansky, Western Michigan University, Women’s Gymnastics
Grace Sumner, Ball State University, Women’s Gymnastics
Additional Male 2025 Bob James Memorial Award Nominees:
Cameron Golden, Kent State University (Football)
Parker Navarro, Ohio University (Football)
Past Bob James Award Winners
2025: Emily Paupore, Central Michigan (cross country / track & field); Jamie Butler, Toledo (men's golf)
2024: Amanda Gruber, Western Michigan (gymnastics); Noah Berryman, Ball State (swimming & diving)
2023: Taylor Jensen, Bowling Green (gymnastics); Bryce Houston, Ohio (football)
2022: Kathryn Haver, Bowling Green (swim and dive); Mason Kauffman, Northern Illinois (wrestling)
2021 Nikki Sorgi, Bowling Green (softball); Chris Adams, Ball State (tennis)
2020 Maria Cegledy, Kent State (softball); Timothy Rooney, Kent State (wrestling)
2019 Julia Beyer, Bowling Green (Gymnastics); Paul Garbarino, Bowling Green (Cross Country)
2018 Alyssa Heintschel, Ball State (Soccer); John McCarty, Central Michigan (Basketball)
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)
