Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Patti Twaddle
Twaddle Named OVC Scholar-Athlete
10/20/2016 1:01:00 PM | Softball
Senior Jessica Twaddle of the Murray State softball team was announced Thursday as one of six recipients of the 2016-17 OVC Scholar-Athlete Award. The award is the highest individual honor that can be earned by OVC student-athletes, and is given annually to three men and three women student-athletes for their accomplishments in both the classroom and athletic arena, and because of their leadership qualities.
The six winners were selected from a group of 17 finalists by a vote of OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives. Honorees must have performed athletically with distinction, earned at least a 3.25 grade point average and conducted themselves in a manner which has brought credit to the student-athlete, his or her institution, intercollegiate athletics and the OVC. The award is based on academic and athletic criteria/accomplishments achieved during the 2015-16 school year.
"I'm incredibly humbled and honored to be considered among such a stellar group of student-athletes for this award," said Twaddle upon receiving news of the honor. "I'm so thankful for the opportunity from this university to continue my education and softball career here. I have been unbelievably fortunate to have had amazing parents, coaches, brothers, professors and teammates that have continually believed in me, challenged me and pushed me to be, not only a better softball player, but a better person. I cannot say enough about how grateful I am for the phenomenal people the Lord has surrounded me with. I genuinely would not be who I am today without their constant love and encouragement. Ultimately, my chief aim is that God would be glorified in all of my life and I am grateful to have the opportunity to point His glory back to Him."
"I am beyond excited for JT in being selected as an OVC Scholar-Athlete award recipient," said Murray State softball head coach Kara Amundson "She began her work as a student athlete, both on the field and in the classroom, from the moment she stepped foot on campus her freshman year. She embodies the kind of character, work ethic and determination that this award is designed to highlight and it is exciting that JT is getting this opportunity. I am incredibly proud for her growth as a leader and as a young woman in all facets of her life."
Entering her final season with the Murray State softball team, Twaddle has been a three-year starter for the Racers including being named 2015 OVC Player of the Year after batting .426 with 45 runs, 16 doubles, eight home runs and 54 RBI. A season ago she led the team in seven offensive categories including RBI (28), slugging (.516) and on-base percentage (.413) while finishing with a .335 batting average. With a career batting average of .368 over three years, she is currently MSU's all-time leader in that category. She has twice been named All-OVC and was an OVC All-Newcomer pick as a freshman.
In the classroom, she has a 3.96 grade point average in economics, was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2015 and is two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree. Twaddle has also been a multiple time selection to the Murray State Dean's List as well as the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll in addition to earning the OVC Academic Medal of Honor. She has also been honored as a NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete twice and is a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon International Honor Society. She has volunteered with Best Buddies, Project Linus and the Adopt-A-Family programs in addition to taking an outreach mission trip to Khon Kaen, Thailand in 2015.
With Thursday's announcement, Twaddle becomes the 37th all-time Murray State OVC Scholar-Athlete award winner and the 18th female Racer to win the award. She is also now the first Racer softball student-athlete to earn the distinguished honor.
The six winners were selected from a group of 17 finalists by a vote of OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives. Honorees must have performed athletically with distinction, earned at least a 3.25 grade point average and conducted themselves in a manner which has brought credit to the student-athlete, his or her institution, intercollegiate athletics and the OVC. The award is based on academic and athletic criteria/accomplishments achieved during the 2015-16 school year.
"I'm incredibly humbled and honored to be considered among such a stellar group of student-athletes for this award," said Twaddle upon receiving news of the honor. "I'm so thankful for the opportunity from this university to continue my education and softball career here. I have been unbelievably fortunate to have had amazing parents, coaches, brothers, professors and teammates that have continually believed in me, challenged me and pushed me to be, not only a better softball player, but a better person. I cannot say enough about how grateful I am for the phenomenal people the Lord has surrounded me with. I genuinely would not be who I am today without their constant love and encouragement. Ultimately, my chief aim is that God would be glorified in all of my life and I am grateful to have the opportunity to point His glory back to Him."
"I am beyond excited for JT in being selected as an OVC Scholar-Athlete award recipient," said Murray State softball head coach Kara Amundson "She began her work as a student athlete, both on the field and in the classroom, from the moment she stepped foot on campus her freshman year. She embodies the kind of character, work ethic and determination that this award is designed to highlight and it is exciting that JT is getting this opportunity. I am incredibly proud for her growth as a leader and as a young woman in all facets of her life."
Entering her final season with the Murray State softball team, Twaddle has been a three-year starter for the Racers including being named 2015 OVC Player of the Year after batting .426 with 45 runs, 16 doubles, eight home runs and 54 RBI. A season ago she led the team in seven offensive categories including RBI (28), slugging (.516) and on-base percentage (.413) while finishing with a .335 batting average. With a career batting average of .368 over three years, she is currently MSU's all-time leader in that category. She has twice been named All-OVC and was an OVC All-Newcomer pick as a freshman.
In the classroom, she has a 3.96 grade point average in economics, was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2015 and is two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree. Twaddle has also been a multiple time selection to the Murray State Dean's List as well as the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll in addition to earning the OVC Academic Medal of Honor. She has also been honored as a NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete twice and is a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon International Honor Society. She has volunteered with Best Buddies, Project Linus and the Adopt-A-Family programs in addition to taking an outreach mission trip to Khon Kaen, Thailand in 2015.
With Thursday's announcement, Twaddle becomes the 37th all-time Murray State OVC Scholar-Athlete award winner and the 18th female Racer to win the award. She is also now the first Racer softball student-athlete to earn the distinguished honor.
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