DePaul Athletics Announces The Billys Award Nominees
5/15/2023 1:06:00 PM | ATHLETICS
The annual student-athlete celebration is set to take place Thursday evening
Watch The Billys Live Stream Thursday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. CT
CHICAGO - The DePaul University student-athletes annual award show, The Billys, is slated to take place Thursday, May 18 inside McGrath-Phillips Arena. Today, the full list of nominees for each award were announced.
The Billys brings together all DePaul student-athletes for an evening of celebration across academic, athletic, leadership and community service. Nominees are decided on by SAAC, coaching staffs and athletic department staff while all student-athletes and department staff vote on the final winners. Additional awards will also be presented Thursday at the final show.
The full list of nominees can be found below:
Athlete of the Year: The Athlete of the Year is awarded to the top male and female student-athlete for their high level of athletic performance during the 2022-23 season
Nominees: WOMEN: Aneesah Morrow (Women's Basketball, Olivia Borowiak (Cross Country/Track & Field), Jill Pressly (Volleyball), Lenka Antonijevic (Women's Tennis), Anna Wohlers (Softball)
MEN: Darius Brown (Track & Field), Leon Huck (Men's Tennis), Gandhi Cruz (Men's Soccer), Umoja Gibson (Men's Basketball), Shane Knanishu (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Freshman of the Year: The Freshman of the Year is awarded to a male and female student-athlete for their outstanding accomplishments in their first year of collegiate competition.
Nominees: WOMEN: Jaiah Hopf (Track & Field), Freya Jupp (Women's Soccer), Hannah Smith (Women's Tennis)
MEN: Billy Gneiser (Golf), Ethan Gordon (Men's Soccer), Aleksa Krivokapic (Men's Tennis)
Newcomer of the Year: The Newcomer of the Year is awarded to a non-freshman male and female student-athlete for their outstanding accomplishments in their first season at DePaul.
Nominees: WOMEN: Greta Carbone (Women's Tennis), Anaya Peoples (Women's Basketball), Amberly Valeriano (Track & Field)
MEN: Umoja Gibson (Men's Basketball), Cade Hagan (Men's Soccer), Shourya Verma (Men's Tennis)
Moment of the Year: Presented for an outstanding singular moment during athletic competition during the 2022-23 year.
Nominees: Nick Ongenda's game-ending block at the BIG EAST Tournament to defeat Seton Hall (Men's Basketball), Olivia Borowiak qualifying for the NCAA Championships (Women's Cross Country), Lenka Antonijevic clinching a 4-3 win against #40 Iowa to launch the Blue Demons into the ITA rankings (Women's Tennis), Dominic Bruce breaks school record in 5,000m that stood since 1984 (Men's Track & Field), Shane Knanishu finishes top-25 for All-Region honors (Men's Cross Country)
Most Outstanding Team: Presented to an athletic team who displayed top athletic performance achievements during the 2022-23 year.
Nominees: Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field, Women's Tennis
Sports Performance Award: Originally established by former strength and conditioning coach Tim Lang in 2003, the Sports Performance Award is awarded annually by the Sports Performance staff showcasing the top male and female student-athletes and their commitment to excellence.
Nominees: Two winners to be presented Thursday
The Cortelyou Award: An award presented annually to two graduating seniors who have distinguished themselves by earning the highest grade-point averages in their student-athlete graduating class.
Nominees: Two winners to be presented Thursday
Blue Demon Staff Award: Voted on solely by DePaul student-athletes, the Blue Demon Staff Award annually recognizes an outstanding current staff member for their unwavering support and service to student-athletes and the athletic department.
Nominees: Taylor Stapleton (Executive Associate Athletics Director for Revenue Generation and Strategic Initiatives), Carly Dressler (Assistant Athletics Director for NCAA Compliance), Terri Sullivan (Assistant Director for Academic Advising and Student-Athlete Development), Hailey Lacy (Registered Dietitian)
Michael Hie Award: The Michael Hie Memorial Award is given to four-year student workers who have exemplified the Vincentian Service mission in their who have worked in various departments throughout the athletic department. Michael Hie was a student worker who passed away at the age of 21 who worked in the athletic department managing one of the women's sports teams. He was an avid Blue Demon basketball fan.
Nominees: Awards to be presented Thursday
Community Service Team: The community service team award is presented annually to the team who most exemplified the VIncentian Service mission by displaying the most community service hours.
Nominees: Winner to be announced Thursday
Community Service Individual: The community service individual award is presented annually to the student-athlete who most exemplified the Vincentian Service mission by recording the most community service hours over the 2022-23 school year.
Nominees: Winner to be announced Thursday
Jean Nordberg Memorial Award and Father Edward Riley, C.M. Award: The Nordberg and Riley awards have been presented for more than 30 years and recognize the contributions of top female and male student-athletes whose academic excellence, personal character and leadership best reflect the awards namesakes.
The late Jean Nordberg was a DePaul physical education professor who helped elevate women's club sports to the intercollegiate level in the 1970s and is considered one of the founders of DePaul women's athletics. The Riley Awards are named after the late Father Edward Riley who was DePaul's Vice President for Student Affairs in the 1960s and 70s. He initiated an upgrade of scholarships for both men's and women's sports and is responsible for originating what has evolved into our Athletic Academic Advising program.
Nominees: Winners to be announced Thursday
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