DePaul University Athletics
2023 The Billys
5/18/2023 8:00:00 PM | ATHLETICS
Gallery: 2023 Billys Award Show
Athlete of the Year
The Athlete of the Year is awarded to the top male and female student-athlete, as voted on by their peer student-athletes and DePaul staff members.
Nominees: Lenka Antonijevic (Women's Tennis), Olivia Borowiak (Cross Country/Track & Field), Darius Brown (Track & Field), Gandhi Cruz (Men's Soccer), Leon Huck (Men's Tennis), Umoja Gibson (Men's Basketball), Shane Knanishu (Cross Country/Track & Field), Aneesah Morrow (Women's Basketball), Jill Pressly (Volleyball), Anna Wohlers (Softball)
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, as voted on by their peer student-athletes and DePaul staff members.
Nominees: Billy Gneiser (Golf), Jaiah Hoph (Track & Field), Ethan Gordon (Men's Soccer), Freya Jupp (Women's Soccer), Aleksa Krivokapic (Men's Tennis), Hannah Smith (Women's Tennis)
Newcomer of the Year
The Newcomer of the Year is awarded to a male and female student-athlete for their outstanding accomplishments in their first season at DePaul (excluding freshmen), as voted on by their peer student-athletes and DePaul staff members.
Nominees: Greta Carbone (Women's Tennis), Umoja Gibson (Men's Basketball), Cade Hagan (Men's Soccer), Anaya Peoples (Women's Basketball), Amberly Valeriano (Track & Field), Shourya Verma (Men's Tennis)
Moment of the Year
Voted on by student-athletes and DePaul staff members for the most memorable moment of the year.
Nominees: Nick Ongenda game ending block to win first round of BIG EAST Tournament (Men's Basketball), Olivia Borowiak qualifying for NCAA Championships (Women's Cross Country), Lenka Antonijevic game clinching 4-3 win over #40 Iowa (Women's Tennis), Dominic Bruce breaks school record in 5,000m that stood since 1984 (Men's Track & Field), Shane Knaishu finishes top-25 at NCAA Regionals (Men's Cross Country)
DEPAUL GETS THE BLOCK AND WINS! pic.twitter.com/U4GN1QuAu8
— BIG EAST MBB (@BIGEASTMBB) March 9, 2023
Most Outstanding Team
Voted on by student-athletes and staff members of the DePaul Athletic Department, the Most Outstanding Team award is given to the team who displayed top athletic achievements and success.
Nominees: Women's Track & Field, Women's Tennis, Men's Track & Field
The Cortelyou Award
The Cortelyou Award is presented annually to two graduating seniors who have distinguished themselves by earning the highest grade-point averages in their student-athlete graduating class.
Community Service Award
Awarded annually, the Community Service Individual & Team Award are presented to those who exemplified the Vincentian Service mission by recording the highest amount of community service hours during the school year.
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.
Blue Demon Staff Award
Voted on by DePaul student-athletes, the Blue Demon Staff Award annually recognizes an outstanding staff member for their 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 Award is given to four-year student workers and managers who have exemplified the Vincentian Service mission in their service to various departments inside 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.
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.
