Royals Freshman Athlete of the Year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/05\/20122406\/resize-1-1024x683.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThis award is given to first-year student-athletes with the most outstanding athletic achievement in the past academic year. Student-athletes who maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 were eligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nMale Freshman Athlete of the Year: Ezekiel Awkward (Men\u2019s Volleyball)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAwkward<\/a> made an immediate impact as an outside hitter on the volleyball squad. The Bloomfield, New Jersey, native ranked second on the team and ninth in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) in total kills with 227. He was also a significant contributor in the service game for the Royals, placing second on the team and fifth in the ODAC in service aces with 30. His efforts helped lift EMU to a 15-16 record, a third-place finish in the ODAC, and a spot in the conference\u2019s inaugural men\u2019s volleyball tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cEzekiel is a man of few words who leads by example, works hard, is dedicated and responsible, always pushes hard to get better, and is an excellent teammate,\u201d said Omar Hoyos Aliff, <\/strong>head men\u2019s volleyball coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFemale Freshman Athlete of the Year: Ava Walker (Lacrosse)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWalker<\/a> proved to be a prolific goal scorer for the lacrosse team. The Glen Allen, Virginia, native set the single-season school record for goals with 46. She also set EMU\u2019s single-game goals record, scoring nine times in a victory over Averett on April 5. Among ODAC players, she ranked seventh in goals per game (2.71), eighth in shots per game (5.53), and 12th in total points (58). With her help, EMU Lacrosse experienced its winningest season in program history, going 6-11 overall and 4-6 in ODAC play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cFrom the first day that Ava stepped onto the lacrosse field, it was clear she was someone special,\u201d said head coach Mikaela Brooks-Fauver. <\/strong>\u201cBeyond the stats and highlight plays, what makes Ava stand out is her mindset. She shows up early, puts in the extra reps, and leads with quiet confidence and heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThis award is given to student-athletes with the most outstanding athletic achievement in the past academic year. Student-athletes who maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 were eligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nMale Athlete of the Year: Andre Mills (Men\u2019s Volleyball)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMills<\/a>, a sophomore from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had one of the best offensive seasons in the ODAC. The opposite hitter ranked first in the conference with 370 kills and 3.43 kills per set, which was 49th most among all Division III players. He eclipsed at least 20 kills in a match three times this season, including an ODAC-high 28 kills in a five-set win over Marymount on March 22. He ranked first in the conference with 448.5 points, which was 53 points higher than the next closest player. He also led the ODAC with 4.15 points per set and finished fourth in the conference with 0.32 service aces per set. Defensively, he was second on the team and 11th in the ODAC with 0.73 blocks per set.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s very competitive and leads by working hard, pushing everyone to do their best,\u201d Hoyos said. \u201cHe brings a lot of energy and competitive spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nFemale Athlete of the Year: Meaghan Dean (Softball)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nA sophomore transfer from Madison, Virginia, Dean<\/a> finished the season ranked near the top of the ODAC in most major statistical categories. Her .437 average led the Royals and was fourth highest in the conference. She led the ODAC in home runs with six, and was third in hits with 55. Dean, who batted third, drove in 55 runs, which was 10th most in the conference. Among ODAC players, she ranked second in total bases (82), second in on-base plus slugging percentage (1.122), and third in slugging percentage (.651). She had nine doubles and struck out just four times in 126 at-bats. As an infielder, she was seventh in the ODAC with 167 put-outs and made just two errors with a .988 fielding percentage from her spot at first base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cMeaghan is a softball player who leads by example,\u201d said Head Softball Coach JD McCurdy. <\/strong>\u201cShe always has a great attitude. She\u2019s humble, competitive, accountable, and a great teammate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThis award is given to student-athletes who exemplify the values of the athletic department through academic achievement, athletic contribution, faith commitment, leadership, campus involvement, and service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nMale President\u2019s Award: Jason Dwyer \u201925 (Baseball)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDwyer<\/a>, of Fairfax, Virginia, majored in political science and history with minors in pre-law and criminology and achieved a 3.94 GPA. He plans to attend graduate school at either George Washington University or George Mason University and enlist in the Virginia National Guard.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nA four-year member of the Royals baseball team, Dwyer was named the team\u2019s \u201cglue guy\u201d and served on the Baseball Leadership Council. He played in 36 games with 22 starts, notching 19 hits and driving in 10 runs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Off the field, he was a recipient of the EMU Honors Scholarship, was named to the Dean\u2019s List all four years, and was selected to the All-ODAC Academic Team the past three seasons. He was a project co-leader for an Inclusive Excellence Grant, interned<\/a> for a U.S. senator during a semester at the Washington Community Scholars\u2019 Center, and served as president of the EMU College Republicans. He also was a Community Advisor, a student representative for Reimagining EMU, and a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Student Government Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cRelationships and perseverance define my EMU athletics experience,\u201d he said. \u201cThe relationships have been invaluable, but perseverance has been the greatest lesson. This experience has helped mold me, and I am forever grateful for what it has taught me and the people it has brought into my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThis award is given to first-year student-athletes with the most outstanding athletic achievement in the past academic year. Student-athletes who maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 were eligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Male Freshman Athlete of the Year: Ezekiel Awkward (Men\u2019s Volleyball)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Awkward<\/a> made an immediate impact as an outside hitter on the volleyball squad. The Bloomfield, New Jersey, native ranked second on the team and ninth in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) in total kills with 227. He was also a significant contributor in the service game for the Royals, placing second on the team and fifth in the ODAC in service aces with 30. His efforts helped lift EMU to a 15-16 record, a third-place finish in the ODAC, and a spot in the conference\u2019s inaugural men\u2019s volleyball tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEzekiel is a man of few words who leads by example, works hard, is dedicated and responsible, always pushes hard to get better, and is an excellent teammate,\u201d said Omar Hoyos Aliff, <\/strong>head men\u2019s volleyball coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Female Freshman Athlete of the Year: Ava Walker (Lacrosse)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Walker<\/a> proved to be a prolific goal scorer for the lacrosse team. The Glen Allen, Virginia, native set the single-season school record for goals with 46. She also set EMU\u2019s single-game goals record, scoring nine times in a victory over Averett on April 5. Among ODAC players, she ranked seventh in goals per game (2.71), eighth in shots per game (5.53), and 12th in total points (58). With her help, EMU Lacrosse experienced its winningest season in program history, going 6-11 overall and 4-6 in ODAC play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrom the first day that Ava stepped onto the lacrosse field, it was clear she was someone special,\u201d said head coach Mikaela Brooks-Fauver. <\/strong>\u201cBeyond the stats and highlight plays, what makes Ava stand out is her mindset. She shows up early, puts in the extra reps, and leads with quiet confidence and heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This award is given to student-athletes with the most outstanding athletic achievement in the past academic year. Student-athletes who maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 were eligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Male Athlete of the Year: Andre Mills (Men\u2019s Volleyball)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mills<\/a>, a sophomore from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had one of the best offensive seasons in the ODAC. The opposite hitter ranked first in the conference with 370 kills and 3.43 kills per set, which was 49th most among all Division III players. He eclipsed at least 20 kills in a match three times this season, including an ODAC-high 28 kills in a five-set win over Marymount on March 22. He ranked first in the conference with 448.5 points, which was 53 points higher than the next closest player. He also led the ODAC with 4.15 points per set and finished fourth in the conference with 0.32 service aces per set. Defensively, he was second on the team and 11th in the ODAC with 0.73 blocks per set.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s very competitive and leads by working hard, pushing everyone to do their best,\u201d Hoyos said. \u201cHe brings a lot of energy and competitive spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Female Athlete of the Year: Meaghan Dean (Softball)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A sophomore transfer from Madison, Virginia, Dean<\/a> finished the season ranked near the top of the ODAC in most major statistical categories. Her .437 average led the Royals and was fourth highest in the conference. She led the ODAC in home runs with six, and was third in hits with 55. Dean, who batted third, drove in 55 runs, which was 10th most in the conference. Among ODAC players, she ranked second in total bases (82), second in on-base plus slugging percentage (1.122), and third in slugging percentage (.651). She had nine doubles and struck out just four times in 126 at-bats. As an infielder, she was seventh in the ODAC with 167 put-outs and made just two errors with a .988 fielding percentage from her spot at first base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMeaghan is a softball player who leads by example,\u201d said Head Softball Coach JD McCurdy. <\/strong>\u201cShe always has a great attitude. She\u2019s humble, competitive, accountable, and a great teammate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This award is given to student-athletes who exemplify the values of the athletic department through academic achievement, athletic contribution, faith commitment, leadership, campus involvement, and service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Male President\u2019s Award: Jason Dwyer \u201925 (Baseball)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dwyer<\/a>, of Fairfax, Virginia, majored in political science and history with minors in pre-law and criminology and achieved a 3.94 GPA. He plans to attend graduate school at either George Washington University or George Mason University and enlist in the Virginia National Guard.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n A four-year member of the Royals baseball team, Dwyer was named the team\u2019s \u201cglue guy\u201d and served on the Baseball Leadership Council. He played in 36 games with 22 starts, notching 19 hits and driving in 10 runs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Off the field, he was a recipient of the EMU Honors Scholarship, was named to the Dean\u2019s List all four years, and was selected to the All-ODAC Academic Team the past three seasons. He was a project co-leader for an Inclusive Excellence Grant, interned<\/a> for a U.S. senator during a semester at the Washington Community Scholars\u2019 Center, and served as president of the EMU College Republicans. He also was a Community Advisor, a student representative for Reimagining EMU, and a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Student Government Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRelationships and perseverance define my EMU athletics experience,\u201d he said. \u201cThe relationships have been invaluable, but perseverance has been the greatest lesson. This experience has helped mold me, and I am forever grateful for what it has taught me and the people it has brought into my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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