SPOKANE, Wash. — Gonzaga Athletics honored its 79 outgoing seniors and five major award winners at the Evening of Excellence on Sunday night inside the McCarthey Athletic Center.
Sophie Whittle of the women's tennis team was named the Female Senior Athlete of the Year, while Josh Perkins of the men's basketball team was named the Male Senior Athlete of the Year. Women's cross country runner Kelly Gilbert and men's soccer player Jake Kempf were named the Scholar-Athletes of the Year, and Faith Smith from the volleyball team earned the Leadership Award.
Additionally, a school record 40 student-athletes were named to the Gonzaga University Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, the national collegiate athlete honor society. Those athletes include: Rachael Arand, Justin Blatner, Michaela Bruns, Kayla Buchmeier, Taylor Davis, Lauren English, McKenna Ferrera, Molly Foster, Daniel Fredrickson, Austin Giftopoulos, Kelly Gilbert, Slade Heggen, Tiyana Hallums, Toby Holstein, Jake Kempf, Maddie Kincaid, Sara Komer, Scott Kopczynski, Jack Krauel, Olivia Lada, Jordan McPhee, Emma Morris, Tyler Munetake, Austin Pinorini, Brandon Pollard , Ari Pumpelly, Monica Ripple, Octavio Rivas, Graciela Rosas, Trent Schulte, Allie Seifert, Chandler Smith, Faith Smith, Marit Thorkildsen, Jodi Ulkekul, Mason Villarma, Sammy Vowles, Graham Wendle, Sophie Whittle, and Drew Williams.
Leadership Award - Faith Smith, Volleyball
As a natural leader both on and off the court, Faith Smith has demonstrated what it means to be a Zag in several ways. She will graduate in May, with a degree in Physical Education and Kinesiology, and currently holds a 3.52 GPA while competing for the volleyball team. This senior has displayed leadership amongst her peers by being elected as SAAC President for the 2018-19 academic year. Prior to that Smith was elected as the SAAC Secretary, and has been essential to SAAC during her time on the Committee. Not only this, as a selfless leader, Smith has led her team in countless community initiatives, always going above and beyong while thinking of the best interest of her peers.
Female Scholar Athlete of the Year – Kelly Gilbert, Women's Cross Country
Kelly Gilbert began her career at Gonzaga in the fall of 2015 as a member of the historic WCC Champion women's cross country team. Gilbert displayed her commitment to academics by posting a perfect 4.0 her freshman year and went on to add two more perfect 4.0s in the Spring and Fall of 2018 and President's List honors every semester she's been at Gonzaga, never earning below an A minus in any class for her entire academic career. She posted an impressive 3.97 cumulative GPA while pursuing a Marketing Degree with additional minors in Spanish and Leadership Studies. In addition to winning accolades as a two-time WCC All-Academic team member for cross country, Gilbert also served as a cross country and track and field team representative for SAAC, participating in countless community outreach events, most recently our honoree was an intern for the Payne Center for Student Involvement and Leadership at GU where she helped facilitate a Women in the Workplace panel in April.
Male Scholar Athlete of the Year – Jake Kempf, Men's Soccer
Jake Kempf joined the Gonzaga family in the Spring of 201 and received his undergraduate degree from Gonzaga in just six semesters, graduating in the Fall of 2017 and earning Magna Cum Laude honors. His undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Political Science. Kempf earned his way onto the President's List four of his six semesters, and Dean's List an additional semester, amassing an impressive 3.80 cumulative GPA. He began Gonzaga's MBA program in the Spring of 2018 and will be graduating this spring, currently holding a 3.92 cumulative GPA at the graduate level. Kempf earned WCC All-Academic Team this past fall, in addition to WCC Academic Honorable Mention his freshman year. He plans to attend law school next year.
Male Athlete of the Year – Josh Perkins, Men's Basketball
Josh Perkins became Gonzaga's all-time assist leader this past season. Since arriving on campus in 2014, he has won 134 games, the second-most in D-I history. He boasted a record of 134-19 as a player and has been a part of two Sweet 16s, two Elite 8s and a National Finalist team. Perkins is a three-time academic all-conference selection, has an undergraduate degree in sport management and is complete his Master's of Organizational Leadership. Honored for his efforts in the classroom, on the court and in the community, Perkins was also named a Senior CLASS All-America Second Team honoree. His 712 assists rank fifth in WCC history, and he was named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation's top point guard. He ranks second all-time at Gonzaga in career steals and fifth in three-pointers made. Perkins' 153 games played in a GU uniform is the most in program history.
Female Athlete of the Year – Sophie Whittle, Women's Tennis
Sophie Whittle will go down in the history books as the greatest women's tennis player in school history. In the fall, she became Gonzaga's first-ever ITA National Champion when she won the ITA Riviera All-American Tournament. Shortly after, she became the No. 1-ranked singles player in the nation, another first for GU. In the dual-match season, she shattered her own record for singles wins in a season with 29. That number will have a chance to be set even higher as she earned Gonzaga's first-ever selection to the NCAA Individual Championships, where she'll compete in singles and doubles with playing partner Graciela Rosas. She was named the WCC Player of the Year this past season, and became a three-time WCC All-Academic Team selection. She will go down as the all-time singles and doubles wins leader in Gonzaga women's tennis history, while also earning Dean's List and WCC Commissioner's Honor Roll accolades throughout her career.
