2020 Evening of Excellence

The Evening of Excellence is the annual student-athlete awards and recognition banquet designed to honor outgoing seniors and all of the contributions they made to Gonzaga Athletics and the broader University during their time at GU. Five major awards are handed out during the festivities including: Leadership Award, Male and Female Scholar-Athlete Award and Male and Female Senior Athlete Award. The banquet gives coaches of each sport the opportunity to share their perspective on what each senior meant to their program and gives outgoing seniors a chance to share what’s next for them. Originally scheduled for May 3, 2020, this year’s banquet is delivered digitally, on these pages, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Click around and help us honor these seniors as they embark on their careers in a multitude of fields. 

Click HERE to see previous Evening of Excellence Award Recipients

CHI ALPHA SIGMA

Welcome to Gonzaga University’s chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, the national college athlete honor society.  Chi Alpha Sigma exists to encourage and reward high academic scholarship of college athletes at four-year accredited colleges and universities, to recognize outstanding academic achievement by intercollegiate varsity letter winners and to encourage good citizenship, moral character, and friendship among the high academic achievers in college athletics. Founded in 1996, and comprised of members from all levels within the NCAA and the NAIA, Chi Alpha Sigma has grown to over 285 University chapters nationwide.  The seniors inducted this year have maintained a minimum 3.4 cumulative GPA while earning varsity letters in their respective sports.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2020 CHI ALPHA SIGMA MEMBERS

LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Gonzaga Athletics Leadership Award recognizes a student-athlete who truly exhibits what it means to be a Zag by displaying excellence within their team, in the classroom, on campus, and in the community.

AND THE WINNER IS...

The pursuit of academic excellence for Simón came to fruition this spring with a Bachelor of Business Administration and double major in Accounting with a concentration in Finance, as well as competing for the men’s tennis program. At the beginning of his sophomore year, Simón was also selected as a member of GU’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership program, a highly-competitive selection limited to 25 students each year, adding an additional minor to his resume. Simón earned WCC All-Academic team honors in 2019 and WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention in 2018. He has earned President’s List or Dean’s List honors each semester and has been a driving force behind the men’s tennis’ team commitment to academic success.

FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD

The Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award recognizes those who have risen to the top of their respective class while simultaneously earning their varsity letter and conducting themselves in a manner reflective of our rich and celebrated Jesuit traditions.

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Maren, from the women’s rowing program, joined the Gonzaga family in Fall 2017 after spending a year at Boston College. Since her arrival, she has earned President’s List honors each semester, and currently holds a 3.94 cumulative GPA. She will graduate this May earning her Bachelor of Arts in Economics, with a Sociology minor. Maren was named to the 2019 WCC All-Academic team and is currently a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She sets a phenomenal example for her teammates to strive for academic success.

As a member of our women’s cross country and track and field programs, as well as the University’s Honors Program, Megan will graduate this year earning her Bachelor of Science in Biology degree, as well as her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, along with a Biology Research Concentration and a Chemistry minor. Over the course of her Gonzaga career, she has amassed an impressive 3.94 cumulative GPA, earning President’s List honors each of the last eight semesters. Megan was able to study abroad in Spring 2019 and has pushed herself to excellence in the classroom, averaging over 19 credits each semester during her time at Gonzaga. She is a great representation of what excellence in the classroom looks like.

MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD

The Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award recognizes those who have risen to the top of their respective class while simultaneously earning their varsity letter and conducting themselves in a manner reflective of our rich and celebrated Jesuit traditions.

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Since arriving on campus in the Fall of 2016 and joining the men’s rowing program, Ian has been a strong and steady example of student-athlete academic excellence. Ian will graduate this May with his Bachelor of Arts in Biology, with a double major in Sociology. He has been named to the President’s List four times and Dean’s List three times, amassing a 3.90 cumulative GPA. Ian is a member of Gonzaga’s Chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu, the nation-wide Honor Society of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, encouraging members to a lifetime pursuit of scholarship, loyalty and service. He has led by example as team captain, as to what being at Zag means both in and out of the classroom.

The pursuit of academic excellence for Simón came to fruition this spring with a Bachelor of Business Administration and double major in Accounting with a concentration in Finance, as well as competing for the men’s tennis program. At the beginning of his sophomore year, Simón was also selected as a member of GU’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership program, a highly-competitive selection limited to 25 students each year, adding an additional minor to his resume. Simón earned WCC All-Academic team honors in 2019 and WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention in 2018. He has earned President’s List or Dean’s List honors each semester and has been a driving force behind the men’s tennis’ team commitment to academic success.

FEMALE SENIOR ATHLETE AWARD

Since 1984, Gonzaga Athletics has presented the Athlete of the Year Award to the top male and female student-athletes who have shown extraordinary talent, outstanding commitment and contributions to their sport throughout their career as a Gonzaga student-athlete.

AND THE WINNER IS...

Madeline Gotta appeared in 69 matches during her four years at Gonzaga and made a huge impact, leaving her name all over the program’s top-10 lists. She started in all 19 matches this season and was a key piece in a record-setting offense. Gotta finished 10th in program history with 13 goals in her career and seven goals this past season. She finished her career with 37 points, which ranks eighth all-time at GU. The San Diego native is seventh in program history with 11 career assists. Following the season, she was named United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America third team, scholar All-West Region and First Team All-West Coast Conference. Gotta boasted a 3.49 GPA, and received Academic All-Conference honors during her career.

MALE SENIOR ATHLETE AWARD

Since 1984, Gonzaga Athletics has presented the Athlete of the Year Award to the top male and female student-athletes who have shown extraordinary talent, outstanding commitment and contributions to their sport throughout their career as a Gonzaga student-athlete.

AND THE WINNER IS...

Since arriving on the Gonzaga campus in 2016, Killian Tillie has been a major contributor to the arguably the greatest era of Zag basketball. He has been a part of one Sweet 16, an Elite Eight, and a national finalist team. In his Bulldog career, Tillie has scored over 1,000 points and grabbed 497 rebounds. He was named First Team All-Conference and NABC All-District Second Team after leading the league in field goal percentage during WCC play (58.0). He averaged 15.1 points in conference action, and 13.6 points overall. This season, Tillie scored in double-digits in 15 of his 24 games with five 20-point games and two double-doubles. He scored a season-high 22 points four times and grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds, with 19 points, versus San Francisco in WCC Tournament semifinal win. The senior was recently named a Karl Malone Top Power Forward of the Year Award finalist. Prior to season, he was on preseason watch lists for Naismith Trophy, NABC Player of the Year, Wooden Award and Lute Olson Award, while also being named a Preseason Third Team All-American by Street & Smith’s and CBS Sports. Tillie ended his Gonzaga career with a 91.7 winning percentage.

GONZAGA SENIOR RECOGNITIONS

Get to know Gonzaga Athletics' 2020 senior class. Below are links to our virtual senior recognitions. Click on the images below to learn more about the senior class of each sport.