May 5, 2009
Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's soccer team was in the spotlight Monday night as the student-athlete body was honored at the first annual ROARS event for their academic and athletic achievements for the 2008-09 school year.
The Big 12 Conference champions received five awards in all, including team recognition for the Community Service Award and Team Performance of the Year. Individual award winners were junior Michelle Collins, named Varsity M Female Athlete of the Year and recipient of the Director of Athletics Leadership Award and her sister Kendra Collins, who was selected in the Female "For Love of the Game" category.
Michelle Collins earned the most prestigious award given at the banquet, becoming the first junior to receive the Director of Athletics Leadership Award. Presented by Missouri Director of Athletics Mike Alden, Collins will receive a $5,000 postgraduate scholarship to pursue a master's degree following the completion of her career at Mizzou. The Naperville, Ill., native is a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and has excelled both on the field and in the classroom for the Tigers.
Younger sister Kendra Collins credited Michelle as she received the Female "For Love of the Game" award on stage, given to the most deserving walk-on who made significant contributions to their team. Kendra was chosen to the Big 12 All Newcomer team in the fall following her freshman season.
The Community Service Award recognizes the team's ongoing efforts to give back to the community and was accepted by team captains Janelle Cordia and Mo Redmond. The Tigers have partnered with the Mizzou wheelchair basketball and the Columbia power soccer teams, recently hosted a 5k Run/Walk to benefit The Shelter and promote Sexual Assault Awareness Month, ran a five-week Tiger Tots youth clinic, sponsored game day promotions including a Kick for Nick soccer ball drive, Go Green techno trash recycling day, and Playing for Pink to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, as well as visiting an underprivileged daycare while on a mission trip in Brazil in January.
The Team Performance of the Year award acknowledges the Tigers' Big 12 Tournament Championship. Head coach Bryan Blitz, also a nominee for Coach of the Year, received the award on behalf of his team, who bested the fellow Big 12 Champion men's basketball squad for the honor.
The five awards received by the soccer team equaled the most given to any sport, matching men's basketball. Other Tigers nominated for recognition were sophomore Krista Kruse for the Judith A. Wells Female Academic Achievement Award and Cordia for the Female Unsung Hero Award. The team also finished in the top three for the first annual Tiger Cup competition, an award that combines a team's academic, athletic, and community service achievements throughout the school year.
Photos of the night's festivities, including a red carpet entrance, can be found on www.mutigers.com will be available at ThisIsMizzouSoccer.com beginning Wednesday.