Jennifer Povick was named the women's cross country MVP (ASU Athletics Photo)

Appalachian Hands Out End-of-Year Awards at Annual All-Sports Banquet
by Appalachian Sports Information

April 24, 2008 - BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University athletics handed out a long list of end-of-year awards at its annual all-sports banquet, held on Thursday evening at the Holmes Center. The banquet was put on by ASU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Board and Former Athletes Association.

Highlighting the honorees was volleyball's Dianna Thomas, who earned the prestigious Brakefield Award, given to the graduating student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average. The award was established by legendary Appalachian football coach Jim Brakefield and his wife, Eloise. A scholarship fund continues in their names through the former student-athletes who played for Coach Brakefield along with the friends of the Brakefield family.

Softball's Teri Fister and baseball's Aubrey Edens were awarded the Rick Edmundson and Goodyear Family scholarships, respectively.

The Rick Edmundson Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a native of North Carolina who is not on athletic scholarship, but one who has made uncommon contributions to the athletic program and to the University. Established in 1984 by his family and friends, the Rick Edmundson Memorial Scholarship Fund was created to honor his memory. A 1981 graduate of Appalachian State University, Edmundson was devoted to the institution and especially to the athletic program. At the time of his death, Edmundson was enrolled in Campbell University’s Law School.

The Goodyear Family Athletic Scholarship was established in 1994 by George and Ann Goodyear, III and is awarded annually to a student-athlete from a non-revenue sport. The recipient must be a rising junior or senior who demonstrates strength of character, a verifiable need for financial support and has a minimum 2.0 grade point average.

Richard Clark, a Boone native and proud father of Appalachian freshman Daniel, took home the Jackson A. Branch Award. It was created to honor Branch’s many years of unselfish service and support to Mountaineer student-athletes and teams. A fixture at Appalachian sporting events and behind-the-scenes efforts, Clark is a devoted Mountaineer. His enthusiastic support of the Mountaineers has been a vital component of Appalachian’s unparalleled success in 2007-08.

The second-annual Athletic Director’s Award was given to volleyball's Thomas for her involvement with the community and his efforts in getting student-athlete involvement throughout the High Country. Along with football's Cortez Gilbert, Thomas served as emcee for the event.

Each of Appalachian’s 21 varsity teams also named their MVPs for the 2007-08 seasons. A full list of award winners is below.

Rick Edmundson Scholarship – Teri Fister (softball)
Goodyear Family Athletic Scholarship – Aubrey Edens (baseball)
Jack Branch Award – Richard Clark
Brakefield Academic Award – Dianna Thomas (volleyball)
Athletic Director's Award – Dianna Thomas (volleyball)
Ron “Doc” Kanoy Award (Top Athletic Training Student) – Joshua Owen

2007-08 Team MVPs (* indicates repeat winner)
Baseball (2007) – David Rubinstein (So., Charlotte, N.C.)
Men’s Basketball - Donte Minter (Sr., Salisbury, N.C.)
Women’s Basketball – Whitney Tossie* (Sr., Oviedo, Fla.)
Cheerleading – Stephanie Johnston
Men’s Cross Country – Brian Deal (Sr., Alpharetta, Ga.)
Women’s Cross Country – Jennifer Povick (Sr., Charleston, W. Va.)
Field Hockey – Allison Gradischer (Sr., Canton, Conn.)
Football – Nic Cardwell (Sr., Kernersville, N.C)
Men’s Golf – Taylor Hines* (Jr., Hickory, N.C.)
Women’s Golf – Mary Kate Bowman (Jr., Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Men’s Soccer – Sean Sassano (Sr., Gastonia, N.C.)
Women’s Soccer – Courtney O'Brien (Sr., Boca Raton, Fla.)
Softball (2007) - Danielle Peters (Sr., Vass, N.C.)
Men’s Tennis – Peter Jacobs (So., Pretoria, South Africa)
Women’s Tennis – Heather Prior (Fr., Raleigh, N.C.)
Men’s Indoor Track and Field – Joel Gaddy (Sr., Charlotte, N.C.)
Women’s Indoor Track and Field – Danielle Thorpe (So., Durham, N.C.)
Volleyball – Dianna Thomas (Sr., Mobile, Ala.)
Wrestling - Scott Ervin* (Sr., Weatherford, Okla.)
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field – Wes Kiser (Sr., Burlington, N.C.)
Women’s Outdoor Track and Field – Brittani Williams (Sr., Charlotte, N.C.)