Swimmer
Ady Sekely (uh-DEE SECK-lee) and cross country runner
Brian Joyce were honored tonight as the University of Evansville's most outstanding senior scholar-athletes of 2009-10. Swim coach Rickey Perkins presented Sekely with the Lois D. Patton Award, given annually to UE's most outstanding senior female scholar-athlete. Joyce was presented with the Ralph H. Coleman Award, given to the top senior male scholar-athlete, from cross country coach Don Walters. The awards came at the 17th annual University of Evansville Leadership Awards Reception at the Ridgway University Center.
Sekely, a native of Israel, carries a 3.92 grade point average and will graduate next month with a degree in psychology. She was one of UE's top performers in the 200-yard butterfly, and was a top 10 finisher in the Missouri Valley Conference Championships. Sekely won the sprint triathlon event at the 2009 Maccabiah Games as a member of the Israeli National Triathlon Team. She earned the MVC Commissioner's Award for academic excellence, served as a member of UE's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and was a three-time member of the MVC Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete Team.
Joyce, a native of Evansville and graduate of Central High School, has a perfect 4.0 GPA and will graduate with a degree in exercise science. He became the first cross country runner in school history to earn Academic All-America honors after being chosen last year as second team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America for cross country and track. Joyce set a personal best time of 25:50.82 for 8,000 meters, and 34:28.74 in the 10K. Like Sekely, Joyce served on UE's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and earned the MVC Commissioner's Award for academic excellence. He also volunteered for numerous community organizations, including Patchwork Central, United Caring Shelter, Christian Life Center, North Park Nursing Center and Ozanam Family Shelter.
Both award winners were chosen in voting by UE's coaching staff and athletics administration.