Kristin Hoffman (Northern Illinois) and Briggs Orsbon (Ball State) Recipients of the 2012 Bob James Memorial Award
Hoffman and Orsbon to receive $5,000 post-graduate scholarship
For Immediate Release – Tuesday, August 28, 2012
CLEVELAND, OHIO – Kristin Hoffman (volleyball) of Northern Illinois and Briggs Orsbon (football) of Ball State have been named the recipients of the 2012 Bob James Memorial Award by the Mid-American Conference Faculty Athletics Representatives as announced by the league office today.
In its 23rd year, the Bob James Memorial Award recognizes one female and one male student-athlete who have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.50, and have displayed good character, leadership and citizenship. The student-athletes are nominated during the year in which they complete their final season of eligibility. The $5,000 post-graduate scholarship is awarded in honor Bob James, the second commissioner in Mid-American Conference history (1964-71).
Hoffman graduated summa cum laude this past spring from Northern Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and a 3.975 cumulative GPA. Hoffman was a Northern Illinois Victory Scholar (3.50 GPA or better), Honors Program and Dean’s List for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences from 2008-2012. She was named an NCAA post-graduate scholarship recipient. Hoffman was nominated by the MAC for the NCAA Women of the Year Award and will be recognized by the NCAA as a top 30 nominee later this fall.
A native of Batavia, Ill., Hoffman was named Capital One Academic All-American First Team (2011), Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team (2010, 2011) and ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American Third Team (2011). Hoffman was also named three times to the Academic All-MAC Team (2009, 2010 and 2011).
Hoffman was a four-year varsity letter winner (2008-11) and team captain her junior and senior seasons. During her senior year, she led the Huskies to the 2011 MAC regular season championship and at-large selection to the 2011 NCAA Tournament. In 2011, Hoffman was named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I Volleyball All-American Honorable Mention and also AVCA Division I Volleyball All-Mideast Region First Team. Hoffman was named MAC Setter of the Year (2011), named All-MAC First Team in 2010 and 2011. Hoffman led the nation in assists (12.27/set) and was the third Huskie to reach 4,000 career assists.
Throughout her collegiate career, Hoffman considered community involvement just as important to her focus in academics and athletics. Hoffman is a member of Students in Service through the AmeriCorps program, which requires her to complete 300 hours of community service at a government assisted daycare. In addition, she participated with the Students Today, Leaders Forever program where she traveled to six cities in seven days and performed service duties in underprivileged areas. Hoffman was named Northern Illinois Female Athlete Community Service Award of the Year (2009-10) and was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Executive Board (2011-12).
Hoffman will attend Marquette University Law School this fall with a focus on public interest law.
Orsbon graduated summa cum laude from Ball State with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Risk Management Insurance and Finance (Planning and Investments) and a 3.992 cumulative GPA. Orsbon was a Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society member (2010-12), Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society member (2010-12) and on the Dean’s List every semester.
Orsbon was selected to receive an NCAA post-graduate scholarship and was named to the Capital One Academic All-America First Team, becoming only the eighth student in Ball State history to achieve this honor. For three consecutive years he was named to the Academic All-MAC Team and was nominated for the 2011 National Football Foundation’s Scholarship Athlete Award.
Orsbon was a four-year letterman, named team captain (2011) and was named the John Magnabosco MVP Award (2011). Orsbon led the team in receptions and receiving yards per game as both a freshman and sophomore, and was named the co-recipient of the John Hodge Award, which goes to the team’s top freshman. As a senior, Orsbon became only the second player in Ball State history with more than 200 career receptions (213) and finished ranked fifth in school history for receiving yards (2,218). He was also named to the 2011 All-MAC Second Team.
In addition to his focus to academics and athletics, Orsbon was active in campus activities, community service and professional experience. Orsbon volunteered for the Crawl For Cancer, Crestview Summer Football Camp, and the Muncie Mission’s Walk-A-Mile in My Shoes event. Orsbon was a member of the Football Leadership Council and NCAA Certification Board Student-Athlete Subcommittee. He also gained professional experience with Shepherd Insurance & Financial (Carmel, Ind.) and MutualBank (Muncie, Ind.) during his collegiate career.
A native of Carmel, Ind., Orsbon plans to attend Northwestern University and the Kellogg School of Management to pursue a Master of Business Administration.
Other Female Nominees:
Katie Windlan, Ball State (golf)
Sarah Reinink, Bowling Green (swimming and diving)
Aubrey Stahl, Buffalo (soccer)
Brittany Tyree, Ohio (track and field)
Kristin Lynn, Toledo (soccer)
Stacy Kramer, Western Michigan (gymnastics)
Other Male Nominees:
Patrick Martin, Bowling Green (baseball)
Brian Bennyhoff, Central Michigan (football)
Ian Klein, Ohio (cross country/track and field)
Joseph Corfman, Toledo (baseball)
Past Bob James Award Winners
2012 Kristin Hoffman, Northern Illinois (volleyball); Briggs Orsbon, Ball State (football)
2011 Jon Edgington, Miami (Baseball); Christine Chiricosta, Bowling Green (Tennis)
2010 Tim Hiller, Western Michigan (Football); Megan Chronister, Bowling Green (Gymnastics)
2009 Gonzalo Barinaga, Ball State (Football); Jillian Wolosiansky, Eastern Michigan (Volleyball)
2008 Wynn Michalak, Central Michigan (Wrestling); Stephanie Swiger, Bowling Green (Volleyball)
2007 Matt Lefeld, Bowling Green (Basketball); Jody Yednock, Northern Illinois (Gymnastics)
2006 David Mitchell, Miami (Cross Country/Track & Field); Marie Zidek, Northern Illinois (Volleyball)
2005 Burke Badenhop, Bowling Green (Baseball); Robin Davidson, Toledo (Soccer)
2004 Travis Barclay, Ball State (Football); Andrea Kremer, Miami (Track & Field)
2003 Brett Faustman, Central Michigan (Wrestling) and Katrina Kerns, Bowling Green (Track & Field)
2002 Anthony Malik, Bowling Green (Soccer); Kate Miller, Kent State (Basketball)
2001 Nick Iagulli, Miami (Track & Field); Jennifer Jarjosa, Bowling Green (Swimming)
2000 Cato Coleman, Miami (Track & Field); Laura Szczepanski, Ball State (Gymnastics)
1999 Justin Millard, Akron (Soccer); Wendy Feldman, Central Michigan (Volleyball)
1998 Desmond Johnston, Akron (Soccer); Janelle Tranquillo, Ball State (Field Hockey)
1997 Joseph Burch, Bowling Green (Soccer); Sarah Mikrut, Ball State (Gymnastics)
1996 Dustin Swinehart, Miami (Soccer); Kristin Gaddis, Bowling Green (Cross Country/Track)
1995 Stephen Fetyko, Eastern Michigan (Swimming); Dana Drew, Toledo (Basketball)
1994 Bob Dudley, Bowling Green (Football); Kris Parks, Ohio (Cross Country/Track)
1993 Sander Scott, Central Michigan (Basketball); Kelly Weir, Ohio (Basketball)
1992 Jeff Bender, Central Michigan (Football); Julie Young, Western Michigan (Volleyball)
1991 Pat Jackson, Bowling Green (Football); Kristin McDaniel, Kent State (Track & Field)
1990 Danny Rieman, Ball State (Baseball); Linda Popovich, Bowling Green (Volleyball)
1989 Rick Winegardner, Ball State (Swimming); Kim Keenan, Kent State (Cross Country/Track)