Valparaiso University awarded 107 student-athletes with Presidential Honors while also handing out the Laurel Award at the 18th Annual Academic Honors Banquet for Student-Athletes which was held on Sunday evening in the Harre Union.

Presidential Honors are awarded to student-athletes who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.25-or-higher after at least three semesters at Valpo.  All 18 sports in addition to cheerleaders and Crusaderettes had student-athletes obtain the honor.

Karen Korb (Indianapolis, Ind./Lutheran H.S.), a member of the softball program, was presented with the annual Laurel Award, honoring the graduating senior student-athlete who achieved the highest cumulative grade point average. A finance and marketing double also earned the Finishing at the Top Award – honoring graduating senior student-athletes who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.9-or-higher.

In addition, a pair of senior student-athletes annually give remarks on their experiences throughout their Crusader careers.  This year, basketball player Jake Diebler (Upper Sandusky, Ohio/Upper Sandusky H.S.) and soccer player Jackie Thomas (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest H.S.) had the honor of addressing the approximately 175 student-athletes, families, administration members, and professors that were in attendance.