May 4, 2016-School record holders, All-Americans, and players that have led their teams to the NCAA post season were honored during the Emporia State Senior Awards and Honors Banquet tonight. Over 50 Hornet senior student-athletes and support staff were recognized for their contributions to Emporia State and the Hornet Athletic program.

ESU OUTSTANDING STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
The Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year Award is presented annually to deserving male and female student-athletes based upon their performance over time, athletic achievement, academic success, and contribution to the team.

Brent Wilson • Senior • Football • Ponca City, Okla.
Wilson is an accounting major from Ponca City, Oklahoma.  He finished fourth in the balloting for the Harlon Hill Trophy after leading the Hornets to the NCAA National Quarterfinals. He was 337 of 521 for 4,244 yards and 40 touchdowns and added 316 rushing yards for 4,560 yards of total offense his senior year. He is ranked second in MIAA history on both single season passing and total offense. A three-time MIAA Offensive Player of the Week last season, Wilson is ranked third in MIAA history in single season touchdown passes and fifth in single season passing yards, is third in MIAA history in single season total offense.
Despite missing seven games as a junior with broken collar bone, Wilson ranks third among active NCAA Division II players in passing yards per attempt, is fourth in passing efficiency and touchdown passes, fifth in completion percentage, eighth in total offense per play and touchdowns responsible for, ninth in passing yards, 11th in completions, and 12th in total offense. He ended his career with 9,516 yards of total offense to rank seventh in MIAA history and his 8,621 passing yards ranks ninth on the MIAA career list. He was 22-6 as a starter and threw a touchdown pass in 26 of 28 starts. He is the Emporia State school record holder in single game, single season and career passing yards, passing touchdowns and total offense.
He has a 3.74 GPA in accounting and has earned D2 Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award, was an MIAA Scholar-Athlete, on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and the Emporia State Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

Kelly Moten • Junior • Women's Basketball • Gary, Ind.
Moten is a junior crime and delinquency studies major from Gary, Indiana.  She was named Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Honorable Mention All-American after earning First-Team All-MIAA and MIAA All-Defensive Team honors. Moten led the MIAA in assists, was third in assist to turnover ratio, fifth in free throw percentage, seventh in scoring, steals and blocked shots, and tenth in field goal percentage. She averaged 16.4 points, 5.0 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks on the year. She was a three-time MIAA Player of the Week this season. She has scored 1,325 points in 102 career games to rank 16th in career scoring at Emporia State and was the 14th Lady Hornet to score 1,000 points in three years or less.
She has been a part of three straight Lady Hornet teams that have won MIAA Tournament Championships, having been named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2015 conference tourney.  She has also led the Lady Hornets to the NCAA Sweet 16 each of the last three years, including a Final Four appearance last season.
She holds a 3.03 GPA and is a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and the Emporia State Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
Katheryn Flott • Junior • Women's Basketball • Olpe, Kan.
Flott is an elementary education major from Olpe, Kansas. She was named third-team All-MIAA and was a member of the MIAA-All-Defensive Team. She averaged 10.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game this season as she led the MIAA in offensive rebounding, was second in overall rebounding and fourth in defensive rebounding. She was named the Most Outstanding Player at this year's MIAA Championship Tournament as the Lady Hornets won their fourth straight conference title.
She finished her fifth season at Emporia State after missing two full years with knee injuries following her freshman season.  She has played in three Sweet 16's, including last year's Final Four trip and the Lady Hornets have played in the MIAA Tournament and NCAA Regional Championship games every year since she set foot on campus.
She has a 3.37 GPA in elementary education and is a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and the Emporia State Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
 

UNDERGRADUATE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
The Undergraduate Award of Excellence is given to an outstanding male and female underclass student-athlete who excels in the areas of athletic performance and academic achievement.

Wyatt Sander • Sophomore • Men's Track & Field • Louisburg, Kan.
Sander is a health promotions major from Louisburg, Kan. He earned All-American status as a member of the Hornets school record setting 4x400m relay team indoors and they are currently ranked first in the MIAA heading into this weekend's Outdoor Championships. Individually he is ranked in the top eight in the MIAA in both the 110m hurdles and the 400m hurdles. He placed fifth at last year's MIAA Championships in the 400m hurdles and was sixth in the 60m hurdles indoors this season. He has a 3.94 cumulative GPA and is a member of the Emporia State Athletic Director's Honor Roll, the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and is an MIAA Scholar-Athlete.

Shayla Cotman • Junior • Volleyball/Women's Track & Field • Wichita, Kan.
Cotman is an accounting major from Wichita, Kansas. She was a second-team All-MIAA middle blocker for the Hornets during volleyball season and is a jumper on the Emporia State track and field team in the spring. She ended the regular season averaging 1.10 blocks per set, to rank third in the MIAA. She compiled 214 kills on the season, averaging 2.23 kills per set with a .273 hitting percentage. She is ranked 13th in the MIAA in the triple jump this outdoor season. She is an active member of the Emporia State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, serving as secretary of the organization this year. she has a 3.33 cumulative GPA and is a member of the Emporia State Athletic Director's Honor Roll and the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
 

STUDENT-ATHLETE ABOVE THE CROWD AWARD
The Student-Athlete Above the Crowd Award, formerly the Wal-Mart Without Peer Award, was established during the 1999-2000 school year to give recognition deserving student-athletes from their peers - the student-athletes at Emporia State. Each team nominates an individual for the award and it is then voted on by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at Emporia State.
Collin Connor • Senior • Tennis • Topeka, Kan.
Connor is a biochemistry & molecular biology  major with a 3.98 GPA. He a member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, ESU Honor Roll and was a recipient of the MIAA Academic Excellence Award and D2 Athletic Directors Association Achievement Award.  He is a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Societies.  He has been a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and was a Resident Assistant for two years.  He participated in numerous community service events including Food for Students, Abundant Harvest Food Kitchen, Hangin' with a Hornet, United Way and several projects with his church.  Athletically, he is a four year participant and Co-Team Captain this year and was named honorable mention All-MIAA as a senior.  
Taylor Stueve • Senior • Women's Track & Field/Cross Country • Las Vegas, Nev.
Stueve is an elementary education major with 3.87 GPA. has been a member of Athletic Director's Honor Roll, Teacher's College Dean's List, MIAA Academic Honor Roll and was a recipient of the MIAA Academic Excellence Award and D2 Athletic Directors Association Achievement Award.  She is a member Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, Kappa Mu Epsilon, Kappa Delta Pi and Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Societies and is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Kansas National Education Association.  She also has participated in many hours of community service, including Read to your Bunny, Math Night, Stream Days, Emporia Youth Mentoring Program, Arbor Day and Hangin' with a Hornet.  Athletically, Taylor has been an Honorable Mention All-MIAA performer and team captain for three years.   

JOE CANNON SERVICE AWARD
The Emporia State Athletic Department annually gives special recognition to people not currently a member of the staff for their dedication, service and commitment to bettering Emporia State and intercollegiate athletics. Joe Cannon was one of the most prominent supporters of Hornet Athletics over the years. The Joe Cannon Service Award honors his memory.
Emporia City Commission
The Emporia City Commission has been longtime supporters of Emporia State and Hornet Athletics.  Their engagement is at an all-time high with members taking time to talk to recruits during their official visits and giving their full support as the university and Emporia State Athletics have grown over the past few years.   

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