University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Smith
A Night At The PAWScars Celebrated Wednesday
Apr 25, 2018 | General, Men's Track and Field, Women's Soccer
Stevens, Vaughn take home athletics department's top honors.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The 2018 PAWScars ceremony was held Wednesday night on the University of Memphis campus, and the 2017-18 Tigers celebration culminated with the announcement of the athletics department's two highest student-athlete honors: the Elma Roane and Zach Curlin Awards.
Senior Sessen Stevens, a defender on the women's soccer squad, received the Elma Roane Award, and graduate student Luke Vaughn, a two-time All-American track and field standout, was honored with the Zach Curlin Award. Stevens and Vaughn were recognized for their honors at Wednesday's PAWScars event.
Both awards are presented annually to student-athletes that have competed at the highest level athletically, while exhibiting leadership characteristics and demonstrating the high ideals of sportsmanship and athleticism held by the University. Each recipient must excel in the classroom, give of his or her time and efforts for the betterment of his/her team, the University and community.
Created in 1978, the Elma Roane Award was named after the former women's athletics director at the University of Memphis. Roane was affiliated with the University as a student-athlete, coach and professor for 45 years. During her career, Roane shaped generations of young women's lives, and countless young leaders were influenced by her depth of character, determination against great odds and abiding belief in the power of education to change lives.
Stevens, a double major in biology and chemistry, carries a 3.82 grade-point average (GPA) and has been heavily involved in community service projects not only regionally, but internationally as well. In 2017, Stevens volunteered with the International Children's Heart Foundation (ICHF) in the Dominican Republic for two weeks. Stevens' goal is to pursue medical school in order to one day go overseas and work in or open a clinic to treat those in underdeveloped countries who do not have easy access to medicine and healthcare.
Locally, Stevens has volunteered with numerous organizations and events including the St. Jude Marathon, Zumbathon and Target House, Habitat for Humanity, Koolen-de-vries Syndrome Carnival, Foundation Fighting Blindness Walk and the Youth Villages 5K/10K races. Stevens has also accrued over 100-plus hours of service on Helper Helper and has been involved with Relay for Life and the Special Olympics.
On the field, Stevens was a four-year letterwinner, seeing action in 72 career matches. She became a fulltime starter her junior season and made 32 starts in her final two seasons. The North Delta, British Columbia, native helped the Tigers defense register eight shutouts last fall, and also was a member of the 2016 defense that allowed only 18 goals in helping Memphis earn an NCAA Tournament berth. The defensive stopper finished her career with three goals.
Stevens is a seven-time Dean's List and Tiger 3.0 Club student at Memphis. She earned Tiger Academic 30 – an honor awarded to the athletics department's top-30 GPAs – twice and was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team following her junior season in 2016.
The Zach Curlin Award, created in 2011, is presented annually to the male student-athlete that possesses Curlin's drive, enthusiasm and determination to academics and athletics while maintaining a concern for others. Curlin joined the Memphis coaching staff in 1924 and, during his career, served in several capacities: head football coach, head basketball coach, head baseball coach, athletics director and head of the physical education and intramurals departments.
Vaughn, whose final outdoor season is still ongoing, is completing his Master of Arts in Teaching degree in May after earning his bachelor degree in business administration a year ago. He posted a 3.43 GPA for his undergraduate career and currently boasts a 3.75 GPA in his graduate studies. Vaughn is a nine-time member of the Tiger 3.0 Club and has been named to the Dean's List on three occasions. He also is a three-time U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic selection, which requires a 3.25 GPA and NCAA postseason qualification.
The East Peoria, Ill., native has been active in the Memphis and University communities. Vaughn has been a Young Life leader the past five years, leading weekly meetings with over 80 kids in attendance. He served as a Memphis Joy Prom Leader, accompanying a special needs student to her prom. Vaughn also has been active in the Memphis ZooBoo for Kids and the Memphis Children's Museum, in addition to serving as an instructor at the Tiger Track Camp for Kids.
Vaughn's career in athletic competition has been just as impressive. A two-time All-American, he has advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships twice (2014, 2015) and NCAA East Preliminaries three times (2014, 2015, 2016). He placed 15th in the discus at the 2014 NCAA Championships and 14th at the 2015 national meet. At the NCAA East Preliminaries, he has competed in the discus three times and shot put twice.
Vaughn is a 10-time All-American Athletic Conference performer with top-three finishes in the discus, shot put and weight thrown at the league's indoor and outdoor championships. He is a three-time conference champion, taking home crowns in the 2015 outdoor discus, 2016 outdoor shot put and 2018 indoor shot put. He holds school records in the indoor shot put and outdoor discus, setting both marks in the 2017-18 campaign.
The following is a complete list of the winners from Wednesday's PAWScars:
Elma Roane Award
Sessen Stevens, Women's Soccer
Zach Curlin Award
Luke Vaughn, Men's Track and Field
Best Dressed Team
Men's Tennis
Record-Breaking Performance
Tony Pollard, Football
Best True Freshman (Female)
Cera Chavez, Women's Track and Field
Best True Freshman (Male)
TJ Carter, Football
Break-Through Student-Athlete
Jeremiah Martin, Men's Basketball
Comeback Student-Athlete
Anki Wind, Women's Tennis
Top Offensive Student-Athlete
Anthony Miller, Football
Top Defensive Student-Athlete
Sydney Kingston, Women's Soccer
Best Individual Performance (Female)
Ashley Pryke, Women's Track and Field
Best Individual Performance (Male)
Ryan Peniston, Men's Tennis
Citizenship Award
Matthew Kamph, Men's Cross Country/Track and Field
Motivational Award
Chris Patzanovsky, Men's Tennis
All-Around Tiger (Female)
Faith Myers, Volleyball
All-Around Tiger (Male)
Aaron Persinger, Men's Track and Field
Players Mentioned
Middle Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
D/M
/ Women's Soccer
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Men's Track and Field
D
/ Women's Soccer
Throws
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