University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Smith
Zimmerman, Cross Receive Memphis Athletics Highest Honors
Apr 27, 2016 | Football, General, Women's Volleyball
The redshirt senior duo takes home Elma Roane, Zach Curlin awards.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The 2016 PAWScars ceremony was held Tuesday night, but the celebration of the 2015-16 University of Memphis athletics campaign continued with Wednesday's announcement of the athletics department's two highest student-athlete honors: the Elma Roane and Zach Curlin Awards.
Redshirt senior Veronica Zimmerman, a senior setter on the volleyball squad, received the Elma Roane Award, and redshirt senior Alan Cross, who played tight end on the football team, was honored with the Zach Curlin Award. Zimmerman and Cross were recognized for their honors at the 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.
Zimmerman holds a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average while working on a double major in computer engineering and electrical engineering. A Tiger 3.0 Club honoree, she was a member of the 2013 and 2014 Tigers teams that earned American Athletic Conference Academic Awards. Zimmerman also served on the Memphis Athletics Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was a member of the committee's board.
On the court, Zimmerman finished her career as one of the top setters in Tigers volleyball history, becoming only one of four players to have 4,000 assists and 1,000 digs. The Toledo, Ohio, native wrapped up her four seasons with 4,021 assists and 1,003 digs. Zimmerman reached both milestones in 2015, despite playing through injuries most of the campaign.
A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter, Zimmerman was the team's assists leader her final three seasons. She posted over 1,200 assists in consecutive campaigns in 2013 (1,297) and 2014 (1,397). During those two seasons, Zimmerman also recorded nearly 66 percent of her 1,003 career digs (659).
The 5-foot-10 senior helped lead the program to consecutive winning campaigns in 2014 (23-11 record) and 2015 (19-14) for the first time since 2007 and 2008. The 2014 squad's 23 victories were the most by a Tigers team since the 2006 squad had 27 wins.
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.
Cross, who redshirted his freshman campaign in 2011, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in August of 2015. He earned Tiger 3.0 Club recognition six of his eight undergraduate semesters. Cross, who currently boasts a 3.10 grade-point average, spent the 2015-16 academic year working on a master's degree in sport and leisure commerce.
The 6-foot-1, 235-pound tight end played an integral role in the Tigers football team's rise to national prominence the past two seasons. In his final two seasons, Cross and his teammates led Memphis to a 19-7 overall record, a 12-4 American Athletic Conference mark, the 2014 American Athletic Conference title and consecutive bowl appearances (2014 Miami Beach, 2015 Birmingham). The 19 victories were the most for a two-year period in school history, and the 2014 league crown was Memphis' first since 1971.
Cross played in 49 career games and had 90 receptions for 1,050 yards and 14 touchdowns. His 14 scores are the most by a tight end in program history. He caught 20 or more passes three of his four seasons, including a career-high 28 receptions for 373 yards as a junior in 2014. Cross hauled in a career-best five touchdowns his redshirt freshman season in 2012.
The Millington, Tenn., native was a two-time All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2014 (first team) and 2015 (honorable mention). In 2015, Cross was a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded annually to college football's best player that began his career as a walk-on. Cross started his Memphis career as a walk-on long snapper and later earned a scholarship and moved to tight end.
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Elma Roane Award
Veronica Zimmerman, Volleyball
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Zach Curlin Award
Alan Cross, Football
Redshirt senior Veronica Zimmerman, a senior setter on the volleyball squad, received the Elma Roane Award, and redshirt senior Alan Cross, who played tight end on the football team, was honored with the Zach Curlin Award. Zimmerman and Cross were recognized for their honors at the 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.
Zimmerman holds a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average while working on a double major in computer engineering and electrical engineering. A Tiger 3.0 Club honoree, she was a member of the 2013 and 2014 Tigers teams that earned American Athletic Conference Academic Awards. Zimmerman also served on the Memphis Athletics Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was a member of the committee's board.
On the court, Zimmerman finished her career as one of the top setters in Tigers volleyball history, becoming only one of four players to have 4,000 assists and 1,000 digs. The Toledo, Ohio, native wrapped up her four seasons with 4,021 assists and 1,003 digs. Zimmerman reached both milestones in 2015, despite playing through injuries most of the campaign.
A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter, Zimmerman was the team's assists leader her final three seasons. She posted over 1,200 assists in consecutive campaigns in 2013 (1,297) and 2014 (1,397). During those two seasons, Zimmerman also recorded nearly 66 percent of her 1,003 career digs (659).
The 5-foot-10 senior helped lead the program to consecutive winning campaigns in 2014 (23-11 record) and 2015 (19-14) for the first time since 2007 and 2008. The 2014 squad's 23 victories were the most by a Tigers team since the 2006 squad had 27 wins.
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.
Cross, who redshirted his freshman campaign in 2011, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in August of 2015. He earned Tiger 3.0 Club recognition six of his eight undergraduate semesters. Cross, who currently boasts a 3.10 grade-point average, spent the 2015-16 academic year working on a master's degree in sport and leisure commerce.
The 6-foot-1, 235-pound tight end played an integral role in the Tigers football team's rise to national prominence the past two seasons. In his final two seasons, Cross and his teammates led Memphis to a 19-7 overall record, a 12-4 American Athletic Conference mark, the 2014 American Athletic Conference title and consecutive bowl appearances (2014 Miami Beach, 2015 Birmingham). The 19 victories were the most for a two-year period in school history, and the 2014 league crown was Memphis' first since 1971.
Cross played in 49 career games and had 90 receptions for 1,050 yards and 14 touchdowns. His 14 scores are the most by a tight end in program history. He caught 20 or more passes three of his four seasons, including a career-high 28 receptions for 373 yards as a junior in 2014. Cross hauled in a career-best five touchdowns his redshirt freshman season in 2012.
The Millington, Tenn., native was a two-time All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2014 (first team) and 2015 (honorable mention). In 2015, Cross was a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded annually to college football's best player that began his career as a walk-on. Cross started his Memphis career as a walk-on long snapper and later earned a scholarship and moved to tight end.
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Elma Roane Award
Veronica Zimmerman, Volleyball
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Zach Curlin Award
Alan Cross, Football
Players Mentioned
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/ Football
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