INDIANAPOLIS - The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) has identified a record 780 student-athletes who have earned the Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award for the 2025-26 academic year, it was announced Wednesday. William Jewell featured 30 recipients among the honorees.
Named after Brother James Gaffney, FSC, former President of Lewis for more than 28 years and a two-term Chair of the GLVC Council of Presidents, the award is presented annually to student-athletes competing in GLVC-sponsored sports who achieve a 4.0 grade-point average during the course of the academic year.
The total eclipses last year's record of 684 honorees by 96 recipients and marks a 14-percent increase. The 780 distinguished scholars represent the highest total since the award's inception in 2016-17 and marks the fourth consecutive year the league has recognized more than 500 student-athletes.
Missouri S&T led all institutions with 92 honorees, followed by Rockhurst with 77 and Southwest Baptist with 73. Drury (64), Truman State (63), Lewis (60), Indianapolis (54), and Maryville (54) also surpassed the 50-recipient mark, while all 15 full-time member institutions and seven associate members were represented on this year's list.
William Jewell Bro. James Gaffney Distinguished Scholars
Jack Wells, Baseball
Justice Sutton, Men's Basketball
Amanda Pham, Women's Basketball
Jalea Price, Women's Basketball
Eric Ohmer, Football
Yasir Winston, Football
Natalie Schmidtberger, Women's Golf
Tristan MacHendrie, Men's Lacrosse
Brenner Mitts, Men's Lacrosse
Ella Childress, Women's Lacrosse
Alexis Ibarra, Men's Soccer
Zach Nichols, Men's Soccer
Olivia Allen, Women's Soccer
Riley Frasure-Smith, Women's Soccer
Megan Giffin, Women's Soccer
Zoe Ralston, Women's Soccer
Isabella Vaz, Women's Soccer
Lexi Lopez, Softball
Avrey Reynolds, Softball
Tori Woodard, Softball
Lucas Murcia Dominguez, Men's Swimming
Jack Robbins, Men's Swimming
Zachary Wenger, Men's Swimming
Grace Allen, Women's Swimming
Maddie Atwood, Women's Swimming
Ella Johnson, Women's Swimming
Kennadie Sheppard, Women's Swimming
Laura Torres, Women's Swimming
Sarah Madsen, Volleyball
Emily Mendez, Women's Wrestling
