By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information; and OVC Media Relations
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – In the middle of the Ohio Valley Conference logo, the letter 'V' holds a flame high above it, a torch to light the way.
It's fitting as the conference announced its prestigious Scholar-Athlete Awards for 2017-18 on Tuesday, because the six student-athletes selected are torchbearers for their respective schools, leading the way on the field and in the classroom.
And among the six, two come from Tennessee Tech as women's golfer Allyson Dunn and football's Josh Poplar were selected among the field. Dunn and Poplar are the 32nd and 33rd Golden Eagles to receive the honor since its inception.
"This is an amazing honor for these two student-athletes," said Tech director of athletics Mark Wilson. "They stand for everything we want our student-athletes to be as they are dedicated to success in athletics, in the classroom and in the community.
"To win one of these awards is not an easy task, but to have two of our student-athletes selected for the honor speaks volumes of not only their efforts, but of those in our academic and athletic community helping our student-athletes shine even brighter and excel well beyond their potential."
Dunn has twice been named the Tech women's golf Most Valuable Player after spending her freshman season with East Tennessee State. She was named to the 2016 OVC All-Tournament Team after placing second in the event and also named to the all-OVC team.
In the classroom, Dunn posted a 3.93 grade point average in cellular and molecular biology and aspires to become a dentist. She has earned the OVC Academic Medal of Honor, been a multiple-time selection to each the TTU Athletic Director's and OVC Commissioner's Honor Rolls. She has also earned a pair of All-American Scholar from the Women's Golf Coaches Association.
Dunn is a visible face in the campus community, serving as the vice president of the TTU chapter of Mortar Board and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She is also a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society, the Sigma Alpha Pi National Society of Leadership and Success and the Chem-Med Club. Off-campus, she has been involved with the United Way, Doctors With a Heart and the Missions of Mercy/Remote Area Medical Clinic program.
Poplar joined the Tech football team as a walk-on in 2014, but has earned his way up to a scholarship and started every game in 2016, making 105 tackles – the third most in the conference – as well as forcing two and recovering three fumbles, making him an easy selection as Tech's Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.
In the classroom, Poplar has a 3.97 grade point average in business management. He has received the OVC Academic Medal of Honor and been selected to the TTU Athletic Director's and OVC Commissioner's Honor Rolls. He was also named to the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team and was a Academic All-District pick by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Poplar has also worked with the Wesley Foundation and volunteered his time with numerous activities including the Capshaw Elementary Science Fair and the Golden Eagles' annual Kids Football Clinic.
The other award winners included Justin Lea (Jacksonville State, football), Joseph Martin (UT Martin, rifle), Sally McCabe (Belmont, basketball) and Kristen Stucker (Austin Peay, volleyball).
The six winners were selected from a group of 21 finalists by a vote of OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives. The honorees must have performed athletically with distinction, earned at least a 3.25 grade point average and conducted themselves in a manner which has brought credit to the student-athlete, his or her institution, intercollegiate athletics and the OVC. The award is based on academic and athletic criteria and accomplishments achieved in the 2016-17 academic year.
The other nominees included: Maria Baldwin (Eastern Illinois, cross country and track and field), Jeffrey Canady (Eastern Kentucky, football), Lane Clark (Tennessee State, football), Jodie Duncan (UT Martin, softball), Moa Folke (Murray State, golf), A.J. Hantak (Eastern Illinois, football), Robyn Leighton (Morehead State, softball), Kindra Lierz (Southeast Missouri, soccer), Logan Matthews (Belmont, golf), Daniel Plunkett (Southeast Missouri, track and field), Ivan Roe (Murray State, rifle), Josh Rye (Austin Peay, baseball), Lauren White (SIUE, basketball and track and field), Emily Woodruff (Jacksonville State, softball) and Haley Yost (Eastern Kentucky, cross country and track and field).
