Valparaiso University student-athletes, coaches and athletic staff members gathered at the Harre Union on Sunday evening for the annual ARC Awards ceremony, celebrating the successes of this academic year and presenting the year-end awards, as voted on by Student-Athlete Advisory Committee team representatives.

The evening culminated in the presentation of the Athlete of the Year honors. The Female Athlete of the Year was presented to soccer’s Nikki Coryell, who became the first goalie in MVC history to earn MVC Goalkeeper of the Year honors three times as she helped the Beacons earn the MVC regular season championship. The Male Athlete of the Year was claimed by golf’s Anthony Delisanti, who was named MVC Golfer of the Year after claiming individual medalist honors at the MVC Championship for a second straight season.

The Male Newcomer of the Year went to swimming’s Jackson Oostman, a two-time MAC Swimmer of the Week who moved into Valpo’s all-time top-10 in six different individual events as a freshman — highlighted by a school-record time in the 200 IM. This year’s Female Newcomer of the Year was volleyball’s Emma Hickey, a Second Team All-MVC selection who finished fourth nationally in digs per set and set new Valpo and MVC records for digs by a freshman with 735.

A pair of pitchers claimed the Performance of the Year accolades. Softball’s Caitlyn Kowalski earned the Female Performance of the Year for the no-hitter she tossed in MVC play at Bradley — just the 12^th no-hitter in program history. Baseball’s Jacob Rosenkranz helped lift the Beacons to a win at #22 Southern Miss, the highest-ranked opponent Valpo has defeated since 2013, as he allowed just two hits and one run in six innings of work in his second collegiate start.

Valparaiso University President José Padilla addressed the student-athletes before presenting the night’s first honors, the Beacon of Light Leadership Awards, which went to football’s Evan Annis and Coryell. Director of Athletics Dr. Charles Small, attending his first ARC Awards, addressed the student-athletes as well and recognized award winners from throughout the academic year prior to presenting the Anderson-Hoffman Memorial Service Award — which goes to the student-athlete who best serves the community, contributing positively to the life of the campus and broader communities — to soccer’s Elizabeth Park.

Men’s basketball’s Emil Freese-Vilien and women’s basketball’s Olivia Brown received the Bill Steinbrecher Sportsmanship Award and the Rebecca D. Carter Memorial Award, respectively, which are given to the male and female student-athletes who have best exemplified integrity and sportsmanship while representing Valparaiso University. Soccer’s Natalie Graf and cross country/track & field’s Simeon Ehm were honored with the Unsung Hero awards, while men’s basketball’s Darius DeAveiro and women’s basketball’s Ilysse Pitts were named the Comeback Athletes of the Year.