Jacksonville State University

At the conclusion of each academic year, the Eagle Owl Award, which was established in 1994, is given to a male and a female senior athlete who possess several outstanding qualities. To be nominated, the student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve during his or her senior season and carry a 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher.

The student-athlete must excel in his or her sport, be a positive role model for others and exemplify the well-rounded student-athlete. Nominees are voted on by a selection committee, which is comprised of administration throughout the Jacksonville State campus. Each of this year’s recipients exemplify the spirit of the award.


Vorbeck, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter and middle blocker on the Gamecock volleyball team, wrapped up an impressive career in the fall. The native of Raytown, Mo., was a First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection for the second straight season after leading the team and ranking sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference in kills per set with 3.24. Her 4.00 points per set were third in the OVC and also tops on the team.

She put together a standout career both on and off the floor for the Gamecocks. Carrying a 3.28 GPA in JSU's Nursing program, Vorbeck has been on the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll, while also guiding the Gamecocks to conference titles on the court in 2007 and 2009. As a junior in 2009, she led JSU to the NCAA Tournament and then guided the Gamecocks to the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win over Florida A&M in the first round. With 10 career double-doubles, Vorbeck is fourth all-time in kills with 1,352 at JSU, while her 2.99 kills per set rank fifth in school history. Vorbeck is the fifth member of the JSU volleyball team to win the Eagle Owl Award and the third inn the past six seasons.


Porter, a 6-foot-7 native of Fayette, Ala., was a First Team All-America selection by the Associated Press and a Second Team All-American by the Sports Network at offensive line in the fall of his senior year. He was also a First Team All-OVC pick after guiding the Gamecocks to a 9-3 record and a first-round bye in the NCAA BCS Playoffs. He was also selected to participate in the NFL Players Association Game in February.

A criminal justice major with a minor in Spanish, Porter received his degree in December with a 3.11 GPA in the classroom. On the field, he graded out at 92 percent on the season and led the team with 81 knockdowns from his offensive tackle position. He also led the JSU linemen with 761 snaps, 24 pancakes and was one of the team's captains in 2010. He was a Second Team All-OVC honoree as a junior and has been a two-time selection to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll. He is the sixth member of the JSU football team to receive the Eagle Owl Award and the fourth in the past five seasons.

Year	Female Winner	Sport	Male Winner	Sport
2010-11	Caitlin Vorbeck	Volleyball	Curt Porter	Football
2009-10	Nikki Prier	Softball	Josh Cain	Football
2008-09	Allie Barker	Softball	Gavin Hallford	Football
2007-08	Abbey Breit	Volleyball	Clay Whittemore	Baseball
2006-07	Daniela Pappano	Softball	Clay Green	Football
2005-06	Kisha West	Volleyball	James Hall	Rifle
2004-05	Kari Baldwin	Rifle	Matias Anselmo	Golf
2003-04	Jennifer Brenneman	Volleyball	C.R. Palmer	Baseball
2002-03	Sally Pearson	Tennis	Jose Campra	Golf
2001-02	Adriana Finelli	Soccer	Jeremy Sullivan	Football
2000-01	Lauren Buck	Softball	Brad Smith	Baseball
1999-00	Lisa Baswell	Basketball	Joey Hamilton	Football
1998-99	Lucinda Roddy	Rifle
1997-98	Melissa Harden	Basketball
1996-97	Kathy Schuneman	Rifle
1995-96	Tracey Wilder	Tennis
1994-95	Ann Shelton	Softball
1993-94	Jana Simmons	BKB, VB, SB