Clarksville, Ark.-2003 U of O graduate Julie Richardson received the 2002-2003 American Southwest Conference Female Sportsmanship Award, announced by the league office on Monday.
The ASC Sportsmanship Award honors a male and female student-athlete who has best displayed attributes of leadership, citizenship, sportsmanship and academic integrity in sport, academics and life pursuits. Each ASC member institution nominates individuals for the award with the league’s 15 Athletics Directors selecting the recipients. Richardson marks the second Ozarks’ athlete to receive the Sportsmanship Award. Men’s soccer player Phil Kaiser was the recipient of the 2001-2002 Male Sportsmanship Award. A magna cum laude communications graduate, Richardson combined her strong academic, athletic, service and leadership talents to exemplify the definition of a true student-athlete. Richardson, a four-year member of the tennis team and cheerleading squad, led the Lady Eagles’ tennis team to the ASC Championships for the first time in school history after finishing as runner-up in the ASC East Division (2003). Richardson was a four-time ASC All-East Division player and a four-year captain of the Lady Eagles’ tennis team. She served as captain of the cheerleading squad and received the Most Outstanding Cheering award. Richardson was voted by the Ozarks coaching staff as the school’s 2002-03 Female Athlete of the Year. She was a three-time ASC All-Academic performer and is listed in Who’s Who Among American University and College Students. A valued student leader on campus, Richardson was the lead anchor on Channel 6 TV News and was named the 2002-03 Most Outstanding Senior Communications Major and selected for the Channel 6 Service Key Award. Her volunteer work includes fund raising with the Red Cross for victims of September 11 and participating in the March of Dimes Marathon. She was a member of the Student Foundation Board, Entertainment Committee and a Freshman Orientation Leader. Richardson was chosen to represent the Ozarks’ student body as a speaker at the Walker Hall dedication and was named by her peers as the Star Studded Senior for her involvement in campus activities. "This is an outstanding accomplishment for Julie," said athletics director Dave DeH art. "It’s great recognition for our athletic department and shows what we so importantly emphasize, excellence in academics and athletics along with service-oriented leadership. This is the second year in a row one of our athletes has received the honor and we are proud of that. Julie has certainly been a bright spot in the athletic department and the university during her four years here. I hope the example she and Phil set is something that our future athletes look to achieve." Richardson is a native of Lindale, Texas.
Topics: Athletics