Since the 1997-98 school year, at the completion of each sports year, the University of Northern Colorado Athletics Department has held a Senior Awards Banquet and gives out awards to deserving student-athletes. Awards including highest g.p.a.'s among graduating male and female student-athletes (the Mary Behling & George Sage awards), sportsmanship, outstanding male and female athletes of the year and outstanding senior male and female athletes of the year.

In the spring of 2005, the event was renamed the Student-Athlete Awards Celebration and included several new awards, including the Making the Impact (Community & Campus) awards and a trio of awards voted on by the student-athletes - the Bear Down Award, the Break Through Award and the All-Bear Team.

Past Student-Athlete Awards Celebrations

• 1999
• 2000
• 2001
• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005
• 2006 Academic | 2006 Athletic
  
  
  Making an Impact - Community
  2005-06 - Jean and Carrol SoRelle
  2004-05 - Greg Johnson, Big Foot Turf
  
  
  Making an Impact - Campus
  2005-06 - Dean Jean Morrell, Dean of Students
  2004-05 - Dr. Bob Heiny, Faculty Athletics Representative
  
  
  Bear Down Award
  The award is given in recognition of a male and female student-athlete who has been an inspiration to teammates and the athletic department as a whole. This inspiration may come in the form of unwavering school spirit, the student-athlete's ability to overcome adversity or the student-athlete's personal work ethic and commitment to his or her team. The individual should possess remarkable school spirit, personal strength and a strong sense of devotion to his or her team.
  
  2005-06 - Ryan Johnson, Wrestling & Abby Mayne, Volleyball
  2004-05 - Andre Wilson, Football
  
  
  Break Through Award
  The award is given in recognition of a student-athlete who has demonstrated the most improvement at the University of Northern Colorado. This improvement may be seen in statistics, playing time, pre-season and post-season league or conference honors and/or awards given by the student-athlete's respective team such as Most Improved Player, Most Valuable Player, etc.
  
  2005-06 - Brennan Garr, Baseball & Cindy McCarroll, Basketball & Jessica Milligan, Softball
  2004-05 - Chrissy Marvin, Soccer
  
  
  All-Bear Team
  Up to five males and five females can win the award annually. The award is designed to honor student-athletes of the University of Northern Colorado who have demonstrated the following: high academic standing, Exceptional Leadership Qualities, Preseason, Postseason, Conference or All-Independent Honors and Outstanding Individual Statistics.
  
  2005-06 - Reed Doughty, Brennan Garr, Reece Hopkin, Tim Knight, Megan Bellendir, Jabrenta Hubbard, Katie Schmitt, Amanda Wiggins
  2004-05 - Brad Baker, Reed Doughty, Chris Ellis, Vincent Jackson, Sean Nolen, Danelle Angus, Kelley Cobb, Erin Deffenbaugh, Chelsey Ekenberg, Kayla Flavin, Renee Nuccio
  
  
  Bears Giving Back Community Service Award
  2005-06 - Jon Pryor, Football & Bri Molloy, Athletic Training
  
  Dr. Mary Behling Scholar Athlete Award
  (Graduating female senior athlete with highest GPA)
  2005-06 - Lindsey Phillips, Soccer
  2004-05 - Megan Crouch, Swimming & Diving
  2003-04 - Kristi Krom, Volleyball
  2002-03 - Catie Holden, Soccer
  2001-02 - Kelly Gordon, Volleyball & Katie Hostetler-Farris, Cross Country/Track & Field
  2000-01 - Tiffany Helmick, Softball
  1999-00 - Joyce Jordahl, Volleyball
  1998-99 - Jodie Nomi, Soccer & Karen Smidt, Cross Country/Track & Field
  1997-98 - Jennifer Altman, Basketball & Missy McVoy, Basketball
  
  
  Dr. George Sage Scholar Athlete Award
  (Graduating male senior athlete with highest GPA)
  2005-06 - Reed Doughty, Football
  2004-05 - Ryan Patterson, Track & Field
  2003-04 - Ben Brittenham, Track & Field
  2002-03 - Michael Carrasco, Baseball
  2001-02 - Lewis Walker, Football
  2000-01 - Marshall Hahn, Wrestling
  1999-00 - Tony DiPaolo, Track & Field
  1998-99 - Rob Sistek, Wrestling
  1997-98 - Michael Simpson, Baseball
  
  
  Female Sportsmanship Award Winners
  2005-06 - Felicia Wacker, Track & Field
  2004-05 - Lacey Darien, Cross Country/Track & Field
  2003-04 - Kristi Krom, Volleyball
  2002-03 - Kristi Krom, Volleyball
  2001-02 - Kelly Gordon, Volleyball
  2000-01 - Julia Hornbeck, Soccer
  1999-00 - Jessica Logan, Basketball
  1998-99 - Cathy Bowles, Basketball
  1997-98 - Robin Berg, Swimming & Diving
  
  
  Male Sportsmanship Award Winners
  2005-06 - Erik Olson, Basketball & Jahir Waterman, Football
  2004-05 - Reed Doughty, Football
  2003-04 - Cabel Rohloff, Football
  2002-03 - Reed Doughty, Football
  2001-02 - Jared Ramirez, Basketball
  2000-01 - Rob Kuseski, Tennis
  1999-00 - Brian Lonergan, Football
  1998-99 - Mickael Allen, Basketball
  1997-98 - Tony DiPaolo, Track & Field
  
  
  Freshman Athlete of the Year Award Winners
  2005-06 - Jabrenta Hubbard, Basketball & Patrick Berg, Track & Field
  2004-05 - Jenny Henderson, Golf & Kenny Hashimoto, Wrestling
  2003-04 - Terin Ledall, Track & Field & Reece Hopkin, Wrestling
  2002-03 - Kelley Cobb, Track & Field & Ron Jett, Track & Field
  2001-02 - Saree Hoopii, Swimming & Vincent Jackson, Football
  2000-01 - Erin Deffenbaugh, Volleyball & Jason McMillan, Wrestling
  
  
  Female Senior Athlete of the Year Winners
  2005-06 - Corrinne Chapin, Volleyball
  2004-05 - Saree Hoopii, Swimming & Diving
  2003-04 - Linnea Kiilsgaard, Volleyball
  2002-03 - Missy Borell, Basketball
  2001-02 - Theresa Mattingly, Cross Country/Swimming
  2000-01 - Cecilia Rubeling, Golf
  1999-00 - Joyce Jordahl, Volleyball
  1998-99 - Roxann Kaiser, Tennis
  1997-98 - Lezley Imai, Tennis
  
  
  Male Senior Athlete of the Year
  2005-06 - Reed Doughty, Football
  2004-05 - Sean Nolen, Basketball
  2003-04 - Paul Hubbard, Football
  2002-03 - Anthony Dunn, Football
  2001-02 - Toby Michael, Baseball
  2000-01 - Marshall Hahn, Wrestling
  1999-00 - Scott Zimmerman, Football
  1998-99 - Brian Scott, Football
  1997-98 - Mike Allen, Track & Field
  
  
  Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year
  2005-06 - Katie Schmitt, Swimming & Diving
  2004-05 - Erin Deffenbaugh, Volleyball
  2003-04 - Saree Hoopii, Swimming & Diving
  2002-03 - Erin Deffenbaugh, Volleyball
  2001-02 - Mandy Nilsen, Soccer
  2000-01 - Cecilia Rubeling, Golf
  1999-00 - Joyce Jordahl, Volleyball
  1998-99 - Kim Schiemenz, Track & Field/Volleyball
  1997-98 - Missy McVoy, Basketball
  
  
  Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year
  2005-06 - Reed Doughty, Football & Reece Hopkin, Wrestling
  2004-05 - Vincent Jackson, Football
  2003-04 - Vincent Jackson, Football & Basketball
  2002-03 - Brody Olson, Wrestling
  2001-02 - Ronnie Stafford, Wrestling
  2000-01 - Rob Kuseski, Tennis
  1999-00 - Corte McGuffey, Football
  1998-99 - Scott Hewit, Wrestling
  1997-98 - Billy Holmes, Football