Rusk, a junior elementary education major, has been selected to receive the Emma Reinhardt/Kappa Delta Pi Award. She has compiled a 3.96 GPA at Eastern.
Blake, a sophomore pre-business accounting major, has been selected to receive the Alexander Briggs Memorial Award. She has compiled a 4.0 GPA at Eastern.
“I'm very excited for both Sarah and Hillary to be recognized with these awards,” EIU head coach Summer Perala said. “Both young women epitomize what it means to be a student-athlete here at Eastern Illinois. They have done a fantastic job representing our program by pushing themselves to excel and exceed the high standards and expectations we place in both the classroom and on the soccer field.”
The Emma Reinhardt/Kappa Delta Pi Award was established in 1962 by members of Beta Psi chapter of Kappa Delta Pi in recognition of the contribution of service, guidance, and leadership of the late Dr. Emma Reinhardt, counselor to the chapter for 31 years. The award is made annually to the highest ranking junior who has earned a minimum of 30 semester hours at Eastern Illinois University and who is pursuing the degree bachelor of science in education.
Kappa Delta Pi is an international honor society in education.
The Alexander Briggs Memorial Award was established by Margaret Briggs in memory of her father, Alexander Briggs, the contractor who completed the L.C. Lord Administration Building. This award is made annually to a business major who has completed at least one year of college work with not less than a B average, and demonstrates outstanding personal character and interest in the field of business and business education.
Rusk and Blake both received an OVC Medal of Honor for their 4.0 GPAs during the 2008-09 school year. Blake was also recognized as an ESPN the Magazine Second Team Academic All-District performer during the 2009 season.
