CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois athletics has announced its six member class for the 2010 Hall of Fame. The five former EIU student-athletes and one friend of athletics will be inducted into the EIU Hall of Fame at a luncheon on September 25 prior to the Panthers home football game against Jacksonville State.

The five former student-athletes include Erica Gerth, Beth Liesen, Kevin Staple, Kelly Waldrup and Willie White. Jerry Myerscough will be inducted as a friend of athletics.

Listed below are the accomplishments of each Hall of Fame inductee with their hometown listed in parenthesis (hometown is listed as when they played at EIU).

ERICA GERTH (EL PASO, ILL.)
Erica Gerth was a four-year letterwinner for the EIU volleyball team playing from 2001-04 for the Panthers. Gerth is the Panthers all-time leader in kills (1,774), digs (1,666) and attack attempts (4,850) as she was named the 2004 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year. As a freshman Gerth helped lead EIU to the NCAA Tournament earning All-OVC Newcomer team honors. As a senior she helped guide EIU to a regular-season OVC championship as she earned AVCA honorable mention All-American honors and was named the OVC Female Athlete of the Year. She ranks third in EIU history in service aces with 171 and currently ranks fifth all-time in OVC kills. Gerth also excelled in the classroom earning first team Academic All-American honors in 2004 and third team Academic All-American honors in 2003.

BETH LIESEN (QUINCY, ILL.)
Beth Liesen was one of the best players in EIU women's soccer history as she earned first team All-OVC honors four straight seasons from 2000-03. She was the 2003 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year ranking first on the EIU and OVC single season list for goals scored (20) and game winning goals (9). Liesen also ranks first in EIU and OVC history in career goals with 62, career game winning goals with 26 and career points with 149. As a senior she was first team NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region as she helped guide EIU to its fourth straight NCAA College Cup appearance. Liesen also excelled in the classroom twice earning Academic All-District honors in 2002 and 2003.

KEVIN STAPLE (MARKHAM, ILL.)
Kevin Staple was a tremendous ball carrier for Eastern Illinois helping rush the Panthers to a runner-up finish in the 1980 NCAA Division II Championship game as a freshman. Staple would be a four-year starter at running back from 1980-83 leading the team in rushing every season. He was a two-time Associated Press honorable mention All-American in 1982 and 1983 earning first team All-Mid-Continent Conference honors each season. In 1983 he was the Mid-Continent Offensive Player of the Year. He tied the MCC record for touchdowns in a game with five. He holds the number two EIU single game rushing performance with 283 yards and currently ranks sixth on the EIU career rushing list with 3,296 career yards.

KELLY WALDRUP (COULTERVILLE, ILL.)
Kelly Waldrup was a two-sport star for the Panthers contributing to both the EIU softball and basketball programs from 1980-83. She was a four-year letterwinner in basketball helping the team place eighth at the 1981 AIAW II National Tournament. In softball she was an AIAW II All-American, All-Region and All-State selection in 1982. That same year she helped the Panthers place third in the AIAW II College World Series as she was named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team. She was a 1983 recipient of the Helen Riley Scholarship. In 1986 she played in the ASA National Women's Major Fast Pitch Tournament while also receiving a tryout for the USA-Pan American Games. In 1988 she participated in the ASA National Jamor Fast Pitch Tournament.

WILLIE WHITE (GARY, IND.)
Willie White could catch almost anything that was thrown his direction playing for the EIU football team from 1970-73. In 1971 he ranked second in the NCAA College Division in pass receiving yardage finished that year with 915 yards. He still holds the EIU single game reception record with 15 and ranks second on the career receptions list with 164. His 2,197 career pass receiving yardage still ranks fourth at EIU while his 21 career touchdown receptions are tied for sixth. He was a three year leader in pass receptions and twice led the team in receiving yardage. In 1971 he caught 65 passes for 915 yards with both totals still ranking in the EIU single season top ten.

JERRY MYERSCOUGH (CHARLESTON, ILL.)
Jerry Myerscough is being inducted as a friend of athletics as the Charleston resident has donated nearly $170,000 in cash and more then $100,000 in-kind meals/golf outing items to Panther athletics over the past two decades. He is a past winner of the Glen Hesler Award which is the highest honor the athletic department bestows upon an individual for significant contributions to EIU student-athletes. He is a past Panther Club President and Board of Director Member. Myerscough served as the liaison between the City of Charleston and the University to install lights at Williams Field which benefited EIU softball and community recreation programs.