The Black & Gold Banquet is held every spring as a year-end celebration to the year that was in Vanderbilt athletics. Student-athletes, coaches and administrators attend each banquet, which is sponsored by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The awards are determined by a vote of the SAAC membership and athletic department staff members.
Jim Robins Award**
The Jim Robins Award is given annually to perpetuate the memory of James A. Robins, class of 1892, whose life and teaching exemplified selfless devotion to learning, to honor, to participate in sports and to service to youth and Vanderbilt. It is awarded to the senior student-athlete in whose life these virtues are most evident.
2004-2005
Annie Menees (Tennis)
2005-2006
Brent Richard (Soccer)
2006-2007
Eileen Bouldin (Swimming)
2007-2008
Shan Foster (Men’s Basketball)
2008-2009
Christina Wirth (Women’s Basketball)
2009-2010
Catherine Newman (Women’s Tennis)
2010-2011
Molly Kinsella (Women’s Soccer)
2011-2012
Chris Marve (Football)
2012-2013
Kim Carper (Bowling)
2013-2014
Ryan Lipman (Men’s Tennis)
2014-2015
Hunter Stewart (Men’s Golf)
2015-2016
Sam Reilly (Men’s Cross Country)
2016-2017
Luke Kornet (Men’s Basketball)
Perry Wallace Courage Award** (Created 2014-15)
Student-athlete who best represents the traits of Perry Wallace, the first African-American basketball player in the SEC.
2014-2015
James Siakam (Men’s Basketball)
2015-2016
Vanderbilt Next Steps Program
Community Service Award
Awarded to a student-athlete who has performed numerous hours of community service and has made a significant contribution to the Nashville community.
2004-2005
Meg Spies (Lacrosse)
2005-2006
Anna Morgan (Track)
2006-2007
Shannon Capps (Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field)
2007-2008
Brooke Shinaberry (Lacrosse)
2008-2009
Rob Whiting (Men’s Cross Country)
2009-2010
Thomas Davis (Men’s Cross Country)
2010-2011
Diana Keenan (Lacrosse)
2011-2012
Nia Washington (Women’s Track & Field)
2012-2013
Paige Cahill (Lacrosse)
2013-2014
Carey Spear (Football)
2014-2015
Andrew East (Football)
2015-2016
Sam Reilly (Men’s Cross Country)
2016-2017
Sam Reilly (Men’s Cross Country)
Dr. Jerry Reves Award
Awarded to the graduating senior student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA.
2006-2007
Molly Frew (Lacrosse)
2007-2008
Shannon McConnaughey (Swimming)
2008-2009
Amanda Scott (Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field)
2009-2010
Thomas Davis (Men’s Cross Country)
2010-2011
Jillian Currie (Women’s Cross Country)
2011-2012
Jordan White (Women’s Cross Country)
2012-2013
Alyson Hasty (Women’s Track)
2013-2014
Kimmie Koehler (Women’s Golf)
2014-2015
Alex Hysong (Football)
2015-2016
Jamie Kator (Soccer)
2016-2017
Claire Anderson (Soccer)
“Play of the Year”*
Awarded to the student-athlete who had the most outstanding play that was either a turning point in their season or the cause of a significant moment or win for their team.
2004-2005
Female – Audra Faulk (Tennis)
Male – Jason Holwerda & Corey Smith (Basketball)
2005-2006
Female – Amanda Taylor (Tennis)
Male – Jay Cutler (Football)
2006-2007
Female – Carla Thomas (Basketball)
Male – Derrick Byars (Basketball)
2007-2008
Female – Josie Earnest (Bowling)
Male – Shan Foster (Basketball)
2008-2009
Female – Meredith Marsh (Women’s Basketball)
Male – Bryant Hahnfeldt (Football)
2009-2010
Female – Josie Earnest (Bowling)
Male – Jermaine Beal (Men’s Basketball)
2010-2011
Female – Erika Deardorf (Swimming)
Male – Connor Harrell (Baseball)
2011-2012
Female – Brittni Hamilton (Bowling)
Male – Brandon Barden (Football)
2012-2013
Female – Brionne Williams (Women’s Track)
Male – Chris Boyd (Football)
2013-2014
Female – Brandi Byner (Lacrosse)
Male – Patton Robinette (Football)
2014-2015
Female – Simone Charley (Track)
Male – Baseball Team
2015-2016
Female – 2015 Women’s Tennis National Champions
Male – Josh Henderson (Men’s Basketball)
2016-2017
Female – Astra Sharma (Women’s Tennis)
Male – Matthias Schwab (Men’s Golf)
Miss & Mr. Commodore*
Awarded to a graduating senior student-athlete who best represents their team, the student-athlete body, and the campus community.
2004-2005
Miss Commodore – Paige Roberts (Track & Field)
Mr. Commodore – Antoan Richardson (Baseball)
2005-2006
Miss. Commodore – Erica Grimaldi (Basketball)
Mr. Commodore – Brent Richard (Soccer)
2006-2007
Miss. Commodore – Caroline Williams (Basketball)
Mr. Commodore – Jordan Magarik (Tennis)
2007-2008
Miss. Commodore – Brooke Shinaberry (Lacrosse)
Mr. Commodore – Jonathan Goff (Football)
2008-2009
Miss. Commodore – Christina Wirth (Women’s Basketball)
Mr. Commodore – Reshard Langford (Football)
2009-2010
Miss. Commodore – Josie Earnest (Bowling)
Mr. Commodore – Scott Lieberman (Men’s Tennis)
2010-2011
Miss. Commodore – Molly Kinsella (Soccer)
Mr. Commodore – Joe Duffy (Men’s Basketball)
2011-2012
Miss. Commodore – Alexa Rogers (Women’s Cross Country)
Mr. Commodore – Festus Ezeli (Men’s Basketball)
2012-2013
Miss. Commodore – Tiffany Clarke (Women’s Basketball)
Mr. Commodore – Johnell Thomas (Football)
2013-2014
Miss. Commodore – Sarah Tustin (Lacrosse)
Mr. Commodore – Carey Spear (Football)
2014-2015
Miss. Commodore – Rebecca Ryan (Lacrosse)
Mr. Commodore – James Siakam (Men’s Basketball)
2015-2016
Miss. Commodore – Amanda Lockwood (Lacrosse)
Mr. Commodore – Carter Josephs (Men’s Basketball)
2016-2017
Miss. Commodore – Simone Charley (Track)
Mr. Commodore – Oren Burks (Football)
Tolbert Cup
Awarded to the team who has the best combined total of GPA, winning percentage, and community service hours.
1997-1998
Women’s Soccer
1998-1999
Women’s Golf
1999-2000
Women’s Tennis
2000-2001
Women’s Basketball
2001-2002
Women’s Basketball
2002-2003
Lacrosse
2003-2004
Lacrosse
2004-2005
Women’s Basketball
2005-2006
Women’s Soccer
2006-2007
Men’s Cross Country
2007-2008
Women’s Tennis
2008-2009
Men’s Cross Country
2009-2010
Men’s Cross Country
2010-2011
Women’s Golf
2011-2012
Women’s Cross Country
2012-2013
Bowling
2013-2014
Women’s Golf
2014-2015
Women’s Cross Country
Newcomer of the Year* (created 2005-06)
Awarded to the student-athlete who is either a freshman or a first-year transfer who had the most significant impact on their team.
2005-2006
Female- Jenn Risper (Women’s Basketball)
Male – Earl Bennett (Football)
2006-2007
Female – Catherine Newman (Women’s Tennis)
Male – Chris Nickson (Football)
2007-2008
Female – Rita Jorgensen (Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field)
Male – AJ Ogilvy (Basketball)
2008-2009
Female – Anna Carr (Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field)
Male – Jeffery Taylor (Basketball)
2009-2010
Female – Chelsea Stewart (Soccer)
Male – Warren Norman (Football)
2010-2011
Female – Jasmine Lister (Women’s Basketball)
Male – Wesley Johnson (Football)
2011-2012
Female – Grace Orders (Women’s Cross Country)
Male – Tony Kemp (Baseball)
2012-2013
Female – Jenny Hahn (Women’s Tennis)
Male – Kris Yee (Men’s Tennis)
2013-2014
Female – Simone Charley (Soccer/Track)
Male – Matthias Schwab (Men’s Golf)
2014-2015
Female – Cindy Ha (Women’s Golf)
Male – Riley Lachance (Men’s Basketball)
2015-2016
Female – Caroine Pietrzyk (Women’s Cross Country)
Male – Jeren Kendall (Baseball – 2015 season)
2016-2017
Female – Maria Bulanova (Bowling)
Male – Patrick Raby (Baseball – 2016 season)
Comeback Player of the Year* (created 2005-06)
Awarded to a student-athlete who has either triumphed over physical adversity or a student-athlete who has persevered to achieve their goals in their respected sport.
2005-2006
Female – Brooke Shinaberry (Lacrosse)
Male – Kenny Schoeni (Soccer)
2006-2007
Female – Brittany Sizer (Cross Country and Track and Field)
Male – George Smith (Football)
2007-2008
Female – Adrienne DiRaddo (Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field)
Male – Davis Nwankwo (Basketball)
2008-2009
Female – Nicole Lukens (Women’s Soccer)
Male – Aaron Westlake (Baseball)
2009-2010
Female – Hannah Tuomi (Women’s Basketball)
Male – Andre Walker (Men’s Basketball)
2010-2011
Female – Louise Hannallah (Women’s Cross Country)
Male – Charlie Jones (Men’s Tennis)
2011-2012
Female – Jordan White (Women’s Cross Country)
Male – Festus Ezeli (Men’s Basketball)
2012-2013
Female – Hannah Jumper (Women’s Cross Country)
Male – Ryan Lipman (Men’s Tennis)
2013-2014
Female – Kristen Gaffney (Women’s Basketball)
Male – Austyn Carta-Samuels (Football)
2014-2015
Female – Erin Edmond (Track)
Male – Dansby Swanson (Baseball)
2015-2016
Female – Astra Sharma (Tennis for 2015)
Male – Hayden Stone (Baseball)
2016-2017
Female – Courtney Clayton (Track)
Male – Luke Kornet (Basketball)
Godfrey Dillard Award* (created 2016-17)
This award will be presented annually to a student-athlete that has overcome adversity on or off the field, honoring the legacy of Mr. Godrey Dillard.
2016-2017
Nigel Bowden (Football)
* Nominated by team members and voted on by SAAC. ** Voted on by Athletic Staff
