On Tuesday, April 22, the Lewis & Clark College Department of Physical Education and Athletics hosted the annual Student-Athlete Recognition Dessert. In addition to honoring all of the Pioneer seniors, the annual athletics award winners were announced.

Check out the online gallery of pictures from the event, including award-winners and all of the seniors (team by team).

Pioneer Male and Female Rookies of the Year

Each year, an outstanding male and female first-year true Lewis & Clark freshman in their first season of intercollegiate competition will be chosen as the Pioneer rookie of the year. Last year, baseball player Sami Morgan was named the first-ever recipient of the award. Click on the video below to see the finalists and this year's Pioneer Male Rookie of the Year.

Last year, tennis player Lisa Harunaga was named the first ever Pioneer Female Rookie of the Year. Click on the video below to see the finalists and this year's Pioneer Female Rookie of the Year.

Mary Hunter Female Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year

This is a new award for the 2007-08 year. Named after Mary Hunter, a five-sport athlete at Lewis & Clark, a member of the L&C Sports Hall of Fame, and a coach of multiple sports at Lewis & Clark, this award will be given to the top female performer in multiple sports at Lewis & Clark each year. Click on the video below to see the finalists and this year's recipient.

Dan Jones Male Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year

This is a new award for the 2007-08 year. Named after Dan Jones, a three-sport stand out at Lewis & Clark, an All-American, and a member of the L&C Sports Hall of Fame and the NAIA Hall of Fame, this award will be given to the top male performer in multiple sports at Lewis & Clark each year. Click on the video below to see the finalists and this year's recipient.

Judy McMullen Scholar-Athletes 

Named after Judy McMullen, a long-time administrator and coach at Lewis & Clark who was dedicated to helping student-athletes achieve in academics while striving for athletic excellence, this award has a bronze and silver medalist as well as the gold medalist (actual award winner), given to a female sophomore, junior or senior with a 3.25 cumulative GPA AND outstanding contribution/ performance as an athlete. Click on the video below to see this year's medalists and the award winner.

Dell Smith Scholar-Athletes 

Named after Smith, a long-time administrator and professor at Lewis & Clark who was dedicated to helping student-athletes succeed, this award has a bronze and silver medalist as well as the gold medalist (actual award winner), given to a male sophomore, junior or senior with a 3.25 cumulative GPA AND outstanding contribution/ performance as an athlete. Click on the video below to see this year's medalists and the award winner.

Pioneer Athletics Club Senior Career Awards

The Senior Career Awards were new in 2007-08, honoring the top male and female graduating seniors for the achievements in their Pioneer playing careers. The award recognizes contributions in each year at Lewis & Clark as a student-athlete in athletics, scholarship, and service and leadership to the Department and the campus community. The award is sponsored by the Pioneer Athletics Club, a booster club that provides monetary and other support to Pioneer Athletics. Last year, basketball player Sarah Moon was named the female winner. Click on the video below to see this year's finalists and the award winner.

Last year, football player Mike Brooder was named the male winner. Click on the video below to see this year's finalists and the award winner.

Joe Huston Male Athlete of the Year

In 1972, the Lewis & Clark College Athletic Department introduced a new award to acknowledge the top athlete at the institution. The Joe Huston Athlete of the Year has been given to at least one Lewis & Clark student-athlete every year. In the late nineties, the criteria for the award changed slightly and has been given to the top male student-athlete every year since1998 with the top female athlete being named the Lois Smithwick Athlete of the Year. Joe Huston, the namesake of this award, was known as one of Oregon's "real gentlemen of athletics." Joe served Lewis & Clark College from 1947-72 in many capacities, including associate professor of health and physical education, head football coach, dean of men, and athletic director. During Joe's 17 years as head football coach, the Pioneer football program compiled a record of 100-52-7, winning six Conference championships. Last year, basketball player Thomas Tillery received the honor. Click on the video below to see this year's finalists and the winner. 

Lois Smithwick Female Athlete of the Year

Lois Smithwick, the namesake for this award, served as an associate professor of health and physical education at Lewis & Clark from 1957 to 1980. Smithwick herself graduated from Lewis & Clark with a Bachelors of Science in 1947 and a Masters of Education in 1950. One of Lois' greatest passions as a teacher and a coach was "furthering a healthy interest in women's intercollegiate sports competition." In October of 1964, Smithwick helped to establish the Women's Conference of Independent Colleges and served as this organization's president from 1966-68. Creation of the WCIC was the first major step in establishing intercollegiate competition for women at Lewis & Clark. Last year, basketball player Crystal Castle won the award. Click on the video below to see who this year's finalists were and who is this year's recipient.