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Contributed by Dave Beyer, McMurry Sports Information Director
RICHARDSON, Texas -- McMurry University athletes Michael von Ende-Becker and Taylor Russell have been named as 2015-16 American Southwest Conference (ASC) Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor recipients. In all, twenty-six graduating student-athletes from the 13 ASC member institutions were honored by the league and their respective institutions.
Von Ende-Becker, Lubbock, Texas, was a mathematics major and played men's soccer for the War Hawks. He was a two-time ASC All-Academic Team selection. A 2015 ASC Distinguished Scholar, Becker was named Heartland Conference All-Academic as a sophomore. He primarily played defender during his four seasons at McMurry.
Russell - a women's basketball standout from Liberty Hill, Texas - was a five-time member of the McMurry Dean's List. The 2015 Dr. Sandra Harper Leadership Award recipient, Russell was a two-time ASC All-Academic, ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and NCCAA National Scholar-Athlete selection. A McMurry Honors Program member, Russell did study on diatomaceous earth and sediment and microbial growth, and plans on attending dental school. A four-year letter winner Russell played in 101 of a possible 105 career games. She was named to the 2015-16 NCCAA First team All-Central Region team and was a two-time D3Hoops.com National Team of the Week selection. In 2015-16 Russell averaged 16.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 2.4 assists per game. She recorded 17 double-doubles and scored in double figures in 22-of-24 games. She also had double-figure rebounds in 19 contests.
The ASC Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor is presented to one male and one female member of the graduating class who has compiled the most outstanding record in academics, athletics and leadership over their collegiate career. The award is presented annually by the Faculty Athletics Representative at each conference member institution.
Recipients of the 2015-16 ASC Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor represent 15 different conference sports and include individuals who graduated with academic honors, hold admission to graduate-level programs, are members of academic honor societies and campus organizations; competed on national, conference or division title teams; earned ASC All-Academic, Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and All-Conference honors; and who served as volunteers, tutors and mentors within the campus and the community.
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