Keys, Kendell Named 2018-19 Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor Award Winners
INDIANAPOLIS – Northern Kentucky track and field’s BriAuna Keys and Detroit Mercy cross country and track and field’s Ben Kendell have been named the 2018-19 Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor recipients.
The Coleman Medal of Honor, first awarded in 1981, is the Horizon League’s most prestigious individual honor. The award is presented annually to the top male and female student-athletes who demonstrate outstanding achievement in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
BriAuna Keys is the second Northern Kentucky student-athlete to earn the Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor, following Will Haueter in 2017-18.
Academically, the Accounting and Business Information Systems double major is a five-time Horizon League All-Academic Team member and a seven-time NKU President’s List member. This year, she earned 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-District honors as well as the 2019 NKU Regents Award and the Outstanding Student Award in Business Information Systems in the NKU College of Informatics.
On the track, the Mason Ohio native earned All-League honors six times during her outdoor track and field career and five times during indoor track and field. Keys was a four-time team captain for the Norse. In her final season, she finished first place in the 4x400m relay at the outdoor championship and also earned second place finishes in the 4x100m relay at the outdoor championship and the 400m at the indoor championship. Keys has broken numerous schools records and holds the indoor 400m and 4x400m records, along with additional relay events outdoors.
“I am very proud of BriAuna for all that she gave of herself while she was a student-athlete here at NKU," said NKU Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Steve Kruse. "Her commitment to her community, the dedication to her sport, her loyalty to her team mates and coaches as well as her easy going nature and willingness to give of herself for the betterment of all those around her is being recognized and I could not be happier for her. This award not only recognizes the best of the best in the Horizon League, but also serves as a beacon to other student-athletes; past, current and future to strive to be the best version of yourself every day and challenge others to do the same.”
Off the track, Keys has served as a peer mentor for the Supported Higher Education project, a mentor for NKU ROCKS, Financial Coordinator of Nu Upsilon Black Women’s Honorary, a peer facilitator for One Love, and a tutor in the NKU tutoring center. Additionally, Keys represented the Horizon League at the 2017 NCAA Leadership Forum and has been a member of NKU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, along with involvement in several other charity events and initiatives.
Ben Kendell is the sixth Detroit Mercy student-athlete to earn the Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor and the first since Sara Zawacki in 2015-16.
In the classroom, the Electrical Engineering graduate student was a five-time member of the Horizon League All-Academic Team, earned six Scholar Athlete of the Season honors, and was named Google Cloud Academic All-District in 2017 and 2019. Kendell was a five-time member of the Detroit Mercy Athletic Director’s Honor Roll as well during his Titan career.
As a runner, the Huntington Woods native was selected as the 2019 Horizon League Male Outdoor Athlete of the Year in 2019. Kendell was a four-time League champion, including setting the championship record in the 5000m at the 2019 outdoor championship. In his final cross country championship, he earned Athlete of the Year honors, winning the championship and then placing second at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional.
"I have been in the Horizon League for over 30 years as a student-athlete and coach and I believe Ben Kendell typifies what the Coleman Award is all about," said Director of Cross Country & Track and Field Guy Murray. "He is what the Horizon League wants in our student-athletes in that he excels in the classroom, in competition, in service, is a great team leader and showcases sportsmanship to the highest degree."
Additionally, Kendell earned the 2019 Detroit Mercy President’s Award for representing the university as a true Titan through his contributions in leadership, as well as academically and athletically. Kendell also interned with Fiat Chrysler during his collegiate career and volunteered with the Detroit Free Press Marathon and the Team Fitzgerald neighborhood clean-up project.
Candidates for the Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor award must be seniors who have graduated or exhausted their eligibility and were participants in a Horizon League sponsored sport. Nominees must have a grade-point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 to be considered. Finalists for the Coleman Medal of Honor are below:
Detroit Mercy – Jordan Manno, softball and
Ben Kendell, cross country/track and field
IUPUI – Olivia Treski, swimming and diving and Krizstian Somhegyi, swimming and diving
Milwaukee – Kelli Swenson, soccer and Peter Andrew, track and field
Northern Kentucky –
BriAuna Keys, track and field and Drew McDonald, basketball
Oakland – Katlynn Emaus, swimming and diving and Travis Harrington, soccer
UIC – Skylee James, softball and Alex Bashqawi, cross country/track and field
Wright State – Maria Heckman, track and field and Ryan Dunn, cross country
Youngstown State – Sarah Cash, basketball and Danylo Veremeichuk, tennis