Angelo State University

Adolph "AJ" Garza of San Angelo, who graduated from Angelo State University on May 14 with his Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree, has earned the 2020-21 World Changer Award from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) for his performance as an intern with the local office of Child Protective Services (CPS). The World Changer Award is given to only one DFPS intern in the state of Texas each year. It recognizes the outstanding service of an intern who has volunteered for DFPS within the last year and who has demonstrated professionalism, taken initiative and works well as a team player. Garza completed his CPS internship during the 2020-21 academic year as part of his B.S.W. degree plan. He will enter ASU's Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree program this fall. See the full story at angelo.edu/news.

Courtney Barnhill of Lubbock, an outfielder on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team, has been named to the 2021 NCAA Division II All-America third team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). A senior nursing major, Barnhill started all 47 games for the Rambelles this season. She batted .346 while leading the team in hits (54), doubles (17), total bases (91), runs scored (49) and stolen bases (24), and was second on the team in RBI (41). She was also named to the All-Lone Star Conference first team, won the LSC Golden Glove Award in center field, and earned All-South Central Region recognition from NFCA and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). The Rambelles went 33-14 this season and advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament.

Avery McNeme of Lubbock and Gabby Villagrand of Spring, both members of the Angelo State University Rambelles soccer team, have been named to the 2021 NCAA Division II Scholar All-America Team by the United Soccer Coaches organization. To be eligible, student-athletes must be in at least their second year at their current school, start more than 50% of all games during the season, and post at least a 3.40 grade point average. The Rambelles went undefeated this spring and claimed the Lone Star Conference title.

Twenty-six members of the Angelo State University Rams and Rambelles track and field teams have earned All-South Central Region honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for the 2021 outdoor track and field season. Overall, 18 Rams and eight Rambelles earned 33 all-region honors, which go to the top five finishers in individual events and all members of top-three relay teams. See more details at angelosports.com and on the USTCCCA website.

Five players from the Angelo State University Rams baseball team have earned 2021 All-South Central Region honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Pitcher Trent Baker of Georgetown was named the South Central Region Pitcher of the Year. He is joined on the all-region first team by outfielder Josh Elvir of Kemah and first baseman Aaron Walters of Center Point. Third baseman Jordan Williams of Round Rock and pitcher Ben Elder of Chico, Calif., were named to the all-region second team. The Rams won the Lone Star Conference Tournament on May 22 and begin play in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional on May 27 in San Angelo. See more details at angelosports.com.

Three players on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team have been named to the 2021 All-South Central Region Team by the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). First baseman Madison Fernandez of San Antonio and second baseman Ashlyn Lerma of Highland Village were named to the all-region first team. Outfielder Courtney Barnhill of Lubbock was named to the all-region second team. The Rambelles went 33-14 this season and advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament. See more details at angelosports.com.

Angelo State University's chapter of the Order of the Sword & Shield national honor society recently inducted 34 new student members for the 2020-21 academic year. The Order of the Sword and Shield is the only academic and professional honor society dedicated exclusively to cybersecurity, homeland security, intelligence, emergency management and all protective security disciplines. To be eligible, undergraduate students must have at least a 3.25 grade point average, and graduate students must have at least a 3.5 GPA. Students are inducted by invitation and only after recommendation by at least two faculty members. See the full list of inductees at angelo.edu/news.

Three players for the Angelo State University Rams baseball team have been named to the 2021 Lone Star Conference All-Defensive Team. Pitcher Ben Elder of Chico, Calif., second baseman Parker Bramlett of Bullard, and third baseman Jordan Williams of Round Rock earned postseason honors for their defensive play. Bramlett and Williams are both two-time all-defensive team honorees. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Two student-athletes on the Angelo State University Rams baseball team have been named to the 2021 Lone Star Conference All-Academic Team. Outfielder Jackson Hardy of Silsbee and pitcher Mathew 'Mat' Szabo of Sarnia, Ontario, have been honored for their academic and athletic performance during the ongoing spring baseball season. The All-Academic Team is selected by the LSC's sports information directors, who select players based on both athletic and academic achievement. To be eligible, student-athletes must have played in at least 50% of the team's contests, reached sophomore athletic and academic standing, completed at least one full academic year at the nominating institution, and have a minimum 3.30 cumulative GPA for their entire collegiate career. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Nine players for the Angelo State University Rams baseball team have earned All-Lone Star Conference postseason honors for their performances during the 2021 spring season. Pitchers Trent Baker of Georgetown and Ben Elder of Chico, Calif., third baseman Jordan Williams of Round Rock, outfielder Josh Elvir of Kemah, and utility player Aaron Walters of Center Point were all named to the All-LSC first team. Second baseman Parker Bramlett of Bullard and outfielder Jackson Hardy of Silsbee made the All-LSC second team. Shortstop Nick Novak of Stillwater, Minn., and catcher Nick Seginowich of Victoria, British Columbia, earned All-LSC honorable mention. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Trent Baker of Georgetown, a junior pitcher on the Angelo State University Rams baseball team, has been named the 2021 Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Year. The Rams' No. 1 starter all season, Baker leads the LSC in wins (12), ERA (2.01) and innings pitched (85). He is also second in strikeouts (98) and opposing batting average (.214). Over his 13 starts, he posted a 12-1 record with four complete games and three shutouts, allowing only 17 earned runs. He was also named to the All-LSC first team for the second time. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Josh Elvir of Kemah, a senior outfielder on the Angelo State University Rams baseball team, has been named the 2021 Lone Star Conference Player of the Year. One of three players to start all 43 games for the Rams so far this season, Elvir leads the LSC in runs scored with 70. He also leads the LSC in doubles (16) and is second in hits (65), slugging percentage (.748) and on-base percentage (.521); third in batting average (.399), home runs (11), triples (4) and walks (37); and fourth in RBI (50). He has also chipped in 13 stolen bases (7th) and a .982 fielding percentage, committing only one error over the entire season. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

For the 24th straight year, Angelo State University students have maintained a 100% passing rate on the Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES) teacher certification test for secondary mathematics. Five ASU students took the Mathematics 7-12 TExES for the 2020-21 academic year and passed with an average score of 265 out of 300. The minimum passing score for the exam is 240, and the state average score is 241. ASU's perfect passing rate streak began in 1998, and since then, all 196 of the ASU students who have taken the TExES secondary mathematics exam after completing the ASU mathematics program have passed. See more details at angelo.edu/news.

Thirty-one student-athletes on Angelo State University's Rams and Rambelles track and field teams have earned All-Lone Star Conference honors for the 2021 outdoor track and field season. The All-LSC first team consists of event winners, all members of winning relay teams, and athletes scoring 14 or more points at the LSC Championship Meet. The second team includes athletes on second-place relay teams and those scoring 8-13.9 points. The third team recognizes members of third-place relay teams and athletes scoring 6-7.9 points. Six Rams and five Rambelles made the All-LSC first team. Six Rams and eight Rambelles made the second team. Five Rams and one Rambelle made the third team. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Three Angelo State University track and field student-athletes have been named to the Lone Star Conference All-Academic Team for the 2021 outdoor track and field season. William Calvert of Sachse was named to the Men's All-Academic Team. Mia van Oudtshoorn of Roodskool-Kroonstad, South Africa, and Daisy Osakue of Turin, Italy, were named to the Women's All-Academic Team. To be eligible for LSC academic honors, student-athletes must carry at least a 3.30 grade point average and have reached sophomore status both athletically and academically. The All-Academic Teams are selected from the list of academically qualified players, with the league's sports information directors voting based on both academic and athletic achievement. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Four student-athletes on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team have been named to the 2021 Lone Star Conference Softball All-Freshman Team for their performances this season. Pitcher Genesis Armendariz of Hobbs, N.M., designated player Ashlyn Box of Christoval, first baseman Madison Fernandez of San Antonio, and catcher Keilei Garcia of Hemet, Calif., all had outstanding first seasons at ASU to earn LSC All-Freshman Team honors. The No. 21 Rambelles begin play as the No. 2 seed in the LSC Tournament on May 13 in Oklahoma City. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Three student-athletes on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team have earned All-South Central Region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) for their performances during the 2021 season. First baseman Madison Fernandez of San Antonio and second baseman Ashlyn Lerma of Highland Village were named to the all-region first team. Center fielder Courtney Barnhill of Lubbock was named to the all-region second team. All three were previously named to the All-Lone Star Conference first team. Madison was also named to the LSC All-Freshman Team, while Lerma and Barnhill earned LSC Golden Glove Awards, and Lerma was named to the LSC All-Academic Team. See more details on the NFCA website and at angelosports.com.

Angelo State University Rambelles softball players Courtney Barnhill of Lubbock and Ashlyn Lerma of Highland Village have earned 2021 Golden Glove Awards from the Lone Star Conference for their defensive performances this season. The awards were determined by a vote of LSC head coaches based on defensive performance alone for all nine positions. Barnhill, a senior, finished with a .983 fielding percentage in center field with just one error in 58 chances. She posted 54 putouts and three assists. This is her second LSC Golden Glove Award. Lerma, a sophomore, finished with a .978 fielding percentage at second base with just three errors in 136 chances. She notched 72 putouts and 61 assists, and she was part of three double plays. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Ashlyn Lerma of Highland Village, an infielder on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team, has been named to the 2021 Lone Star Conference All-Academic Team. To be eligible for LSC academic honors, student-athletes must carry at least a 3.30 grade point average and have reached sophomore status both athletically and academically. The All-Academic Team is selected from the list of academically qualified players, with the league's sports information directors voting on the basis of both academic and athletic achievement. A junior majoring in finance, Lerma was also named to the All-LSC first team and won her first LSC Golden Glove at second base. See the story on the LSC website.

Trent Baker of Georgetown, a starting pitcher for the Angelo State University Rams baseball team, has been named the Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week for the final week of the 2021 regular season. In the opener of the Rams' three-game series against St. Mary's on May 7, Baker allowed just one run over seven innings to lead the Rams to a 5-1 victory. He notched seven strikeouts with no walks as he picked up his LSC-leading 11th win of the season. He also leads the LSC in strikeouts and needs just six more to tie the LSC career strikeout record. See the story on the LSC website.

Six student-athletes on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team have earned Lone Star Conference postseason honors for their performances during the 2021 season. Outfielder Courtney Barnhill of Lubbock, designated player Ashlyn Box of Christoval, infielder Madison Fernandez of San Antonio, catcher Keilei Garcia of Hemet, and infielder Ashlyn Lerma of Highland Village were all named to the All-LSC first team. Pitcher Makayla Corbin of Lewisville was named to the All-LSC second team. The No. 21 Rambelles begin play as the No. 2 seed in the Lone Star Conference Tournament on May 13 in Oklahoma City. They posted a 31-11 record during the regular season. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Angelo State University's Norris-Vincent College of Business and Small Business Development Center (SBDC) have announced the winners of the 2021 BizPitch student entrepreneurship competition. The BizPitch competition invites individual ASU students or teams of up to four students to submit video pitches of their ideas for new business startups. A panel of ASU business faculty and SBDC specialists selected five finalists to make live pitch presentations to a panel of judges made up of local business professionals. The winners are: First Place ($2,500) - Ram Lambs Day Care Brooklyn Gallaway of Winters & Kevin Sigala of Morse Second Place ($1,500) - Angelo Hydro & Grow John Mehosky of San Angelo Third Place ($1,000) - The Pawn Shop Landon Ward of San Angelo See the full story at angelo.edu/news.

Six members of the Angelo State University Belles tennis team have earned Lone Star Conference postseason awards after leading their team to a second straight LSC title this spring. Zoe Gubbels of Velserbroek, Netherlands, was named the LSC Academic Player of the Year and Sportsmanship Player of the Year. Valentina Gonzalez of Medellin, Colombia, earned All-LSC first team honors for singles and was also named to the All-LSC first team for doubles along with her partner, Ena Ovcina of Tidaholm, Sweden. Also, Dianela Rodriguez and Maria Delgadillo of Mexico City, Mexico, and Virginie Becht of Vero Beach, Fla., were named to the All-LSC second team for singles - and Becht made the All-LSC second team for doubles along with Gubbels. Belles head coach Chris Bizot was also named LSC Women's Tennis Coach of the Year. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Phyllis Kate Creecy of Denton has been selected to receive Angelo State University's 2021 Presidential Award as the top graduate in her class, while five other ASU graduating seniors have been selected for 2021 Distinguished Student Awards from their respective academic colleges. Creecy will be recognized at ASU's May 14-15 commencement ceremonies, along with the five Distinguished Student Award honorees. The Distinguished Student Award recipients are: Clara Aguirre of Refugio, Archer College of Health and Human Services Crystal Mendez of San Angelo, College of Arts and Humanities Byanca Sanchez of Canadian, College of Education Marissa Brezgiel of Frisco, College of Science and Engineering Caylee Gibson of San Angelo, Norris-Vincent College of Business ASU's Academic Excellence Committee hosted an awards ceremony May 3 in the Houston Harte University Center to honor all the award recipients and nominees. Each was presented a recognition plaque by ASU President Ronnie Hawkins Jr. See the full story at angelo.edu/news.

Mykayla Stroud of Aledo, a junior infielder on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team, has been named the Lone Star Conference Hitter of the Week for her performances during the week ending May 2. As the Belles swept a doubleheader over Lubbock Christian University on May 2, Stroud posted a 1.000 batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage over the two games. In total, she had four hits, two RBI and two runs scored, and and she was three-for-three in stolen bases. For the season, Stroud is hitting .325 with four home runs, 21 RBI, 19 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. See the story on the LSC website.

Trent Baker of Georgetown, a starting pitcher for the Angelo State University Rams baseball team, has been named the Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week for his performance during the week ending April 25. In the series opener at Cameron University on April 24, Baker tossed eight shutout innings to pick up his ninth win of the season. He allowed just two hits and struck out a season-high 13 Aggies batters, holding them to a .077 average. Baker is now 9-1 this season with three complete games and two shutouts. He co-leads the LSC in wins, is second in ERA (2.22) and is tied for second in strikeouts with 77 in 65 innings pitched. See the story on the LSC website.

Angelo State University honored its 2021 Outstanding Graduate Students, as well as the recipients of four superlative awards, during the annual Graduate Research Symposium and Awards Ceremony on April 26 in the Houston Harte University Center. The honorees were nominated by faculty in their respective academic departments, and each received a certificate of recognition. Additionally, winners of the four superlative awards were selected from among the Outstanding Graduate Students by a separate committee. See the full story and list of honorees at angelo.edu.

Decio Andrade of Camacha, Portugal, a junior on the Angelo State University Rams track and field team, has been named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTCCCA) NCAA Division II National Athlete of the Week for the second time this season. At the Oliver Jackson Twilight meet in Abilene, Texas, on April 21, Andrade threw the hammer a personal-best 235'-7" (71.82 meters) to take first place. That also set new ASU and Lone Star Conference records in the hammer throw - and is the third-best throw in NCAA D-II history. It also makes Andrade the fifth-best performer in the hammer among all collegians this season. See more at angelosports.com and the USTCCCA website.

Sara Ramos of Uvalde, a junior thrower on the Angelo State University Rambelles track and field team, has been named the Lone Star Conference Women's Field Athlete of the Week for the week ending April 18. At the Cactus Cup meet in Kingsville, Ramos won the hammer throw with a personal-best throw of 185-0 (56.38 meters) that broke the ASU school record by a full eight inches. Her winning throw also helped the Rambelles claim the Cactus Cup title - and provisionally qualified Ramos for the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships. See more details at angelosports.com and on the LSC website.

Genesis Armendariz of Hobbs, N.M., a freshman on the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team, has been named the Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week for her performances during the week ending April 18. Over the weekend of April 16-18, Armendariz picked up two wins over Texas A&M-International and an 8-inning, complete-game victory over No. 17 Texas A&M-Kingsville. She pitched a total of 13.2 innings, posting a 0.51 ERA while allowing only five total hits and one run. She also notched 11 strikeouts and held opposing hitters to a .109 batting average. For the season, she is 11-5 with a 3.13 ERA, two shutouts and two saves. See the story on the LSC website.