PEORIA, Ill. – Bradley Athletics celebrated the achievements and successes of its student-athletes and programs on Monday, May 5, with the annual Kaboom! Awards hosted inside Renaissance Coliseum.
Student-athletes and staff members were invited to the annual awards show where student-athletes were recognized for their athletic achievements, service recognition and inspiration they have brought to the university.
Gallery: (5-6-2025) Kaboom! Awards
Board of Directors Academic Excellence Award
The night led off with the recognition of the prestigious Missouri Valley Conference Board of Directors Academic Excellence Award.
The MVC Board of Directors Academic Excellence Award is presented to student-athletes who are within 18 credit hours of graduation, have been a member of an athletics team at least two seasons, and who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.80.
Nine Bradley student-athletes were selected for the award, as listed below:
- Abbott Badgley - Softball
- Elias Benitez Saiz - Soccer
- Charlie Dickerson - Soccer
- Kaylenn Hunt - Volleyball
- Brandon Kamp - Men's Cross Country/Track
- Grace Kearns - Women's Cross Country/Track
- Ian O'Laughlin - Men's Cross Country/Track
- Maria Perakis - Women's Golf
- Addie Welsh - Softball
Joe Stowell Award
Introduced in 2007, the Coach Joe Stowell Award is presented annually to recognize the male and female student-athletes who best exemplify Stowell's love for Bradley Athletics, as well as dedication to their teams. Stowell served Bradley Athletics for over 70 years, first as a Bradley Basketball student-athlete, then as a Men's Basketball Assistant Coach, and eventually becoming the second-winningest Men's Basketball Head Coach in program history. He also served as an Assistant Athletic Director, Head Women's Basketball Coach and a Bradley Basketball Radio Analyst.
The female finalists included Anna Belogliadova (Women's Tennis), Amiyah Davis (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field) and Allie Paregien (Softball). The male finalists included Sam Hennessy (Men's Basketball), Timmy O'Brien (Baseball) and Mickey Vreeland (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field).
The winners were Allie Paregien and Timmy O'Brien.
Orville Nothdurft Lifetime Achievement Award
The Orville Nothdurft Lifetime Achievement award is presented to a former Brave student-athlete who, through their post-Bradley days, has achieved success in their chosen profession and has continued to serve in such a manner as to bring honor to oneself, Bradley Athletics in general, and the University as a whole.
This year's recipient was Rachael Parker, a former Women's Track & Field athlete who currently serves as the Peoria County Clerk and has served in multiple forms of local government.
Carl Grose Service Award
The Carl Grose Service Award was established in honor of Mr. Grose, Bradley's long-time equipment manager and "Jack-of-all-trades." This award recognizes a student-athlete who is committed to volunteerism on campus and in the community.
This year's finalists included Goanar Biliew (Men's Basketball), Lauren DeRolf (Softball), Kaylenn Hunt (Volleyball), Brandon Kamp (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field), Allison Pacocha (Women's Golf), Mariia Pukhina (Women's Tennis) and Carter Stevenson (Men's Golf)
The winner was Allison Pacocha.
Individual Performances of the Year
The individual performances of the year recognized student-athletes' athletic accomplishments, presented to a men's and women's recipient.The winners were Jillian Cosler for winning the individual title at the MVC Women's Golf Championship and Jack Crull for running the second sub-four-minute mile in Bradley Track & Field history at Notre Dame's Meyo Invitational.
Special Recognition Award
Each year, the Athletic Department awards one person the Special Recognition Award for their dedication and support of Bradley Athletics. This year's recipient of the Special Recognition Award was Dr. Paul Gullifor. Dr. Gullifor joined the faculty at Bradley University in the fall of 1988, serving as chairperson of the Department of Communication from 2006-2017. Dr. Gullifor currently serves as the Henry Means Pindell Endowed Chair in Communication. and has served as Bradley's NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative since 2021. Dr. Gullifor recently announced his retirement from Bradley after 37 years of dedicated service.
Men's and Women's Team Performances of the Year
The last team award of the evening was presented to the best men's and women's team performance throughout the season. This year's winners were the Men's and Women's Cross Country teams for winning the Missouri Valley Conference Championships in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Charles Orsborn Award
Formerly known as the Watonga Award, the Charles Orsborn Award is the highest honor Bradley University bestows upon a graduating senior student-athlete and recognizes the ability of the winner to combine athletic and academic success with community service.
A letterwinner in four sports as a student-athlete (baseball, basketball, football and track & field), Charles Orsborn helped put Bradley Athletics on the national map as a member of the Famous Five men's basketball teams that played in the first two National Invitation Tournaments in 1938 and 1939 and earned an invitation to the inaugural NCAA Tournament in 1939.
This year's winner was Abigail Hancock of Women's Cross Country/Track & Field.
