By Tim Stried
April 17, 2002

Baseball player Brad Buckingham (Geneva, Ind./South Adams H.S.) and softball player Emily Kurtz (Wooster/Smithville H.S.) were honored as the top senior male and female student-athletes of the year by the Bluffton College athletic department at their annual awards ceremony on April 16.

The athletic department also honored the BC food service staff and buildings and grounds staff for their work in assisting the BC sports programs.

The program was highlighted by a message from Maggie Maloy, a 2001 Defiance College graduate who received the first-ever NCAA Inspiration Award last January. Maloy overcame two life-altering experiences to fulfill her goal of becoming a successful high school and collegiate cross country and track runner.

Buckingham, who received the A.C. Burcky Award, set the BC career base hits record on Monday with 154 and carries a GPA over 3.0 in math education. Kurtz, who received the Kathryn E. Little Award, holds BC records for career earned run average (1.94) and innings pitched (436.2) and carries a GPA of 3.5 in middle childhood education.

The food service staff and the buildings and ground staff each received the Larry W. Jones Memorial Award.