SPRINGFIELD -- A record total of 292 Missouri State University student-athletes were recognized during the 14th annual Maroon and White Honors Banquet and Scholar-Athlete Awards ceremony held Wednesday in downtown Springfield.
 
The student-athletes were recognized for achieving a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade-point average for all semesters at Missouri State.

This year's crop of academic honorees represents student-athletes currently participating in all 19 of Missouri State's intercollegiate programs.

The annual Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards were presented to the graduating student-athletes holding the highest cumulative grade point averages. The recipients of this year's awards were baseball standout Bobby Atkinson, who holds a 3.96 grade point average, and female recipient Maggie Haase from women's track and field who holds a perfect 4.00 GPA. 

The new Champions in the Classroom Award was presented to 28 graduating student-athletes for achieving a 3.75 cumulative GPA during their academic career. Honorees in this category include: Bobby Atkinson (baseball), Ollie Bate (men's soccer), Ella Becker (women's soccer), Clarissa Bowers (acrobatics and tumbling), Lucas Chadwell (men's swimming and diving), Amanda Cleary (beach volleyball), Sophia Coleta (women's swimming and diving), Justin Curtis (football), Cole Feuerbacher (football), Caitlyn Friebe (women's swimming and diving), Billur Gonlusen (women's tennis), Jack Grandy (men's swimming and diving), Maggie Haase (track and field), Kate Haney (volleyball), Abby Hansen (women's soccer), Reilly Heman (women's soccer), Maycee James (women's basketball), Lana Janson (women's swimming and diving), Logan Kaneshiro (beach volleyball), Evie Kolb (women's swimming and diving), Sarah Linthacum (women's basketball), Alex Matthews (men's soccer), Sidney McLaughlin (softball), Madilyn Moore (track and field), Tylee Parrish (STUNT), Kyleigh Pfitzner (women's golf), Raluca Puscas (women's tennis), and Makenzi Swick (softball).

Twenty-four student-athletes were recognized as Dr. Bruce Johnson Scholars -- those individuals who have been recognized at the Maroon and White Banquet for four years: 

Ella Becker (women's soccer), Chris Bedsole (men's swimming and diving), Alex Boutin (men's swimming and diving), Grace Buschling* (cross country, track), Lucas Chadwell* (men's swimming and diving), Tyler Charlton (baseball), Amanda Cleary* (beach volleyball), Aiden Dunn* (men's swimming and diving), Whitney Farrington* (women's track and field), Jaycee Fixsen (volleyball), Taeg Gollert (baseball), Jack Grandy (men's swimming and diving), Abby Hansen (women's soccer), Ainsley Jenkins* (women's swimming and diving), Adrien Martens (track and field), Sidney McLaughlin (softball), Kiser Pannier* (women's golf), Kyleigh Pfitzner* (women's golf), Christian Rischer* (men's golf), Gabbi Schlapper* (women's soccer), Riley Smith (women's soccer), MacKenzie Steele (beach volleyball), Owen Swearingen* (men's golf), Makenzi Swick (softball).

The night's team honors for highest GPA were presented to the MSU beach volleyball team (3.75) and men's swimming and diving (3.42).